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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the species commonly kept as a pet. For the cat family, see Felidae.
For other uses, see Cat (disambiguation) and Cats (disambiguation).

Cat

Temporal range: 0.0095–0 Ma

Pre

Pg

Holocene to present (9,500 years ago)

 Various types of cats

Conservation status

Domesticated

Scientific classification

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Suborder: Feliformia

Family: Felidae

Subfamily: Felinae

Genus: Felis

Species: [1]
F. catus

Binomial name

[1]
Felis catus

Linnaeus, 1758[2]
 Synonyms

●​ Catus domesticus Erxleben,

[3]
1777
●​ F. angorensis Gmelin, 1788
●​ F. vulgaris Fischer, 1829

The cat (Felis catus), also referred to as the domestic cat, is a small domesticated
carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae.
Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat
occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a pet and farm cat,
but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact. It is valued by humans for
companionship and its ability to kill vermin. Its retractable claws are adapted to killing
small prey species such as mice and rats. It has a strong, flexible body, quick reflexes,
and sharp teeth, and its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. It is a social
species, but a solitary hunter and a crepuscular predator. Cat communication includes
vocalizations—including meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting—as
well as body language. It can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human
ears, such as those made by small mammals. It secretes and perceives pheromones.

Female domestic cats can have kittens from spring to late autumn in temperate zones
and throughout the year in equatorial regions, with litter sizes often ranging from two to
five kittens. Domestic cats are bred and shown at events as registered pedigreed cats,
a hobby known as cat fancy. Animal population control of cats may be achieved by
spaying and neutering, but their proliferation and the abandonment of pets has resulted
in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, contributing to the extinction of bird, mammal,
and reptile species.

As of 2017, the domestic cat was the second most popular pet in the United States, with
95.6 million cats owned and around 42 million households owning at least one cat. In
the United Kingdom, 26% of adults have a cat, with an estimated population of 10.9
million pet cats as of 2020. As of 2021, there were an estimated 220 million owned and
480 million stray cats in the world.

Etymology and naming

The origin of the English word cat, Old English catt, is thought to be the Late Latin word
[4]
cattus, which was first used at the beginning of the 6th century. The Late Latin word
[5]
may be derived from an unidentified African language. The Nubian word kaddîska
[6]
'wildcat' and Nobiin kadīs are possible sources or cognates.

The forms might also have derived from an ancient Germanic word that was absorbed
[7]
into Latin and then into Greek, Syriac, and Arabic. The word may be derived from
Germanic and Northern European languages, and ultimately be borrowed from Uralic,
cf. Northern Sámi gáđfi, 'female stoat', and Hungarian hölgy, 'lady, female stoat'; from
[8]
Proto-Uralic *käďwä, 'female (of a furred animal)'.

The English puss, extended as pussy and pussycat, is attested from the 16th century
and may have been introduced from Dutch poes or from Low German puuskatte,
related to Swedish kattepus, or Norwegian pus, pusekatt. Similar forms exist in
Lithuanian puižė and Irish puisín or puiscín. The etymology of this word is unknown, but
[9][10]
it may have arisen from a sound used to attract a cat.

[11] [12]
A male cat is called a tom or tomcat (or a gib, if neutered). A female is called a
[13][14] [15]
queen (or sometimes a molly, if spayed). A juvenile cat is referred to as a
kitten. In Early Modern English, the word kitten was interchangeable with the
[16]
now-obsolete word catling. A group of cats can be referred to as a clowder, a
[17] [18]
glaring, or a colony.

Taxonomy
The scientific name Felis catus was proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 for a domestic
[1][2]
cat. Felis catus domesticus was proposed by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in
[3]
1777. Felis daemon proposed by Konstantin Satunin in 1904 was a black cat from the
[19][20]
Transcaucasus, later identified as a domestic cat.

In 2003, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature ruled that the

[21][22]
domestic cat is a distinct species, namely Felis catus. In 2007, the modern
domesticated subspecies F. silvestris catus sampled worldwide was considered to have
probably descended from the African wildcat (F. lybica), following results of phylogenetic
 [23][24][a]
research. In 2017, the IUCN Cat Classification Taskforce followed the
recommendation of the ICZN in regarding the domestic cat as a distinct species, Felis
[25]
catus.

