CAT Definition & Meaning

The domestic cat hunts and eats over a thousand species, many of them invertebrates, especially insects. This can be seen in the difference in body and vocal language it uses with the human, when compared to how it communicates with other cats in the household, for example. Not only males will fight; females will also fight over territory or to defend their kittens, and even neutered cats will defend their (smaller) territories aggressively.

• This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as aggression, territory marking (spraying urine) in males, and yowling (calling) in females.
• Do you have a feline companion?
• The average litter is four kittens, but there may be only one kitten or as many as seven.
• Are you surprised at your cat’s “human” age?
• A cat whose ancestry is formally registered is called a pedigreed cat, purebred cat, or a show cat (although not all show cats are pedigreed or purebred).
• One of the most unusual-looking cats is the Sphynx, a mostly hairless cat known for being robust and intelligent.

Most Independent Cat Breeds

They should not be confused with standardized breeds with similar names, such as the British Shorthair and Oriental Longhair. Some registries such as the Cat Fanciers' Association allow for domestic short hairs and domestic long hairs to be registered for the purpose of outcrossing. Also, "Colourpoint Longhair" refers to different breeds in other registries. As of 2023, the International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 75 standardized breeds, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognizes 45, the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) recognizes 50, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognizes 45, and the World Cat Federation (WCF) recognizes 69.

The goddess Bastet was often depicted in cat form, sometimes taking on the war-like cat aspect of a lioness. Both pedigreed and non-purebred companion ("moggy") cats are admissible, although the rules differ depending on the organization. One feral cat in New Zealand killed 102 New Zealand lesser short-tailed bats in seven days. Famous feral cat colonies are in Rome around the Colosseum and Forum Romanum, some being fed and given medical attention by volunteers. Between 50% and 90% of cats will experience dental or gum problems, but these can be prevented by maintaining the cat's oral hygiene using products specifically designed for cats (products not intended for cats can be toxic to them).

Advanced New Breeds

Did you know that not even a century ago, few cats lived entirely indoors at all? Community cats live full, healthy lives in their outdoor homes. If you live in New York City and are hoping to adopt from us, check out the cats available at our Adoption Center. Polydactyl cats have six, seven, or sometimes even more.

Complete Guide to Cat Coat Genetics: Color, Length, and Texture

We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. A newborn kitten is about 3 inches (8 centimeters) long. A female may have two to three litters a year. Many hunt and eat small animals, including birds, mice, and rabbits. Other breeds, including the Persian, have long, thick coats.

Cats of unrecorded mixed ancestry are referred to as domestic longhairs and domestic shorthairs or commonly as random-bred, moggies, mongrels, mutt-cats, or alley cats. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven weeks, and cats normally reach sexual maturity at 4–10 months (females) and to 5–7 months (males) (Voelker 1986, Siegal 2004). Due to possible complications caused by ingesting a string, string play is sometimes replaced with a laser pointer's dot, which some cats will chase.

Mix & match to create your cat's own variety pack. Tiki Cat, Weruva, Pro Plan & more!

The earliest known evidence for the occurrence of the domestic cat in Greece dates to around 1200 BCE. As agricultural practices spread, so did tame and domesticated cats. 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. It was long thought that the domestication of the cat began in ancient Egypt, where cats were venerated from around 3100 BCE.