Purr-fect Knowledge: A Fun Cat Trivia Quiz

1. How many teeth does an adult cat usually have?
   1. 28 teeth
   2. 26 teeth
   3. 32 teeth
   4. 30 teeth
2. What sense is a cat's whiskers primarily used for?
   1. Taste
   2. Hearing
   3. Smell
   4. Touch
3. Which domestic cat color pattern is linked to the gene for male infertility when present in tortoiseshell males?
   1. Calico
   2. Tabby
   3. Solid white
   4. Tortoiseshell
4. What is the normal range of a healthy cat's body temperature in Celsius?
   1. 38–39°C
   2. 36–37°C
   3. 40–41°C
   4. 35–36°C
5. What hunting style do domestic cats primarily use?
   1. Group hunt
   2. Endurance chase
   3. Ambush only
   4. Stalk and pounce
6. Which organ helps cats taste by detecting pheromones through the flehmen response?
   1. Jacobson's organ
   2. Liver
   3. Olfactory bulb
   4. Taste buds
7. At what age are most kittens fully weaned and eating solid food?
   1. 4 weeks
   2. 8 weeks
   3. 12 weeks
   4. 6 months

Answers and explanations

1. Question: How many teeth does an adult cat usually have?
   Answer: 30 teeth
   Explanation: Adult domestic cats typically have 30 permanent teeth; kittens have 26 baby teeth before they lose them. Some people guess 32 like humans, but cats have fewer molars.
2. Question: What sense is a cat's whiskers primarily used for?
   Answer: Touch
   Explanation: Whiskers are highly sensitive tactile hairs that detect nearby objects and air currents; they're not for tasting or hearing. Owners sometimes confuse them with fur for balance, but they mainly sense touch.
3. Question: Which domestic cat color pattern is linked to the gene for male infertility when present in tortoiseshell males?
   Answer: Tortoiseshell
   Explanation: Tortoiseshell coloring usually requires two X chromosomes, so males with this pattern are often sterile (XXY chromosomal anomaly). Solid or tabby males don't show this genetic restriction.
4. Question: What is the normal range of a healthy cat's body temperature in Celsius?
   Answer: 38–39°C
   Explanation: Cats normally run warmer than humans, about 38 to 39 °C; lower or higher readings can indicate illness. Common incorrect guesses like 36–37°C reflect human norms, not feline ones.
5. Question: What hunting style do domestic cats primarily use?
   Answer: Stalk and pounce
   Explanation: Cats typically stalk silently then pounce to capture prey, using stealth and short bursts of speed rather than endurance chases like dogs. 'Chase over long distance' is more canine behavior.
6. Question: Which organ helps cats taste by detecting pheromones through the flehmen response?
   Answer: Jacobson's organ
   Explanation: The vomeronasal (Jacobson's) organ senses pheromones, often during the flehmen face; general taste buds don't detect these signals. People often mistake it for regular smelling.
7. Question: At what age are most kittens fully weaned and eating solid food?
   Answer: 8 weeks
   Explanation: Kittens are usually weaned by about 8 weeks when they transition to solid food and become less dependent on their mother. Some may wean earlier or later, but 8 weeks is the common milestone.