Evolution
Main article: Cat evolution

Skulls of a wildcat (top left), a housecat (top right), and a hybrid between the two (bottom center)

The domestic cat is a member of the Felidae, a family that had a common ancestor
[26]
about 10 to 15 million years ago. The evolutionary radiation of the Felidae began in
[27]
Asia during the Miocene around 8.38 to 14.45 million years ago. Analysis of
mitochondrial DNA of all Felidae species indicates a radiation at 6.46 to 16.76 million
[28]
years ago. The genus Felis genetically diverged from other Felidae around 6 to 7
[27]
million years ago. Results of phylogenetic research shows that the wild members of
this genus evolved through sympatric or parapatric speciation, whereas the domestic
[29]
cat evolved through artificial selection. The domestic cat and its closest wild ancestor
[30] [31]
are diploid and both possess 38 chromosomes and roughly 20,000 genes.

Phylogenetic relationships of the domestic cat as derived through analysis of

 [27][28]
nuclear DNA:

Pantherinae

other Felinae lineages

Jungle cat (F. chaus)

Felida
e
Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
Felina
e

Feli Sand cat (F. margarita)

s

Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)

African wildcat (F. lybica)

 European wildcat (F. silvestris)

Domestic cat

[32]
mitochondrial DNA:
 Sand cat (F. margarita)

Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)

Feli
s
European wildcat (F. silvestris)

Southern African wildcat (F. l. cafra)

African
Asiatic wildcat (F. l. ornata)
wildcat

Near Eastern wildcat

Domestic cat
Domestication

See also: Domestication of the cat and Cats in ancient Egypt

A cat eating a fish under a chair, a mural in an Egyptian tomb dating to the 15th century BC

It was long thought that the domestication of the cat began in ancient Egypt, where cats
[33][34]
were venerated from around 3100 BC. However, the earliest known indication for
the taming of an African wildcat was excavated close by a human Neolithic grave in
Shillourokambos, southern Cyprus, dating to about 7500–7200 BC. Since there is no
evidence of native mammalian fauna on Cyprus, the inhabitants of this Neolithic village
most likely brought the cat and other wild mammals to the island from the Middle
[35]
Eastern mainland. Scientists therefore assume that African wildcats were attracted to
early human settlements in the Fertile Crescent by rodents, in particular the house
mouse (Mus musculus), and were tamed by Neolithic farmers. This mutual relationship
between early farmers and tamed cats lasted thousands of years. As agricultural
[32][36]
practices spread, so did tame and domesticated cats. Wildcats of Egypt
[37]
contributed to the maternal gene pool of the domestic cat at a later time.

The earliest known evidence for the occurrence of the domestic cat in Greece dates to
around 1200 BC. Greek, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Etruscan traders introduced
[38]
domestic cats to southern Europe. By the 5th century BC, they were familiar animals
[39]
around settlements in Magna Graecia and Etruria. During the Roman Empire, they
[40]
were introduced to Corsica and Sardinia before the beginning of the 1st century AD.
By the end of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Egyptian domestic cat
[37]
lineage had arrived in a Baltic Sea port in northern Germany.

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) was tamed independently in China around
5500 BC. This line of partially domesticated cats leaves no trace in the domestic cat
[41]
populations of today.

During domestication, cats have undergone only minor changes in anatomy and
behavior, and they are still capable of surviving in the wild. Several natural behaviors
and characteristics of wildcats may have pre-adapted them for domestication as pets.
These traits include their small size, social nature, obvious body language, love of play,
and high intelligence. Since they practice rigorous grooming habits and have an
instinctual drive to bury and hide their urine and feces, they are generally much less
messy than other domesticated animals. Captive Leopardus cats may also display
[42]
affectionate behavior toward humans but were not domesticated. House cats often
[43]
mate with feral cats. Hybridization between domestic and other Felinae species is
[44][45]
also possible, producing hybrids such as the Kellas cat in Scotland.

[46]
Development of cat breeds started in the mid 19th century. An analysis of the
domestic cat genome revealed that the ancestral wildcat genome was significantly
altered in the process of domestication, as specific mutations were selected to develop
[47]
cat breeds. Most breeds are founded on random-bred domestic cats. Genetic
diversity of these breeds varies between regions, and is lowest in purebred populations,
[48]
which show more than 20 deleterious genetic disorders.

Characteristics
Main article: Cat anatomy

Size

Diagram of the general anatomy of a male domestic cat

[49]
The domestic cat has a smaller skull and shorter bones than the European wildcat. It
averages about 46 cm (18 in) in head-to-body length and 23–25 cm (9.1–9.8 in) in
[50]
height, with about 30 cm (12 in) long tails. Males are larger than females. Adult
[29]
domestic cats typically weigh 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb).

