Cats, also called domestic cats (Felis catus), are carnivorous (meat-eating) mammals, of the

family Felidae.

Cats have been domesticated (tame) for nearly 10,000 years.[1] They are currently the most
popular pets in the world.[2] Their origin is probably the African Wildcat Felis silvestris
lybica.

Cats were probably first kept because they ate mice, and this is still their main 'job' in farms
throughout the world. Later they were kept because they are friendly and good companions.

A young cat is called a kitten. Cats are sometimes called kitty or pussycat. A female cat that
has not had its sex organs removed is called a queen. A male cat that has not had its sex
organs removed is called a tom.

Domestic cats are found in shorthair, longhair, and hairless breeds. Cats which are not specific
breeds can be referred to as 'domestic shorthair' (DSH) or 'domestic longhair' (DLH).

The word 'cat' is also used for other felines. Felines are usually called either big cats or small
cats. The big cats are well known: lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, pumas, and cheetahs. There
are small cats in most parts of the world, such as the lynx in northern Europe. The big cats and
wild cats are not tame, and can be very dangerous.

Contents
[hide]

1 History

2 Cat anatomy

3 Behaviour

o 3.1 Communication

o 3.2 Mating

o 3.3 Birth and after

4 Grooming

5 Food

6 Health concerns

7 Other matters

o 7.1 Where to find more information

 o 7.2 Other cat pages

o 7.3 Other meanings of the word 'cat'

8 References

9 Other websites

History[change | change source]

Past range of Felis silvestris.

In the past, most notably in Egypt, people kept domestic cats because they hunted and ate
mice, rats, and insects. Today, people often keep cats as pets. There are also domestic cats
which live without being cared for by people. These kinds of cats are called "feral cats".

The oldest evidence of cats kept as pets is from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, around
7500 BC. Ancient Egyptians worshipped cats as gods, and often mummified them so they
could be with their owners "for all of eternity".

Today, special food for cats is widely available in the developed countries. Proper feeding will
help a cat live longer compared to hunting or being fed table scraps. Not correctly feeding a
cat can lead to problems (see below for health concerns).

Cats cannot taste sweet foods (with sugar) because of a mutation (change) in their ancestors
which removed the ability to taste sweet things.

Cat anatomy[change | change source]

Cats have anatomy similar to the other members of the genus Felis. The genus has extra
lumbar (lower back) and thoracic (chest) vertebrae. This helps to explain the cat's spinal
mobility and flexibility. Unlike human arms, cat forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by
free-floating clavicle bones. These allow cats to pass their body through any space into which
they can fit their heads.[3]

The cat skull is unusual among mammals in having very large eye sockets and a powerful and
specialized jaw.[4]:35 Compared to other felines, domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine
teeth: this is an adaptation to their preferred prey of small rodents.[5] Cats, like dogs, walk
directly on their toes, with the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg.[6]
Cats walk very precisely. Unlike most mammals, when cats walk, they use a "pacing" gait;
that is, they move the two legs on one side of the body before the legs on the other side. This
trait is shared with camels and giraffes. As a walk speeds up into a trot, a cat's gait will change
to be a "diagonal" gait, similar to that of most other mammals: the diagonally opposite hind
and forelegs will move at the same time.[7] Most cats have five claws on their front paws, and
four on their rear paws.[8] On the inside of the front paws there is something which looks like
a sixth "finger". This special feature, on the inside of the wrists, is the carpal pad, also found
on other cats and on dogs.

Behaviour[change | change source]

The cat on the right is fed up with the cat on the left and this is a semi-serious warning.

The stripes on this standard tabby cat help it hide in long grass and bushes. It's a kind of
camouflage.

Cats are active carnivores,[9] meaning they hunt live prey. Their main prey is small mammals
(like mice). They will also stalk, and sometimes kill and eat, birds. Cats eat a wide variety of
prey, including insects, and seem especially to like house flies and bluebottles. Their main
method of hunting is stalk and pounce. While dogs have great stamina and will chase prey
over long distances, cats are extremely fast, but only over short distances. The basic cat coat
colouring, tabby (see top photo), gives it good camouflage in grass and woodland. The cat
creeps towards a chosen victim, keeping its body flat and near to the ground so that it cannot
be seen easily, until it is close enough for a rapid dash or pounce. Cats, especially kittens,
practice these instinctive behaviours in play with each other or on small toys.
Cats are quiet and well-behaved animals, making them popular pets. Young kittens are
playful. They can easily entertain themselves with a variety of store-bought or homemade
toys. House cats have also been known to teach themselves to use lever-type doorknobs and
toilet handles.[10]

Cats are fairly independent animals. They can look after themselves and do not need as much
attention as dogs do.

