Cat facts: everything you ever wanted to know about feline friends

Cats make curious housemates, says veterinarian David Gething, of Creature Comforts. "Despite having such a close relationship with humans, cats really are quite unusual creatures. They have many behavioural, emotional and physiological traits that are different from other animals and people."

Cats also seem to resist our efforts at domestication, preferring to dignify us with their presence rather than become our pets and loyal servants, Gething adds. "And, as opposed to dogs, cats are usually difficult to train but they do instinctively have a number of traits, such as cleanliness and litter tray habits."

Scratch beneath the surface and, through these favourite cat facts from Gething, these felines may become even more curious.

Cats sleep for up to 18 hours a day, which means that by the time they're 15 years old, they will only have been awake for four years. "That's fine though, because kittens begin dreaming after they are only one week old, many months before most animals or people," Gething says.

Kittens also need their rest as they only release growth hormones while they are sleeping.

A little-known fact, the vet says, is that cats are unable to taste sweet things. "Cats lack the gene required for making sweet taste buds, most likely due to an evolutionary DNA mutation many thousands of years ago." Being carnivores, a sweet taste sensation isn't necessary, and cats have a gene which gives them an extra sense of taste for meat, Gething adds.