29 facts found · Page 1 of 2
The Copied Gene Legs
A corgi's short legs come from an extra copy of a gene called FGF4 that got inserted into a new spot in the dog genome, causing the leg bones to stop growing early. The same duplicated gene shows up in at least 19 short legged breeds, including dachshunds and basset hounds.
Can't Taste Sugar
Cats are one of the only mammals that physically cannot taste sweetness. A mutation disabled their sugar taste receptor long ago, so that slice of cake means nothing to your cat, no matter how much they beg.
The Sprinting Specialist
Greyhounds can reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour in short sprints, making them the fastest dog breed on the planet. Unlike bloodhounds and other scent hounds, they are sighthounds, built to chase fast-moving targets by eyesight rather than tracking a trail nose down.
The USDA's Nose Squad
Since 1984, the USDA's Beagle Brigade has used beagles to sniff out smuggled fruit, meat, and plants in airport luggage, growing from a single dog in Los Angeles to around 120 beagles working major airports nationwide. Beagles get the job over bigger sniffer breeds partly because their friendly, non-threatening size doesn't intimidate travelers waiting in line.
Healing Purr
A cat's purr vibrates at 25 to 150 Hz, a frequency known to promote bone healing and reduce stress, for both the cat and the human nearby!
A Nose Built Different
A dog's sense of smell is estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human's. Their wet nose actually helps by trapping scent chemicals so they can be analyzed more effectively.
Always Running Warm
With no fur coat for insulation, Sphynx cats run a noticeably higher body temperature and faster metabolism than other cats, which is why they seek out warm laps and sunny windowsills and often need sweaters in winter. They also need regular baths since their skin oils have nowhere else to go.
Gentle Giant of Cats
Maine Coons are the largest domesticated cat breed, with males often weighing 15 to 25 pounds and measuring 40-plus inches from nose to tail. The longest Maine Coon on record, a cat named Stewie, measured 48.5 inches. Unlike most cats, they can take up to three years to reach their full adult size.
The Dog That Doesn't Bark
Basenjis have an unusually shaped larynx that keeps them from barking like other dogs. Instead they make a yodel-like sound nicknamed the 'baroo,' earning them the nickname 'the barkless dog.'
A Baby Cry Hidden in the Purr
Cats asking for food produce a variant researchers call the solicitation purr, with an unusually high frequency component buried inside the normal low rumble. It sits in roughly the same acoustic range as a human infant cry. Listeners rate these purrs as more urgent and harder to ignore than ordinary purring, without being told which is which.
Born Without a Tail
A single dominant gene shortens the tail bones in Manx cats, so litters range from normal-tailed kittens to completely tailless ones. That same gene can shorten the spine itself, and a kitten that inherits two copies of it is usually lost before birth, which is why responsible breeders never pair two tailless Manx cats together.
Born Blank, Colored by Cold
Siamese kittens are born nearly all white because a mutation in their pigment enzyme only works in cooler body temperatures. As the ears, face, paws, and tail cool down after birth, those extremities darken into the breed's signature points while the warmer torso stays pale.
Three Eyelids
Dogs have three eyelids. A third one called a nictitating membrane helps protect and moisten the eye. You can sometimes spot it when a dog is sleepy!
Dogs Dream Too
Dogs dream just like humans do. Their REM sleep looks remarkably similar to ours. You'll notice twitching paws and little whimpers as they relive their day.
Built-In Measuring Tape
A cat's whiskers are roughly as wide as its body, and it uses them to judge whether a gap is safe to squeeze through before ever attempting it.
Lactose Intolerant Cats
Adult cats are technically lactose intolerant, despite what cartoons suggest. Skip the milk bowl, it can cause upset stomachs and digestive issues.