The domestic cat (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus) is a small, typically furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal. They are often called house cats when kept as indoor pets or simply cats when there is no need to distinguish them from other felids and felines. Cats are often valued by humans for companionship and for their ability to hunt vermin. There are more than 70 cat breeds; different associations proclaim different numbers according to their standards. The International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA) recognizes 73 cat breeds while TICA (The International Cat Association) recognizes 58, CFA (The Cat Fanciers' Association) recognizes 44 and Federation International Feline (FIFE) recognizes 43.
Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with a strong, flexible body, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. Cat senses fit a crepuscular and predatory ecological niche. Cats can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by mice and other small animals. They can see in near darkness. Like most other mammals, cats have poorer color vision and a better sense of smell than humans. Cats, despite being solitary hunters, are a social species and cat communication includes the use of a variety of vocalizations (mewing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting), as well as cat pheromones and types of cat-specific body language.
Tomcat may refer to:
Thomas "Tom" Cat is a fictional character and one of the title characters (the other being Jerry Mouse) in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's series of Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon short films. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom is a blue/grey anthropomorphic domestic short-haired cat who first appeared in the 1940 animated short Puss Gets the Boot. Tom was originally known as "Jasper" during his debut in that short; however, beginning with his next appearance in The Midnight Snack he is known as "Tom" or "Thomas".
His full name, "Tom Cat", is based on "tomcat", a phrase which refers to male cats. He is very rarely heard speaking with the exception of a few cartoons (such as 1943's "The Lonesome Mouse" and Tom & Jerry Tales' League of Cats) and "Tom and Jerry: The Movie". His only notable vocal sounds outside of this are his various screams whenever he is subject to pain or panic. He is continuously after Jerry Mouse, for whom he sets traps, many of which backfire and cause damage to him rather than Jerry.
Tom Cat (トム・キャット, Tomu Kyatto, TOM★CAT) were a 1980s Japanese band. They are best known for their song "TOUGH BOY", used as the opening theme for Fist of the North Star 2.
Tom Cat is an album by Lee Morgan recorded in 1964, though not released until 1981. It was originally released as LT 1058, and issued with several other catalogue numbers ever since. While somewhat forgotten compared to such acclaimed favourites from Morgan's catalogue as The Sidewinder and Cornbread, it is notable for featuring a veritable who's who of Blue Note recording artists such as Art Blakey, Jackie McLean and Curtis Fuller. After The Sidewinder's huge commercial success, Tom Cat and Search for the New Land from earlier in 1964 were both temporarily shelved. Instead, Alfred Lion, Blue Note's producer, encouraged Morgan to record a new funky theme, (now dubbed, "the Sidewinder lineage") and put him back in Rudy Van Gelder's studio to cut The Rumproller. Search for the New Land was fortunately released in 1966, however Tom Cat did not see the light of day until 1981.