**1. Cats can't taste sweetness.**
While humans and dogs have taste buds that can detect sweetness, cats lack the necessary receptors. This means that they're not particularly interested in sweet treats like ice cream or candy.
**2. Dogs have a much better sense of smell than cats.**
Dogs have about 220 million olfactory receptors compared to cats' 45-80 million. This gives dogs an incredible ability to detect scents, including those of prey and potential threats.
**3. Cats spend about 70% of their day sleeping.**
Cats are known for their laid-back lifestyle, and this is reflected in their sleeping habits. On average, they spend around 16 hours per day snoozing.
**4. Dogs can sweat through their paws.**
When dogs get hot, they release sweat through the pads on their feet. This helps to cool them down, similar to how humans sweat through their skin.
**5. Cats purr for a variety of reasons.**
Contrary to popular belief, cats don't just purr when they're happy. They also purr when they're stressed, anxious, or even in pain. The vibration from purring can have calming and healing effects.
**6. Dogs can learn over 1,000 words.**
While dogs may not be able to speak like humans, they have an impressive ability to learn and understand language. With proper training, they can recognize a wide range of words and commands.
**7. Cats have a third eyelid called the nictitating membrane.**
This translucent eyelid slides across the eye to protect it from dust, debris, and bright light. It's most noticeable when cats are sleeping or relaxed.
**8. Dogs can see some colors, but not as well as humans.**
Dogs have dichromatic vision, meaning they can only see blue and yellow. They lack the red and green cone cells that humans possess, making them unable to differentiate between these colors.
**9. Cats are obligate carnivores.**
This means that they must eat meat to survive. Their digestive systems are specialized for digesting animal proteins, and they cannot obtain all the necessary nutrients from plant-based diets.
**10. Dogs have a natural instinct to work with humans.**
Unlike cats, which are more independent, dogs have evolved to cooperate with humans. They have a strong desire to please their owners and are often eager to help with tasks.