So, dear human, you think you know a lot about us felines?
Take Ginger’s fun quiz to see exactly how much you know about Cats. Tally up your correct responses to the eight questions below to find out your Cat IQ.
The answers follow each question.
1. True or False: 
Cats are able to run faster than humans can.
ANSWER: Dear human, speed is yet another way that we cats are superior to you. The answer is true. The average adult domestic cat can run 50 kilometers per hour (30 mph). Over short distances, we have you humans beat.
2. True or False: 
Cat’s whiskers are very similar to human hair.
ANSWER: False. Cats’ whiskers are actually full of blood vessels and receptors that, among other things, help us orient in space. So please, gentle human, never leave a three-year-old with a pair of scissors alone with a cat!
3. True or False: 😼 Cats can see colors that humans cannot.
ANSWER: Dear human, cats perceive colors outside of what people can, including ultraviolet. We see urine trails that humans cannot and see many additional shades of blue and grey than you, yet another way that we cats are superior.
4. True or False: Most cat owners recognize their own cat’s meow when they hear it.
ANSWER: Every cat has its own unique “meowing” vocabulary. Of course, to better serve us, people over time evolved the ability to recognize their master’s voice. The answer is true.
5. True or False: 😸 Lions and leopards are able to meow.
ANSWER: Lions and leopards meow as babies to communicate with their mothers. Thus, the answer is true.
6. True or False: Cats cannot taste sweets.
ANSWER: Dear human, cats are particularly sensitive to meat flavor because we need a mostly protein diet. However, we cannot detect sweet flavors. The answer is true, so keep those cavity-causing sweets to yourselves. Bring on the meat!
7. True or False: 😽 Dogs can hear one octave higher than can cats.
ANSWER: We cats can hear one octave higher than dogs (and two octaves higher than humans). Cats can even hear ultrasound, which helps us detect mouse squeaks that you cannot. Alas, the answer is false. Cats are, or at least can hear, better than dogs.
8. Last question: 😼 How much stronger is cats’ sense of smell, compared to humans?
A. 10 times better
B. 100 times better
C. 1,000 times better
D. Cats’ sense of smell is about as good as humans’ sense of smell
ANSWER: Dear human, cats’ sense of smell is 1,000 times more sensitive than humans. The correct answer is C.
So, how did you do?
Add up the number of answers you got correct.
0-3 Correct – KITTEN LEVEL: You are still a beginner when it comes to all there is to learn about us cats.
4-6 Correct – YOUNG CAT LEVEL: You did very well! But, you still have more to learn.
7-8 Correct – MATURE CAT MASTER LEVEL: You are a wise cat expert! Congratulations!
Reference:
Dunphy, Heather (2011). The Secret Language of Cats. Sterling Publishing Company: New York NY.
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Excellent article! Very educational.
That was a fun quiz. I am very impressed by cats’ sense of smell!
Uh oh. I only got three correct. Guess I’m not a scholar like Ginger, lol.
This was a hard Quiz Ginger! But did not know these things about cats. Interesting!