Happy Thursday:

• 🏅 Meet this record-breaking cat

• 🐈 The truth about your cat’s tummy

• 💤 This mattress helps you sleep as good as your cat

• 🇦🇺 How Australia is handling its feral cats

Did You Know?

Cats can jump up to ___ times their body length in one leap.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answer!)

She may be pint-sized with a pouty little face, but Naia isn’t your average cat. The black-footed feline just turned 18, making her the oldest known of her kind in human care. This is a major milestone for one of the world’s most elusive wild cats.

Native to southern Africa, black-footed cats are fierce night hunters and weigh no more than a housecat at 2 to 5 pounds. They rely on stealth and precision, reportedly succeeding in more hunts than any other wild feline. Despite their size, they’re dubbed the deadliest cats on Earth.

Naia lives at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, where she’s beating the odds for her endangered species. Only around 10,000 black-footed cats are believed to exist globally.

She may not enjoy belly rubs, but Naia’s legacy is just as important. Her long life is helping raise awareness for a species that’s too often overlooked, and reminding us that even the tiniest predators deserve a place in the spotlight.

If you’ve ever seen your cat’s belly swing side to side while they walk or run, you’re not imagining things. That flap is called a primordial pouch, and it’s something all cats have, no matter how fit or floofy.

This extra skin and fat sit along the lower belly, and it serves some clever evolutionary purposes. It may protect vital organs in a cat fight, allow for better stretch and speed, or even make room for large meals back when food was scarce. Some breeds, like the Bengal and Egyptian Mau, have especially prominent pouches.

It’s easy to mistake the pouch for body fat, but it’s soft and hangs low, unlike the firm padding of an overweight cat. If your kitty is lean elsewhere and just has a jiggle, that pouch is likely doing its job. Still not sure? A quick check-in with your vet can help you tell the difference.

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Australia’s battle with feral cats has been a long and devastating one, with these predators linked to the extinction of more than 30 native species. But a small, soil-digging marsupial called the brush-tailed bettong might hold part of the answer.

The Marna Banggara Project in South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula has reintroduced these endangered “rat kangaroos” to land once stripped of native life. Known for their digging and seed-spreading habits, the bettongs help restore vegetation and soil health. This creates a richer habitat that supports native wildlife and makes it harder for invasive predators to dominate.

Despite ongoing feral cat populations, the rewilded bettongs are thriving, doubling their numbers to roughly 400 in under two years. Rather than eradicating every predator, researchers are focusing on restoring balance. Their success suggests a new kind of conservation: one where ecosystems heal through coexistence, not complete control.

From spooky surprises to secret discoveries, here’s what’s trending this week:

• 🏚️ Cat’s disappearance leads owner to a hidden room in their home

• 💤 Sleep as good as your cat with this mattress

• 👻 Meet the rare “ghost face” Maine Coon kittens capturing attention online

• 🎃 Doorbell cam catches a cat delivering a Halloween treat

Daily Purr is brought to you with love from our cats. We hope they can brighten your day, just like they do ours. ❤️

Love,

Olive, Milo, and Yasmine.

🐱 Bite-Sized Treats

🧐 Did You Know: Cats can jump up to six times their body length in one leap.

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