A cat in the botanical gardens in Buenos Aires, Argentina.A kitten.A close-up of a cat's eye.A cat vocalizing
Discover great deals on the many hard to find and one of a kind items available only on ebay!

This site contains sponsored affiliate links.

Cat

The cat, also called the domestic cat or house cat, is a small feline carnivorous mammal of the subspecies Felis silvestris catus. Its most immediate, pre-domestication ancestor is the African wild cat, Felis silvestris lybica. more...

HomeHome
AmphibianAmphibian
ArthropodArthropod
BirdBird
CatCat
AbyssinianAbyssinian
American BobtailAmerican Bobtail
American ShorthairAmerican Shorthair
AngoraAngora
Angora CatAngora Cat
Australian MistAustralian Mist
BalineseBalinese
Balinese CatBalinese Cat
Bengal CatBengal Cat
BirmanBirman
Birman CatBirman Cat
BombayBombay
British ShorthairBritish Shorthair
BurmeseBurmese
BurmillaBurmilla
Calico CatCalico Cat
California Spangled CatCalifornia Spangled Cat
Chantilly CatChantilly Cat
ChartreuxChartreux
Colorpoint ShorthairColorpoint Shorthair
Cornish RexCornish Rex
CymricCymric
Devon RexDevon Rex
Don SphynxDon Sphynx
Egyptian MauEgyptian Mau
European ShorthairEuropean Shorthair
Exotic CatExotic Cat
Foldex CatFoldex Cat
Havana BrownHavana Brown
HimalayanHimalayan
Himalayan CatHimalayan Cat
Japanese BobtailJapanese Bobtail
JavaneseJavanese
KittenKitten
KoratKorat
LapermLaperm
Longhair CatLonghair Cat
Mackerel Tabby CatMackerel Tabby Cat
Maine CoonMaine Coon
Maltese CatMaltese Cat
ManxManx
Munchkin CatMunchkin Cat
NebelungNebelung
Norwegian Forest CatNorwegian Forest Cat
Oriental LonghairOriental Longhair
Oriental ShorthairOriental Shorthair
PersianPersian
Persian CatPersian Cat
PeterbaldPeterbald
Ragdoll CatRagdoll Cat
Russian BlueRussian Blue
SavannahSavannah
Scottish FoldScottish Fold
Selkirk RexSelkirk Rex
Serengeti CatSerengeti Cat
Shorthair CatShorthair Cat
Siamese CatSiamese Cat
SiberianSiberian
Snowshoe CatSnowshoe Cat
SokokeSokoke
Somali CatSomali Cat
SphynxSphynx
Sterling CatSterling Cat
Tabby CatTabby Cat
TonkineseTonkinese
Turkish AngoraTurkish Angora
Turkish VanTurkish Van
UssuriUssuri
York Chocolate CatYork Chocolate Cat
DinosaurDinosaur
DogDog
FishFish
MammalMammal
MythologicalMythological
ReptileReptile


The cat has been living in close association with humans for at least 3,500 years; the Ancient Egyptians routinely used cats to keep mice and other rodents away from their grain (and also believed that cats were sacred). The history of the domestic cat may stretch back even further, as 8,000-year-old bones of humans and cats were found buried together on the island of Cyprus.

A group of cats is referred to as a clowder, while a male cat is called a tom, and a female is called a queen or quean. An immature cat is called a kitten (which is also an alternate name for young rats, rabbits, hedgehogs, beavers, and squirrels). A cat whose ancestry is formally registered is called a purebred cat, a pedigree cat, or a show cat (although not all show cats are pedigree or purebred). In strict terms, a purebred cat is one whose ancestry contains only individuals of the same breed. A pedigree cat is one whose ancestry is recorded, but may have ancestors of different breeds.

Purebreds are less than one percent of the total feline population; cats of mixed ancestry are referred to as domestic longhairs and domestic shorthairs or commonly as random-bred, moggies, mongrels, mutt-cats or alley cats. The ratio of pedigree/purebred cats to random-bred cats varies from country to country.

There are dozens of breeds of domestic cats, some hairless or tailless, and they exist in a variety of different colors including multicolored. They are skilled predators and have been known to hunt over one thousand different species for food. They are also intelligent animals: some are able to manipulate simple mechanisms such as lever-handled doors and flush toilets. They communicate by calling ("meow"/"miaou"), purring, hissing, and gesturing. Because the domestication of the cat is relatively recent, cats may also still live effectively in the wild, often forming small colonies. The cat's association with humans leads it to figure prominently in the mythology and legends of several cultures, including the ancient Egyptians, Vikings, and Chinese.

Characteristics

Physical

Cats typically weigh between 2.5 and 7 kg (5.5–16 lb); however, some breeds, such as the Maine Coon can exceed 11.3 kg (25 pounds). Some have been known to reach up to 23 kg (50 lb), due to overfeeding. This is very unhealthy for the cat, and should be prevented through diet and exercise (playing), especially for cats living exclusively indoors.

In captivity, indoor cats typically live 15 to 20 years, though the oldest-known cat lived to age 36. Domestic cats tend to live longer if they are not permitted to go outdoors (reducing the risk of injury from fights or accidents) and if they are spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering a cat also decreases the risk of testicular and ovarian cancer, and female cats spayed before their first heat or litter benefit from reduced risk of mammary cancer. Feral cats living in modern urban environments often live only two years, or less. Feral cats in maintained colonies can live much longer; the British Cat Action Trust reported a 19-year-old feral female. The oldest feral cat was Mark who was maintained by the British charity Cats Protection and who reached 26 years of age.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]

The Dalai Lama's Cat - Paperback By Michie, David - GoodThe Dalai Lama's Cat - Paperback By Michie, David - Good $4.36 Cat Wall Mounted Shelves Scratching Post Cat Climber Bridge with Platforms CondoCat Wall Mounted Shelves Scratching Post Cat Climber Bridge with Platforms Condo $99.99 to
New Listing3Pcs Random Color Cat Spring Balls Stretchable Cat Springs Toys Interactive ToysNew Listing3Pcs Random Color Cat Spring Balls Stretchable Cat Springs Toys Interactive Toys $10.99 World's Strongest The Cat's Meowee Organic Catnip Premium Grade .352 Oz Cat NipWorld's Strongest The Cat's Meowee Organic Catnip Premium Grade .352 Oz Cat Nip $6.00
No More Mr Nice Guy (Paperback) - Robert A. GloverNo More Mr Nice Guy (Paperback) - