| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Species: | F.catus |
| Scientific Name: | Felis catus |
Cat is a small, furry, carnivorous mammal. Cats are often valued by humans for
companionship and for their ability to hunt vermin. There are more than 70 breeds of
cats.
Cats have a strong, flexible body with quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and
teeth adapted to killing small prey. Cats can hear sounds too faint or too high
infrequency for human ears, such as those made by mice and other small animals. They
can see in near darkness. Cats, despite being solitary hunters, are a social species
and cat communication includes the use of a variety of sounds like mewing, purring,
trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting, etc.
A cats senses are superior amongst the animal world, with exceptional sight, smell
and taste, cats are able to subtly sneak up on, and catch their prey with immense
success. The average domestic cat sleeps for around 18 hours a day and tends to
spend their waking time hunting for food.
Domestic cats remain largely carnivorous, and have evolved a simple gut appropriate
for raw meat. They also retain the rough tongue that can help them clean every last
morsel from an animal bone and groom themselves.
Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of play. This behaviour mimics hunting and is important in helping kittens learn to stalk, capture, and kill prey. Cats also engage in play fighting, with each other and with humans. This behaviour may be a way for cats to practice the skills needed for real combat, and might also reduce any fear they associate with launching attacks on other animals.
Cats have soft pads on the bottom of their paws to enable them to move smoothly and run quickly. Cats have sharp claws to help the cat to grip when running and climbing trees. Sharp claws and soft pads allow the cat to hold onto and grip its prey effectively. The sharp claws of the cat are retractable which allows them to remain sharp as they avoid contact with the ground when it is not needed. Cats are able to walk very precisely as they put their back paws in place of the front paws, helping to minimise noise and visible tracks.
Cats have highly specialised teeth which allows them to both bite and tear meat apart. The front set of teeth in the mouth of the cat are well developed and act efficiently to shear meat apart, like a pair of scissors. Cats have tiny hooks or spikes on their tongue which helps the cat to get any remaining meat from bones. The hooked tongue of the cat is very beneficial so that the cat is able to clean itself effectively. The average adult cat has 30 teeth which include 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars and 4 molars.
Interesting Things about cats!
- The pattern on a cat’s nose is unique.
- Cat’s hearing range is much better than humans.
- Cats can’t taste sugar.
- Cat can drink sea water.
- Cats may have lowered their voices to talk to humans.
- Cats are asleep for two-thirds of the day.