Aside from all being adorable, 80% of orange cats have something else in common: They’re male. Only one in five of the notoriously goofy felines are female, as some color is inextricably linked to biological sex in cats. 

A male cat will be orange if he carries that gene on either of his chromosomes, whereas a female needs to carry it on both. So if a female orange cat becomes pregnant, her male kittens will be orange regardless of the color of their father’s fur, but a female kitten will be orange only if both of her parents are. Regardless, orange kitties are especially beloved on the internet for their perceived eccentricities and proclivity for being a bit goofy.

Cats are most active at night.

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They’re actually crepuscular, which means they’re most active during dawn and dusk.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are calico cats and their distinct tricolor coats (usually white, orange, and black), an even vaster majority of which are female: Only one in 3,000 calicos are male. A cat has to have two X chromosomes in order to be calico, which, in theory, rules out males entirely, as they have only one. Those extremely rare male calicos result from an extra X chromosome, a condition similar to Klinefelter’s syndrome in humans. They’re also almost always sterile due to that second X chromosome, making male calicos exceedingly difficult to breed.

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Metallica lyrics notwithstanding, most humans would find it impossible to sleep with one eye open. Dolphins, on the other hand, can’t sleep any other way. That’s because, unlike us, they don’t breathe automatically and have to remain conscious in order to do so actively. The solution to this predicament is called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, in which one half of the brain rests while the other remains awake. When the right half of a dolphin’s brain is sleeping, its left eye is closed, and vice versa; they periodically alternate which side of the brain is asleep in order to rest fully while retaining consciousness. While sleeping, dolphins may rest motionless or swim slowly and steadily near the water’s surface.

Orcas belong to the dolphin family.

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Despite their name, so-called killer whales aren’t whales at all — they’re dolphins. Due to their ability to take down large whale species, orcas were known as “asesina ballenas” (“whale killer”) by ancient sailors, and eventually the name was flipped.

Dolphins aren’t the only species with strange sleeping patterns. A number of their fellow sea creatures, from beluga whales to sea lions, also exhibit unihemispheric sleep. On the extra adorable end of the spectrum are otters, who float belly-up and often hold hands with one another so as to not drift apart while snoozing. Great Frigatebirds, meanwhile, sleep in 10-second bursts while remaining airborne for as long as two months at a time. And, like dolphins, they do it with one eye open.    

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If you love cats but can’t have one of your own because you’re allergic, the feeling may be mutual. It isn’t common, but cats can be allergic to people. The condition is rare in part because we humans usually bathe regularly and thus don’t shed as much dead skin or hair as other animals (and it’s somewhat unclear how much of a problem human dander may be for felines). That said, cats are fairly sensitive to chemicals and sometimes have a negative reaction to certain perfumes, laundry detergents, and soaps. Cat allergic reactions look much the same as the ones humans get — they may manifest as sneezing, runny noses, rashes, hives, or other uncomfortable symptoms. In rare cases, cats can even be allergic to dogs. (Maybe that’s why some of them don’t get along.)

Cats can have milk every day.

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Though some cats can have a little, as a treat, most are lactose intolerant and should not be given cow milk. It has no nutritional benefits and simply isn’t good for them, however cute they may be while lapping up a saucerful.

Yet our feline friends are more likely to have the same seasonal allergies as us — especially grass and pollen — as well as year-round problems with dust mites and fleas. As much as 30% of the human population with allergies is allergic to either cats or dogs, with allergies to cats being twice as common as allergies to their canine counterparts. While ailurophiles (cat lovers) may consider that a fate worse than death, the good news is there are a number of hypoallergenic breeds that are less likely to make you sneeze.

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It’s generally a good idea to keep your distance from lions, which is why it’s reassuring to know that hearing one doesn’t necessarily mean it’s nearby. A lion’s roar is so loud, in fact, that it can be heard from more than 5 miles away. Reaching 114 decibels (about 25 times louder than a gas-powered lawn mower), the sound is louder than that of any other big cat — just one reason why the lion is known as the king of the jungle. They’re able to make such an imposing call thanks to their larynx: While most animals’ vocal cords are triangular, a lion’s are square and flat. This allows air to pass through more easily and results in a loud roar that requires relatively little effort on the lion’s part. 

Lions are the most social big-cat species.

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Whereas tigers, jaguars, and other big cats are known to be solitary, lions typically live in groups known as prides. Prides of African lions often consist of 3 to 30 members but can have as many as 40, including related females, their children, and a small number of males.

Lions aren’t the only animals that can be heard from long distances. Blue whales make the loudest sound of all, with males emitting a rumbling call that can reach 188 decibels and be heard by potential mates hundreds of miles away. The famous hyena “laugh,” meanwhile — actually a sound the animals make under stress — can reach a distance of 8 miles. Lions, blue whales, and hyenas would all be impressed by the mighty, tiny pistol shrimp, which shoots out bubbles to incapacitate its prey and in doing so creates a sound that can reach 218 decibels, louder than a gunshot. Fortunately for any humans that might be nearby, it lasts only a fraction of a second.

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