Fascinating Feline Facts
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Whether a large cat, such as a lion or tiger, or the familiar house cat, many traits are the same. "Cats! Wild to Mild" is filled with fascinating feline facts, such as:

• Cats were domesticated about 3,000 B.C. in Egypt.
• Only four cats really roar: lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.
• Domestic cats spend about 70% of their day sleeping and 15% of the day grooming.
• Less than 50 Florida panthers still exist in the wild.
• Cats were brought to the Americas by colonists to protect their granaries and as pets. As settlers moved inland, cats accompanied them.
• Lions can consume 11-15 pounds of meat in one sitting.
• There are an estimated 65.8 million domestic cats in the United States compared to 54.9 million dogs.
• Lions can leap up to 12 feet.
• Cats communicate through their tails. An upright tail means alertness, and a low swinging tail means playfulness or nervousness.
• The roar of the lion is the loudest sound made by any cat.
• The cat has around 290 bones and 517 separate muscles.
• Lions can sleep up to 20 hours a day.
• A frightened cat can run up to 30 mph -- while the fastest human can only run up to 27.89 mph.
• The cat can see better at night than man.
• Present on every continent, today's modern domestic cat is believed to be a cross between the African and European wildcat.