Cat Facts for Kids

A Picture of a Cat
  • Name: Cat
  • Binomial Name: Felis catus
  • Lifespan: 15 years in 2018
  • Diet: Meat (carnivorous)
  • Range: Worldwide (domesticated)
  • Length: 1 foot, 6 inches on average
  • Weight: Between 8.5 and 11 pounds (average)

18 Cat Facts for Kids

  1. Cats are small to medium sized members of the Felis genus.
  2. Their scientific binomial name is Felis catus.
  3. As of 2019, the TICA (The International Cat Association) recognizes 71 standard cat breeds.
  4. Cats are the only domesticated species in the Felidae family.
  5. Cats can reach a length of 1 foot, 6 inches on average.
  6. Cats can reach between 8.5 and 11 pounds on average.
  7. Some species of cats can achieve running speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
  8. It’s estimated there are between 200 and 600 million domesticated cats worldwide.
  9. Cats are the second most popular domestic pet in the world.
  10. A male cat is called a tom.
  11. A female cat is called a queen or molly.
  12. A young cat is called a kitten.
  13. A group of cats is called a clowder.
  14. Cats can jump on average 8 feet, which is about six times their average body length.
  15. Cats spend around 70% of their time sleeping, and that’s about 13 to 16 hours a day.
  16. The longest cat in the world was Stewie, reaching 48.5 inches in length.
  17. The longest living cat on record was Crème Puff. She lived 38 years and 3 days.
  18. On October 18th, 1963 the first and only cat went into space, her name was Felicette.

Additional Resources on Cats

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