Cat
hideFelis catus domestica (invalid junior synonym) Felis silvestris catus
The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from other felines and felids, is a small predatory carnivorous species of crepuscular mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to hunt vermin, snakes, and other unwanted household pests. It has been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.
A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. It can be trained to obey simple commands. Individual cats have also been known to learn on their own to manipulate simple mechanisms, such as doorknobs and toilet handles. Cats use a variety of vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, "trilling", hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting. Cats may be the most popular pet in the world, with over 600 million in homes all over the world. They are also bred and shown as registered pedigree pets. This hobby is known as "cat fancy".
Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal. However, in 2004, the earliest known location of cat domestication was discovered to be ancient Cyprus, and a subsequent study in 2007 found that the lines of descent of all house cats probably run through as few as five self-domesticating African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) circa 8000 BC, in the Near East.
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News tagged with cats
Scientists reveal family tree of 'super-sized lions'
Mar 31, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The giant cats that roamed the British Isles, as well as Europe and North America, as recently as 13,000 years ago were lions rather than giant jaguars or tigers, a team led by Oxford University ...
13,000-Year-Old Stone Tool Cache in Colorado Shows Evidence of Camel, Horse Butchering
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Feb 25, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A biochemical analysis of a rare Clovis-era stone tool cache recently unearthed in the city limits of Boulder, Colo., indicates some of the implements were used to butcher ice-age camels and ...
House cats know what they want and how to get it from you
Jul 13, 2009 |
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Anyone who has ever had cats knows how difficult it can be to get them to do anything they don't already want to do. But it seems that the house cats themselves have had distinctly less trouble getting humans ...
Lilies Deadly to Cats, Veterinarians Warn
Apr 03, 2009 |
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Lilies, a floral reminder that winter has passed, frequently appear in homes during spring holidays as potted plants or cut flowers. But for cats, many lilies can be as lethal as they are lovely.
Study of cat diet leads to key nervous system repair discovery
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Mar 30, 2009 |
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Scientists studying a mysterious neurological affliction in cats have discovered a surprising ability of the central nervous system to repair itself and restore function.
Dogs chase efficiently, but cats skulk counterintuitively
Biology /
Dec 03, 2008 |
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A Duke University study suggests that evolution can behave as differently as dogs and cats. While the dogs depend on an energy-efficient style of four-footed running over long distances to catch their prey, cats seem to have ...
Evolution of skull and mandible shape in cats
Biology /
Jul 30, 2008 |
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In a new study published in the online-open access journal PLoS ONE, Per Christiansen at the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, reports the finding that the evolution of skull and mandible shape in sabercats and mo ...
Microchips result in higher rate of return of shelter animals to owners
Oct 13, 2009 |
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Animals shelter officials housing lost pets that had been implanted with a microchip were able to find the owners in almost three out of four cases in a recently published national study.
Tiny pump means pain relief for big cats
Sep 01, 2009 |
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Veterinarians from the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and the University of Tennessee have found a solution to the challenge of providing effective pain relief to some of their most difficult patients: ...
The truth about cats and dogs
Biology /
Sep 08, 2008 |
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Thinking about adopting a perky little puppy as a friend for your fluffy cat, but worried that they'll fight -- well, like cats and dogs?
Officials: Swine flu confirmed in Iowa cat
Nov 04, 2009 |
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(AP) -- The swine flu virus has been confirmed in a cat treated at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Owners should count calories for obese pets, consider several factors for good health
Oct 08, 2009 |
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You might watch your daily calorie intake or glance over nutritional information on food packages, but do you do the same for your pet?
Study reduces euthanasia rates of cats
Jul 07, 2009 |
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Unwanted cats and kittens who have to be “put down” are the subject of a new study at The University of Queensland's Centre for Companion Animal Health.
Cats' eye diseases genetically linked to diseases in humans
Mar 04, 2009 |
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About one in 3,500 people are affected with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a disease of the retina's visual cells that eventually leads to blindness. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has identified a genetic ...
Smokers would rather give up for their pooch's health rather than their own
Feb 10, 2009 |
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Smokers are more likely to quit smoking for the sake of their pets' health than they are for their own, suggests research published ahead of print in Tobacco Control.
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