Mental Floss

CATS

A mouse places its paws atop a block of Swiss cheese

If you believe that mice love cheese, rabbits love carrots, and elephants love peanuts...you're wrong. Here are six incorrect beliefs about what animals like to eat.

Chaos!

Having pets doesn’t mean sacrificing the well-being of your Christmas tree. There are easy measures you can take to keep your Christmas tree pet-proof.

Senior pets can add a lot of love to your life.

Older animals can still make great companions—here’s what to consider when looking to add one to your family.

Absolutely gorgeous.

Here‘s why chimera cats look like two different furballs stitched together.

There are so many of them.

This island is struggling to manage its massive stray cat population.

Some might accuse this kitty of gossiping.

Cats have attracted a lot of different superstitions over the years—some easier to believe than others.

Francine with two Lowe’s employees.

Francine the cat went missing for a while in a different city. Now she‘s back home.

Just when you think they can‘t get any cuter.

See which pet costumes people are most excited for this Halloween.

These names are popular among dogs and cats.

Is your new pet’s name on this list?

Their paws may come for your water, too.

Cats sometimes act like a bowl of water is something to approach with extreme caution. There’s a reason for it, though.

Nap time.

Think you know your feline facts? Test yourself with this puzzling primer on all things cat. (Bonus points if you can finish before one starts napping on your keyboard.)

Even this snowy owl is totally surprised by some of these facts.

You’ll never look at these creatures the same way again.

It looks like something has him on edge.

An extra-fluffy tail doesn’t just look cute—it’s your cat’s way of communicating how they feel.

Cats are pretty good at regulating their temperature.

Here’s a hint: It’s not by sweating through their paws.

The cutest sailor ever.

A sunken ship near Florida holds clues to the early history of cats in the U.S.

Soaking up some sun.

See which international cities offer the best conditions for you and your companion.

There are several ways you can help make kitten season less chaotic.

Spring and summer are hectic times for animal shelters and cat rescue groups.

You can practically hear this photo.

We know cats purr for a variety of reasons. But the actual mechanics of how they make their signature sound remains unclear.

Being in a carrier is not usually a cat’s favorite activity.

It doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience.

A ban on cats isn‘t happening.

The Scottish government won’t be rounding up people’s pets any time soon.

Who could be afraid of this cute kitty?

See if you can spot the names of these common (and not so common) terms for animal apprehension.

Cat was mistakenly left on a plane and made three trips

A family‘s pet cat was mistakenly left on a flight, leading to a cross-country journey from Melbourne to New Zealand and back.

A fantastic blep.

We asked an expert to help us investigate the adorable causes of the tongue-lolling phenomenon.

The DOG 6 will make you worry less about your dog‘s wellbeing.

Tractive‘s GPS tracker offers real-time tracking, health monitoring, and safety features for dog owners.