Communication[change | change source]

Cats use many different sounds for communication, including meowing, purring, trilling,
hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking and grunting.[11]

Body posture is also important. The whole shape of the body changes when a cat is relaxed, or
when it is alert. Also, the position of their ears and tail are used for communication, as well as
their usual functions.

These ways of communication are very important. They are used between a mother cat and
her kittens. They are also used between male and female cats; and between cats and other
species, such as dogs. A mother cat protecting her kittens will fight off the largest dog. She
gives good warning with a frightening display, hissing furiously, showing her claws, arching
her back, and making her hair stand on end. If that fails, she attacks the dog's face with her
claws. It has been said that no dog ever tries such an attack a second time.[12]

Mating[change | change source]

Cats only mate when the queen is "in heat". Heat periods occur about every two weeks and
last 4 to 6 days.[13] Mating in cats is a spectacular event. Several toms may be attracted to a
queen in heat. The males will fight over her, and the victor wins the right to mate. At first, the
female will reject the male, but eventually the female will allow the male to mate. The female
will utter a loud yowl as the male pulls out of her. This is because a male cat's penis has a
band of about 120-150 backwards-pointing spines, which are about one millimeter long;[14]
upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which is a
trigger[15] for ovulation. After mating, the female will wash her vulva thoroughly. If a male
attempts to breed with her at this point, the female will attack him. After about 20 to 30
minutes. once the female is finished grooming, the cycle will repeat.[13]

Because ovulation is not always triggered, females may not get pregnant by the first tom
which mates with them.[16] A queen may mate with more than one tom when she is in heat, and
different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.[13] The cycle ceases when the queen is
pregnant.

The gestation period for cats is about two months, with an average length of 66 days.[17] The
size of a litter is usually three to five kittens. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven
weeks, and cats normally reach sexual maturity at 510 months (females) and to 57 months
(males).[13] Females can have two to three litters per year, so might produce up to 150 kittens
in their breeding life of about ten years.[13]

Birth and after[change | change source]

Pregnant queens deliver their litters by themselves, guided by instinct. The queen finds the
safest place she can. Then she will clean it thoroughly, with her tongue, if necessary. Here she
will quietly give birth. She licks the newborn kits clean. In the wild, leaving a scent is risking
a dangerous encounter with other animals. The kits are born blind and with closed eyes. They
suckle on her teats, and sleep a good deal. After two weeks or so, their eyes open. At that stage
they have blue eyes, but not the best sight. A bit later, the best developed kit will totter out of
the nest. The others follow. They will soon recognise you as a living thing: that is a great
moment. At first, they go back to the nest to feed and sleep. After some more days they leave
the nest for good, but still they may sleep together in a 'kitten heap'.

The queen, meanwhile, has left the nest from time to time, to hunt, feed, and also to urinate
and defecate. Unlike the tom, she covers up her business to hide her scent. Very soon, the kits
will urinate anywhere they please unless one trains them. This is done after they are weaned,
when they are ready for some kitten food. Here is how to do it:

1. Prepare clean cat tray filled with absorbent grit.

2. Give kittens their special kitten food.
3. Take the lead kitten right after it has eaten, place it in your cat tray.
4. Gently stroke its tummy with one finger.
5. Watch as kitten sits down promptly and urinates. Do same for other kits.
6. Repeat next time if they need it. They will not need a third time.

What you have done is exactly what the queen would do in the wild. You have triggered a
reflex which all kittens have. The thing is, the tray is artificial, and your queen may do her
business outside. But at least when young, kittens need a tray. Your next job is to call the vet,
who will tell you when to bring the kits for their vaccination.[18]

Kitten with string

Kittens play endlessly. It is how they do their learning. They will play their favourite games,
such as 'hide and pounce', with almost anyone or anything. Soft balls on strings are a standard
toy; so is a scratching post.

