International Cat Day: Top 10 facts about our furry feline friends

International Cats Day was celebrated on August 8 just like every year since it was created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002.

A. Cats were worshipped in Ancient Egypt. Dead cats were often mummified to appease the gods.

(Cats were worshipped in Ancient Egypt)

B. In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued a Papal Bull calling for the burning of all witches and their cats at the stake.

C. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, the UK has 7.5 million pet cats.

(According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, the UK has 7.5 million pet cats)

D. London and East Anglia are the only UK regions with more cats than dogs in an average household.

E. In 2011, an Italian black cat named Tommaso inherited about 10 million euros (£8.5m) when his owner, a reclusive widow, died in Rome aged 94.

F. From 1999-2002, a cat named Catmando served as joint leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party with his owner Howling Laud Hope.

G. The mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska was a cat named Stubbs from 1997 until his death in 2017

(The mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska was a cat named Stubbs from 1997 until his death in 2017)

H. The collective noun for cats is a “clowder” which is just an old version of “clutter” and was coined by Joseph Strutt in 1801.

I. A “dowt” and a “glaring” of cats have also been used, as well as a “destruction” of wild cats.

J. The European Patent Office has details of over 1,200 inventions relating to cat litters.