Skeleton

Cats have seven cervical vertebrae (as do most mammals); 13 thoracic vertebrae
(humans have 12); seven lumbar vertebrae (humans have five); three sacral vertebrae
(as do most mammals, but humans have five); and a variable number of caudal
vertebrae in the tail (humans have only three to five vestigial caudal vertebrae, fused
[51]: 11
into an internal coccyx). The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the
cat's spinal mobility and flexibility. Attached to the spine are 13 ribs, the shoulder, and
[51]: 16
the pelvis. Unlike human arms, cat forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by
free-floating clavicle bones which allow them to pass their body through any space into
[52]
which they can fit their head.

Skull
 Cat skull

A cat with exposed teeth and claws

The cat skull is unusual among mammals in having very large eye sockets and a
[53]: 35
powerful specialized jaw. Within the jaw, cats have teeth adapted for killing prey
and tearing meat. When it overpowers its prey, a cat delivers a lethal neck bite with its
two long canine teeth, inserting them between two of the prey's vertebrae and severing
[54]
its spinal cord, causing irreversible paralysis and death. Compared to other felines,
domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine teeth relative to the size of their jaw, which
[54]
is an adaptation to their preferred prey of small rodents, which have small vertebrae.

The premolar and first molar together compose the carnassial pair on each side of the
mouth, which efficiently shears meat into small pieces, like a pair of scissors. These are
vital in feeding, since cats' small molars cannot chew food effectively, and cats are
[53]: 37
largely incapable of mastication. Cats tend to have better teeth than most
humans, with decay generally less likely because of a thicker protective layer of enamel,
a less damaging saliva, less retention of food particles between teeth, and a diet mostly
[55]
devoid of sugar. Nonetheless, they are subject to occasional tooth loss and infection.

Claws
 Shed claw sheaths

[56]
Cats have protractible and retractable claws. In their normal, relaxed position, the
claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the paw's toe pads. This keeps the
claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows for the silent
stalking of prey. The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the
[57]
hindfeet. Cats can voluntarily extend their claws on one or more paws. They may
extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, kneading, or for extra traction on
soft surfaces. Cats shed the outside layer of their claw sheaths when scratching rough
[58]
surfaces.

Most cats have five claws on their front paws and four on their rear paws. The dewclaw
is proximal to the other claws. More proximally is a protrusion which appears to be a
sixth "finger". This special feature of the front paws on the inside of the wrists has no
function in normal walking but is thought to be an antiskidding device used while
[59]
jumping. Some cat breeds are prone to having extra digits ("polydactyly").

Ambulation

The cat is digitigrade. It walks on the toes, with the bones of the feet making up the
[60]
lower part of the visible leg. Unlike most mammals, it uses a "pacing" gait and moves
both legs on one side of the body before the legs on the other side. It registers directly
by placing each hind paw close to the track of the corresponding fore paw, minimizing
noise and visible tracks. This also provides sure footing for hind paws when navigating
rough terrain. As it speeds up from walking to trotting, its gait changes to a "diagonal"
[61]
gait: The diagonally opposite hind and fore legs move simultaneously.

Balance

Duration: 13 minutes and 37 seconds.

13:37

Comparison of cat righting reflexes in gravity and zero gravity

Cats are generally fond of sitting in high places or perching. A higher place may serve
as a concealed site from which to hunt; domestic cats strike prey by pouncing from a
perch such as a tree branch. Another possible explanation is that height gives the cat a
better observation point, allowing it to survey its territory. A cat falling from heights of up
[62]
to 3 m (9.8 ft) can right itself and land on its paws.

During a fall from a high place, a cat reflexively twists its body and rights itself to land on
its feet using its acute sense of balance and flexibility. This reflex is known as the cat
[63]
righting reflex. A cat always rights itself in the same way during a fall, if it has enough
[64]
time to do so, which is the case in falls of 90 cm (3.0 ft) or more. How cats are able
[65]
to right themselves when falling has been investigated as the "falling cat problem".

Coats

Main article: Cat coat genetics

 Mother cat with her different-colored offspring

The cat family (Felidae) can pass down many colors and patterns to their offspring. The
domestic cat genes MC1R and ASIP allow color variety in their coats. The feline ASIP
[66]
gene consists of three coding exons. Three novel microsatellite markers linked to
ASIP were isolated from a domestic cat BAC clone containing this gene to perform
linkage analysis on 89 domestic cats segregated for melanism. The domestic cat family
[67]
demonstrated a cosegregation between the ASIP allele and coat black coloration.

