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Cat
other images of cats
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Felidae
Genus:
Felis
Species:
F. catus
Trinomial name
Felis catus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
For the cat family, see Felidae. For the musical see Cats (musical).

Cats, also called domestic cats or house 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. An entire female cat is a queen, and an entire male cat is a tom.[3]

Domestic cats are found in shorthair and longhair 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 classed as 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.

History

Throughout history, people kept cats because the cats hunted and ate mice, rats, and insects. Ancient Egyptians worshiped cats as gods, and often mummified them so they could be with their owners "for all of eternity". Today, people often keep cats as pets, but there are also cats that live without being cared for by people. These kinds of cats are called "feral cats". Today, special food for cats is widely available. Proper feeding will make a cat live much 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 gene necessary for tasting sweet things.

Behaviour

Cats are active carnivores[4], 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.

A typical brown Burmese cat

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 doorknobs and toilet handles.[5]

Communication

Cats use many different sounds and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting.[6] Also important is their tail, used for communication, and for balance.

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.[7]

Mating

Cats only mate when the queen is "in heat". Heat periods occur about every two weeks and last 4 to 6 days.[8] 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;[9] upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which is a trigger[10] 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.[8]

Because ovulation is not always triggered, females may not get pregnant by the first tom which mates with them.[11] A queen may mate with more than one tom when she is in heat, and different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.[8] The cycle ceases when the queen is pregnant.

The gestation period for cats is about two months, with an average length of 66 days.[12] 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 5–10 months (females) and to 5–7 months (males).[8] Females can have two to three litters per year, so might produce up to 150 kittens in their breeding life of about ten years.[8]

Birth and after

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, with no hair, and closed eyes. They suckle on her teats, and sleep a good deal. After a week or so, their eyes open. At that stage they have hair and blue eyes. 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. Gentle stroke its tummy with one finger.
5. Watch, delighted, as kitten sits down promptly and urinates. Do same for other kits.
6. Repeat next time if they need it. They won't need a third time. Probably.

What you have done is exactly what the queen would do in the wild. You have triggered a reflex[13] 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 ring the vet, who will tell you when to bring the kits for their vaccination.[14]

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 chastise a cat physically: if you do, the relationship will never be the same again. If you really want to dissuade them, try hissing. Also, a noise they don't 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 don't like the treatment...[15]

If your kitten was born in your house (or flat/apartment) don't 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.[16]

Grooming

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, many owners buy grooming products so the cat will not always be depended on to take care of itself. After licking their fur, cats sometimes get hairballs.[17] 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

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 "wet" 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.

Health Concerns

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.

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, you take it to a vet (animal doctor). 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.

Cats which roam outside will get fleas at some time. Cat fleas won't live on people, but if your cat has them, the fleas won't hesitate to give you a nip as well. You can buy anti-flea collars, but also you need to clean up any areas where the cat normally sleeps. Your vet or local pet-shop will give you advice. Don't delay, because fleas can make your cat pretty unhappy!

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 your female cat has kittens you will need to find homes for them. That is often quite difficult. If a tom is not fixed, it develops a disgusting smell, and you won't enjoy having it in the house. 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. If you buy or accept the gift of a cat, get it examined for its health. Reject any which are not in good shape: once you own a cat, you are responsible for its welfare. Some birth defects, like heart problems, require urgent vet attention. Others are harmless, like the polydactyl. Polydactyl 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

Where to find more information

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

Other cat pages

Other meanings of the word 'cat'

  • As a verb, "to cat" means to pull a ship's anchor to rest at its cathead. It can also mean to look for a mate.
  • Cat can be a short nickname for Katherine, Kathleen, Caitlin, Catalina and Catarina.

References

  1. ↑ "Oldest Known Pet Cat? 9500-Year-Old Burial Found on Cyprus". National Geographic News. 2004-04-08. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  2. ↑ Carlos A. Driscoll, Juliet Clutton-Brock, Andrew C. Kitchener and Stephen J. O'Brien. "The Evolution of House Cats". Scientific American. Retrieved 26 August 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Entire means a female cat that is not spayed, and a male cat that is not neutered, leaving either able to reproduce.
  4. ↑ http://www.felinefuture.com/
  5. ↑ YouTube - Gizmo Flushes
  6. ↑ "Meows Mean More To Cat Lovers". Channel3000.com. Retrieved 2006-06-14.
  7. ↑ Konrad Lorenz 1950. Man meets dog.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "Prolific Cats: The Estrous Cycle" (PDF). Veterinary Learning Systems. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  9. ↑ Aronson LR, Cooper ML, LR (1967). "Penile spines of the domestic cat: their endocrine-behavior relations" (PDF). Anat. Rec. 157 (1): 71–8. doi:10.1002/ar.1091570111. ISSN 0003-276X. PMID 6030760. {{cite journal}}: |first2= missing |last2= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ Trigger: in the sense of an event which starts other events.
  11. ↑ Wildt DE, Seager SW, Chakraborty PK, DE (1980). "Effect of copulatory stimuli on incidence of ovulation and on serum luteinizing hormone in the cat". Endocrinology. 107 (4): 1212–7. doi:10.1210/endo-107-4-1212. ISSN 0013-7227. PMID 7190893. {{cite journal}}: |first2= missing |last2= (help); |first3= missing |last3= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Tsutsui T, Stabenfeldt GH, T (1993). "Biology of ovarian cycles, pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in the domestic cat". J. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl. 47: 29–35. ISSN 0449-3087. PMID 8229938. {{cite journal}}: |first2= missing |last2= (help)
  13. ↑ reflex: an automatic response to a stimulus.
  14. ↑ How to look after your cat: there are two books with this title, as follows. 1. by Colin and Jacqui Hawkins, Walker Books, 1996. 2. by Alan Edwards, Southwater, 2006.
  15. ↑ Gallico, Paul. The silent miaow: a cat's eye view of Homo sapiens. Heinemann, London.
  16. ↑ Behrend, Katrin (1991). The Complete Book of Cat Care: how to raise a happy and healthy cat. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc. ISBN 0-8120-4613-7. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ↑ http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/hairballs.htm But note: this ref overstates the problem.
http://www.catscans.com/facts.htm
http://www.facts-about-cats.com/
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/felinehealthcats/a/blcat_gm_legacy.htm
http://www.purinaone.com/Health/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleId=FFB179D2-8361-4E9C-B7F7-0773A81C7683&species=Cat

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