anothernotbanger by Tea K Pea, Free Music Archive, License CC BY

The Domestic Cat

Welcome to a page talking about the domestic cat, otherwise known as the felis catus. There are many different types of domestic cats, and mainly what differentiates them is their couple of combinations of hair color and length. This article will cover many elements of cats from their different habits down to their natural habitats and where they can be located. If you like cats and wants to learn a little bit more about them this is the article for you!

General Information

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.