Senses
Main article: Cat senses

Vision
 Reflection of camera flash from the tapetum lucidum

A cat's nictitating membrane shown as it blinks

Cats have excellent night vision and can see at one sixth the light level required for
[53]: 43
human vision. This is partly the result of cat eyes having a tapetum lucidum, which
reflects any light that passes through the retina back into the eye, thereby increasing the
[68]
eye's sensitivity to dim light. Large pupils are an adaptation to dim light. The
domestic cat has slit pupils, which allow it to focus bright light without chromatic
[69]
aberration. At low light, a cat's pupils expand to cover most of the exposed surface of
[70]
its eyes. The domestic cat has rather poor color vision and only two types of cone
cells, optimized for sensitivity to blue and yellowish green; its ability to distinguish
[71]
between red and green is limited. A response to middle wavelengths from a system
other than the rod cells might be due to a third type of cone. This appears to be an
[72]
adaptation to low light levels rather than representing true trichromatic vision. Cats
also have a nictitating membrane, allowing them to blink without hindering their vision.

Hearing

[73]
The domestic cat's hearing is most acute in the range of 500 Hz to 32 kHz. It can
detect an extremely broad range of frequencies ranging from 55 Hz to 79 kHz, whereas
humans can only detect frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. It can hear a range of
 [74][75]
10.5 octaves, while humans and dogs can hear ranges of about 9 octaves. Its
hearing sensitivity is enhanced by its large movable outer ears, the pinnae, which
amplify sounds and help detect the location of a noise. It can detect ultrasound, which
[76][77]
enables it to detect ultrasonic calls made by rodent prey. Recent research has
shown that cats have socio-spatial cognitive abilities to create mental maps of owners'
[78]
locations based on hearing owners' voices.

Smell

Cats have an acute sense of smell, due in part to their well-developed olfactory bulb
2 2
and a large surface of olfactory mucosa, about 5.8 cm (0.90 in ) in area, which is about
[79]
twice that of humans. Cats and many other animals have a Jacobson's organ in their
mouths that is used in the behavioral process of flehmening. It allows them to sense
certain aromas in a way that humans cannot. Cats are sensitive to pheromones such as
[80]
3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol, which they use to communicate through urine
[81]
spraying and marking with scent glands. Many cats also respond strongly to plants
that contain nepetalactone, especially catnip, as they can detect that substance at less
[82] [83]
than one part per billion. About 70–80% of cats are affected by nepetalactone.
This response is also produced by other plants, such as silver vine (Actinidia polygama)
and the herb valerian; it may be caused by the smell of these plants mimicking a
[84]
pheromone and stimulating cats' social or sexual behaviors.

Taste

Cats have relatively few taste buds compared to humans (470 or so, compared to more
[85]
than 9,000 on the human tongue). Domestic and wild cats share a taste receptor
gene mutation that keeps their sweet taste buds from binding to sugary molecules,
[86]
leaving them with no ability to taste sweetness. But they do have taste bud receptors
specialized for acids, amino acids such as the constituents of protein, and bitter
[87]
tastes.

Their taste buds possess the receptors needed to detect umami. However, these
receptors contain molecular changes that make cats taste umami differently from
humans. In humans, they detect the amino acids glutamic acid and aspartic acid; but in
 [88]
cats, they instead detect inosine monophosphate and histidine. These molecules are
[88]
particularly enriched in tuna. This, it has been argued, is why cats find tuna so
palatable: as put by researchers into cat taste, "the specific combination of the high IMP
and free histidine contents of tuna, which produces a strong umami taste synergy that is
[88]
highly preferred by cats." One of the researchers in this research has stated, "I think
[89]
umami is as important for cats as sweet is for humans."

Cats also have a distinct temperature preference for their food, preferring food at a
temperature around 38 °C (100 °F) which is similar to that of a fresh kill; some cats
reject cold food (which would signal to the cat that the "prey" item is long dead and
[85]
therefore possibly toxic or decomposing).

Whiskers

The whiskers of a cat are highly sensitive to touch.

To aid with navigation and sensation, cats have dozens of movable whiskers (vibrissae)
over their body, especially their faces. These provide information on the width of gaps
and on the location of objects in the dark, both by touching objects directly and by
sensing air currents; they also trigger protective blink reflexes to protect the eyes from
[53]: 47
damage.