7 Ways Your Cat Is Actually A Tiger

The stats are in! A recent study revealed that house cats share 95.6% of their DNA with the largest and most striking of the world’s big cats, tigers.

Sound like a lot? Take a look at this list and then make up your mind.

They both go nuts for catnip.

Yep! You better believe it.

They talk!

Like tabby cats, big cats talk to their people. All types of felines make noise and tigers are known to “chuff” in greeting — like a puffing noise out of their lips.

Personal grooming is a top priority.

Can you even imagine the hairballs?

Also a top priority: sleeping.

Usually 16 to 20 hours a day! Tigers are opportunity hunters, meaning they’ll sprint to catch prey so they need lots of sleep to stay energized.

They Can’t Help But Scratch

Cut them some slack — it’s only natural!

They’re OBSESSED with boxes.

No explanation needed.

They’re weird about food.

Ever notice your cat paw around her food bowl? In the wild, big cats bury their kills if they don’t finish eating them right away.

They wiggle their butts.

We’ve all seen it: the infamous pre-pounce butt wiggle. Turns out tigers do it, too!

Surprised? So were we.

But wait! Tigers may behave a lot like our feline buddies, but they’re different in one very important way: tigers are not house pets.

Sadly, not everyone understands this. Experts estimate there are 5,000 tigers in captivity across the U.S. And most aren’t in zoos. They’re in backyards, houses, kennels and garages.

Tigers are intelligent, 600-pound carnivores that require considerable living space — space they can’t get in a residential home. Until we can end the illegal pet trade, tiger sanctuaries need our help!