Quiz of the Day
International Cat Day
Saturday, 8 August 2026
The internet's spirit animal gets its own holiday — explore the fascinating science, history, and culture of humanity's most mysterious companion
1. When were cats first domesticated by humans?
- About 2,000 years ago in China
- About 15,000 years ago alongside dogs
- About 10,000 years ago in the Near East
- About 4,000 years ago in Egypt
Cats likely domesticated themselves — they were attracted to the grain stores of early farming settlements in the Near East, which also attracted rodents. Humans kept them around because they controlled pests. A 2007 genetic study found that all domestic cats descend from five African wildcat (Felis lybica) founders in the Fertile Crescent.
2. Which ancient civilization famously worshipped cats and had a cat-headed goddess?
- Mesopotamians
- Egyptians
- Greeks
- Romans
Bastet, depicted as a cat-headed woman, was the Egyptian goddess of home, fertility, and protection. Killing a cat in ancient Egypt — even accidentally — was punishable by death. When a household cat died, the family would shave their eyebrows in mourning. Thousands of mummified cats have been found in Egyptian tombs and temples.
3. How many domestic cats are estimated to exist worldwide?
- 1 billion
- 600 million
- 100 million
- 300 million
There are an estimated 600 million domestic cats in the world, including stray and feral populations. Cats are one of the world's most popular pets — yet a significant portion live as strays in cities or feral colonies in the wild. In Australia and the US, feral cats cause significant ecological damage by hunting native bird and small mammal species.
4. What is the technical term for a cat's ability to always land on its feet?
- Gravitational correction instinct
- Feline righting reflex
- Acrobatic stabilization reflex
- Vestibular landing response
The cat righting reflex develops in kittens by about 7 weeks. Cats use their vestibular system (inner ear) to sense orientation, then rotate their flexible spine in sections to align their body feet-first during a fall. Paradoxically, cats can survive longer falls better than shorter ones because they reach terminal velocity and then relax their body into a spread-eagle parachute position.
5. Why do cats purr?
- In various emotional states including stress, healing, and contentment
- To communicate with humans only
- To scare off predators
- Only to show contentment
Cats purr at frequencies between 25–150 Hz — a range that has been shown to promote bone density, accelerate healing of fractures, and reduce pain. This suggests purring may have evolved partially as a self-healing mechanism. Mother cats purr during labor, and cats often purr when stressed, injured, or dying — not just when happy.
6. What is a group of cats called?
- Skulk
- Pack
- Clowder
- Pride
A group of cats is a 'clowder,' though the term 'glaring' is also technically correct for a group of cats that don't know each other. A group of kittens is a 'kindle.' Unlike most cat terminology, these words date back to Middle English. Despite being called solitary animals, feral cats often form loose social colonies around food sources.
7. Which famous internet cat, known for its grumpy expression, became a global viral sensation?
- Grumpy Cat
- Nyan Cat
- Colonel Meow
- Lil Bub
Grumpy Cat — real name Tardar Sauce — had a permanently grumpy expression caused by feline dwarfism and an underbite. First appearing on Reddit in 2012, she became one of the internet's most iconic memes. Before her death in 2019, Grumpy Cat's merchandise and endorsement deals had reportedly earned her owner over $1 million.
8. Why do cats rub their faces on people and objects?
- To indicate they want food
- To mark territory with scent glands
- To show submission
- To clean themselves
Cats have scent glands on their cheeks, chin, forehead, and base of their tail. When they rub (called 'bunting'), they deposit pheromones that mark objects and people as familiar and safe — essentially saying 'this belongs to my world.' When a cat headbutts you, it's giving you one of the highest forms of feline affection.
9. What is unique about cats' field of vision compared to humans?
- They have wider peripheral vision but lower resolution in color
- They see in black and white only
- They have 360-degree vision
- They see ultraviolet light
Cats have a visual field of about 200 degrees (vs humans' 180), excellent low-light vision due to a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum (causing the 'eyeshine' in photos), but they're dichromats — seeing a world similar to a red-green colorblind human. They can detect motion far better than humans but can't focus on objects closer than about 30 cm.
10. The 'Schrödinger's Cat' thought experiment was proposed by physicist Erwin Schrödinger in what year?
- 1945
- 1925
- 1955
- 1935
Schrödinger proposed his famous thought experiment in 1935 to illustrate the absurdity of applying quantum superposition to everyday objects. A cat in a box with a quantum trigger for poison would theoretically be simultaneously alive and dead until observed. Schrödinger intended it as a criticism of the Copenhagen interpretation — but it became the most famous example of quantum mechanics in popular culture.
11. Which cat holds the record for the world's loudest purr?
- A Maine Coon named Smokey
- A Siberian forest cat named Boris
- Stewie, the world's longest cat
- Merlin, a rescue cat from the UK
Merlin, a rescue cat owned by Tracy Westwood of Torquay, UK, holds the Guinness World Record for the loudest purr by a domestic cat — measured at 67.8 decibels. For comparison, normal conversation is about 60 decibels. His owner said it was difficult to hear the TV when he purred on her lap.
12. What is catnip, and why does it affect cats?
- A nutrition supplement cats need
- A medicinal herb cats self-administer when sick
- A mild toxin that impairs their nervous system
- A plant compound that mimics feline pheromones and triggers euphoria
Catnip contains nepetalactone, a compound that binds to receptors in a cat's nose that normally detect pheromones, triggering a response resembling sexual excitement — rolling, rubbing, vocalizing. The reaction lasts about 10 minutes then cats become temporarily immune for 30 minutes. About 30% of cats have no reaction to catnip at all; the sensitivity is genetic.
13. What is the scientific name for the domestic cat?
- Felis catus
- Felidae minor
- Felis lybica
- Felis domesticus
Felis catus was formally named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Domestic cats share 95.6% of their DNA with tigers — making them more genetically similar to their wild cousins than you'd expect. In fact, many behaviors that seem puzzling in house cats — kneading, stalking toys, hiding — directly mirror the instincts of wild big cats.
14. In Japanese culture, what does the 'Maneki-neko' (beckoning cat figurine) represent?
- A memorial to a famous cat
- Fertility and childbirth
- Protection from evil spirits
- Good luck and prosperity
The Maneki-neko (招き猫) is displayed in businesses and homes across Asia as a good luck charm. A raised left paw is said to attract customers while a raised right paw attracts money — though this distinction varies by region. The legend says a cat beckoned a lord away from a spot where lightning subsequently struck, saving his life.
15. What is 'slow blinking' in cat body language believed to communicate?
- Trust, affection, and a non-threatening greeting
- Aggression and a warning to back away
- An invitation to play
- That the cat is tired and about to sleep
Research published in Scientific Reports in 2020 confirmed that slow blinking — the 'cat smile' — is a genuine communication of positive emotion. The study showed cats were more likely to approach humans who slow-blinked at them. Cat behaviorists recommend returning a cat's slow blink to build trust, particularly with unfamiliar or shy cats.