December is National Cat Lovers' Month

I have a cat - her name is Candy and she is certainly loved, so a month to love and appreciate cats is something which makes sense to me. My grown kids and grandkids also have cats, so they will be happy to celebrate this month as well. Daysoftheyear (dot) com says, "This special month, celebrated each December, emphasizes the joy and companionship cats bring into our lives. With over a quarter of U.S. households owning a cat, this month is a heartfelt tribute to these cherished animal companions. The observance of National Cat Lovers’ Month is also about raising awareness of the many cats in shelters needing homes." Let's look at some fun facts about cats - did you know . . . 

• Cats reduce stress and anxiety, offering quiet companionship which differs from other pets. 
• Unlike dogs, cats do not have a sweet tooth. Scientists believe this is due to a mutation in a key taste receptor.
• A group of cats is called a “clowder.”
• Cats make about 100 different sounds. Dogs make only about 10.
• The first cat in space was a French cat named Felicette (a.k.a. “Astrocat”) In 1963, France blasted the cat into outer space. Electrodes implanted in her brains sent neurological signals back to Earth. She survived the trip.
• The group of words associated with cat (catt, cath, chat, katze) stem from the Latin catus, meaning domestic cat, as opposed to feles, or wild cat.
• Cats are North America’s most popular pets: there are 73 million cats compared to 63 million dogs. Over 30% of households in North America own a cat.
• According to Hebrew legend, Noah prayed to God for help protecting all the food he stored on the ark from being eaten by rats. In reply, God made the lion sneeze, and out popped a cat.
• The smallest wildcat today is the Black-footed cat. The females are less than 20 inches (50 cm) long and can weigh as little as 2.5 lbs.
• Cats have about 130,000 hairs per square inch.
• In just seven years, a single pair of cats and their offspring could produce a staggering total of 420,000 kittens.
• A female cat is called a queen or a molly.
• Researchers say your cat *does* know her name. She just doesn't care.

You will find more cat fun facts at this link and more about this special month at this link.

And, if you want to celebrate National Cat Lovers' Month by making a cat, try this fun crochet pattern you will find at the following link - you could show your grands how to make them, or just surprise them with their own "litter" of cats!