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Understanding Domestic Cats: Overview

The cat

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11 views1 page

Understanding Domestic Cats: Overview

The cat

Uploaded by

amit
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The cat (Felis catus), also referred to as the domestic cat or house 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. Valued by humans for companionship and its ability to
kill vermin, the cat's retractable claws are adapted to killing small prey 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 cattus, which
was first used at the beginning of the 6th century.[4] The Late Latin word may be derived from an
unidentified African language.[5] The Nubian word kaddîska 'wildcat' and Nobiin kadīs are possible
sources or cognates.[6]

The forms might also have derived from an ancient Germanic word that was absorbed into Latin and
then into Greek, Syriac, and Arabic.[7] 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 Proto-Uralic *käďwä, 'female (of a furred animal)'.[8]

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 it may have arisen from a sound used to attract a cat.[9][10]

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

Common questions

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The word 'cat,' originating from Old English 'catt,' can be traced through Late Latin 'cattus.' This eventually influenced Greek, Syriac, and Arabic languages, suggesting a widespread cultural adaptation of domestic cats. This linguistic evolution indicates the integration of cats into various cultures as they spread globally, reflecting their significance in human societies across different regions .

Cats, by controlling vermin populations, protected grain stores essential for early agricultural societies, thereby supporting food security and reducing disease spread through rodents. This contribution likely facilitated the spread and stability of early agricultural communities by minimizing food loss and enhancing settlement sustainability .

High cat population estimates, such as 95.6 million owned cats in the United States, reflect a significant trend of pet ownership, suggesting a cultural affinity for cats as companions. This trend emphasizes the need for responsible ownership and population control to mitigate the rise of feral populations and maintain ecological balance, as evident in these regions .

The breeding and showing of cats at events, known as cat fancy, reflect cultural trends of human commodification and aesthetic appreciation of animals. This hobby underscores a desire to celebrate feline diversity, invoking broader themes of human dominance over nature and a penchant for selectively breeding animals to emphasize specific traits, mirroring social hierarchies and preferences .

Terms like 'puss' and 'tomcat' reflect affectionate human attitudes towards cats. 'Puss' likely originated from onomatopoeic sounds used to attract cats, indicating a close human-animal bond. 'Tomcat,' referring to male cats, and similar cultural terms, illustrate the gender distinction and familiarity developed historically between humans and domestic cats .

Advances in archaeology and genetics indicate that the domestication of cats occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. This timeline impacts our understanding of human-animal relationships by highlighting the early role of cats in human society, primarily for companionship and controlling vermin, signifying a mutualistic relationship that benefited both humans and cats .

Cats' ability to secrete and perceive pheromones significantly influences their social behaviors by allowing them to mark territory, identify individuals, and communicate reproductive status. With humans and other animals, pheromonal communication helps maintain social order, facilitate mating, and reduce conflict, underscoring the complexity of cat social interactions .

Cats, as solitary hunters, evolved physical attributes like retractable claws and acute senses to efficiently catch prey. However, as a social species, they developed communication skills such as vocalizations and body language to interact within groups or with humans. This dual nature showcases an adaptive evolution allowing survival both independently and collectively, ensuring prolonged human cohabitation .

Domestic cats possess a strong, flexible body, quick reflexes, and sharp teeth, adapted for hunting small prey. Their retractable claws and enhanced night vision and sense of smell enable them to hunt effectively, while their ability to hear high-frequency sounds allows them to detect small mammals, aiding their survival both as pets and feral animals .

Feral cats contribute significantly to biodiversity challenges by preying on bird, mammal, and reptile species, often leading to local extinctions. Their widespread presence and hunting abilities make them effective predators, impacting ecosystems worldwide, which complicates conservation efforts and necessitates population control measures such as spaying and neutering .

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