With cats there is a limit to how far you can train them. They are at least as intelligent as dogs,
but they are not pack animals. They like to do their own thing, and owners do best by fitting
in. Never hit a cat: if you do, the relationship will never be the same again. If you really want
to dissuade them, try hissing. Also, a noise they do not like will make them leave. It has been
said that no one really owns a cat; many cats collect extra owners, and may change house if
they do not like the treatment...[19]

If your kitten was born in your home do not let it out of the house until it is two to three
months old. If you have the mother, she will look after the kit. But if you have got the kit from
a vet or dealer, keep it in for several weeks. When it does go out, you need to watch over it.
The main problem is that it may easily get lost. In time, the kit will learn every inch of the
house and garden. Then, you can happily let it roam.[20]

Grooming[change | change source]

Cats are very clean animals. They groom themselves by licking their fur. The cat's tongue can
act as a hairbrush and can clean and untangle a cat's fur. Still, owners may buy grooming
products to help the cat take care of itself. After licking their fur, cats sometimes get hairballs.
[21]
A hairball is a small amount of fur that is vomited up by animals when it becomes too big.
This is quite normal. Owners brush their cats to try to prevent a lot of hairballs.

Food[change | change source]

A typical brown Burmese cat

Many house cats eat food which their owners give them. This food is manufactured, and
designed to contain the right nutrients for cats. There are many different types of cat food.
These come in many different flavors and costs are often very small.

There is moist canned food and also dry cat food which comes in different sized cans or bags
and formulas. There are kitten formulas, cat formulas, health formulas, formulas for reducing
a cat's weight, and many others. These can even be organic (made from all natural
ingredients), and have vegetables, salmon, tuna, meat, and milk essence. Yet, it's best if the
food is at least 95% meat, as that's a cat's diet. Also, make sure the cat is not fed a daily diet of
dog food. It could make the cat blind, as it has no taurine, which is a nutrient for the eyes.

Health concerns[change | change source]

A very young kitten. This kitten has been taken out of the nest for a photo; its eyes are just
open, but it cannot yet see properly.

Kittens growing up

Cats do get diseases, and prevention is better than cure. It is most important to get a young cat
vaccinated against some of the most deadly diseases. If a cat gets a disease, a veterinarian
(animal doctor) can offer help. Some cats, depending on breed, gender, age, and general
health, may be more susceptible to disease than others. Regular visits to a vet can keep a cat
alive many extra years by catching sickness and disease early.[22]

Cats that roam outside will get fleas at some time. Cat fleas will not live on people, but fleas
will not hesitate to bite anyone nearby. Owners may choose to buy anti-flea collars, but any
areas where the cat normally sleeps need to be cleaned up. A vet or local pet-shop may offer
advice about fleas. It is recommended that people quickly take action when a cat gets fleas
because fleas can make cats uncomfortable.

House cats can become overweight through lack of exercise and over-feeding. When they get
spayed or neutered ("fixed"), they tend to exercise less. Spaying is done for queens, and
neutering is done for toms. It is important to fix cats, and here are some reasons. First of all, if
a female cat has kittens, they will need homes. Finding homes for kittens is often quite
difficult. If a tom is not fixed, it develops a disgusting smell. Breeders who have entire toms
keep them in a special hut outside the house, for that reason. Fixing also helps to avoid over-
population. Over-population means that there are too many cats, and some will be put to sleep
(put down) in animal pounds (animal shelters).

Kittens are sometimes born with defects. People who receive cats as gifts are recommended to
get it examined for its health. Some birth defects, like heart problems, require urgent vet
attention. Others are harmless, like polydactyly. Polydactyly means many digits, or many
"fingers" from poly (many) and dactyl (digit). Sometimes, there is a mutation (change) in cat
families. Most cats have only four to five toes per paw, depending on whether it is the front or
back paw. These mutated cats have six, seven, and in rare cases even more. All of these cats
are called polydactyl cats. They can also be called Hemingway cats because author Ernest
Hemingway owned many of these cats.

Other matters[change | change source]

Where to find more information[change | change source]

There are quite a number of reference books on cats. Look for titles like Encyclopedia of the
cat, or Cat encyclopedia.