Cat Facts
October 16, 2025
compiled by Nancy Kerr
J is for …
Jaundice is the accumulation of higher-than-normal amounts of a yellow pigment called bilirubin in a cat’s bloodstream and body. This results in visible yellowing in a range of locations around the body such as gums, lips, tongue, eyes, and skin. This is a serious issue, and an affected cat should see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Jump is what cats do while hunting, playing, exploring, and escaping. They are capable of leaping up to six times their body length because of their unique physical characteristics and agility. They don’t jump like dogs do (with their chest facing the ground), but rather with all four paws off the ground at once, making them some of the highest-jumping animals around. Their long legs, flexible spines, and strong muscles give them an advantage over most other animals when it comes to jumping. Cats use their tails as counter-balances when they jump, which allows them to stay upright while they’re in the air, even if they’re going extra high.
Joint in a cat is an articulation, which is defined as the junction between two or more bones of the skeleton. Some joints have no movement, some allow only slight movement, and some are freely moveable. Joints are found throughout the body wherever two bones meet. There are three types of joints: synovial joints, fibrous joints, and cartilaginous joints. Synovial joints – These joints are the most common type of joint, and they provide free movement between the bones they link. Fibrous joints – These joints are united by fibrous tissue. The amount of movement in these joints depends in most cases on the length of fibers uniting the bones. Cartilaginous joints – These joints are united by cartilage and allow some movement.
Jacobson’s organ (also known as the vomeronasal organ) is located in the roof of a cat’s mouth and contains ducts that lead to the mouth and to the nose. This is essentially a scent analyzer which is used to identify non-volatile chemicals (known as pheromones) primarily from other cats, but also from prey and predators. A flehmen response is what explains the funny faces that cats make when they encounter an interesting smell. They open their mouths, curl their upper lips, and flick their tongues to send air toward their Jacobson’s organ. The flehmen response enables cats to send the new scent through the Jacobson’s organ for further analysis.
Juvenile fibroadenomas hyperplasia is also known as feline mammary hyperplasia. It is a benign condition characterized by the sudden and excessive growth of mammary tissue, often triggered by hormonal stimulation, particularly from progesterone. It typically affects young, unspayed females during their first heat cycles, but can also occur in older cats and even male cats receiving progestin-based treatments. Symptoms include rapid swelling of the mammary glands, which can lead to complications such as infection or ulceration. Treatment usually involves removing the source of progesterone (achieved by spaying) or discontinuing hormone therapy, which can lead to spontaneous regression of the condition.