Cats purr when they are happy, even while they eat. A cat can also purr when it is hurt, hungry or nervous, so a purr does not always mean a happy cat. Kittens may purr when they drink their mother's milk. A mother cat purrs to her kittens. This is thought to help them feel calm. Purring is not only for house cats. Cheetahs and pumas are large cats that can purr. Lions are big cats that can roar.

Cats sleep for many hours each day. Many cats are most active at dawn and dusk. Cats almost always land on their feet when they fall.

A cat can see well when there is only a little light. Its eyes glow in dim light because a mirror-like layer behind the retina bounces light back. A cat's eyesight is not as sharp as a person's, though. Cats have trouble focusing on things very close up.

A cat's whiskers are special thick hairs that are more sensitive than regular hairs. They help a cat feel its way around. They also help it tell whether it can squeeze through a narrow space. Cats have a strong sense of smell. They hear very high sounds that people cannot hear.

A cat with its tail held straight up is usually being friendly. A cat that tucks its tail low or between its legs may feel scared. A puffed-out tail makes a cat look bigger. A cat with its ears flat against its head is often afraid or upset. Relaxed cats often blink slowly and half close their eyes.

Kittens finish drinking their mother's milk by about 8 weeks old. They learn to hunt by copying their mother. Kittens learn to be comfortable with people and other animals most easily between 2 and 7 weeks of age. Their play is practice for hunting, and they stalk, chase, pounce and bite.

Pet cats live about 12 to 14 years on average, as of November 2026. Some cats live 20 years or more if they are well cared for. Cat breeds look very different, yet the smallest and largest breeds weigh only about 5 to 10 pounds apart.

Words to know

• purr: soft cat hum
• whiskers: cat face hairs
• retina: inside the eye
• breeds: kinds of cat
• dusk: early evening

The short version

Cats purr when they are happy, even while they eat, but a cat can also purr when it is hurt, hungry or nervous. Kittens may purr when they drink their mother's milk, and a mother cat purrs to her kittens, which is thought to help them feel calm.

Quick facts

• Cats purr when they are happy, even while they eat.
• A cat can also purr when it is hurt, hungry or nervous, so a purr does not always mean a happy cat.
• Kittens may purr when they drink their mother's milk.
• Cheetahs and pumas are large cats that can purr.
• Pet cats live about 12 to 14 years on average, as of November 2026.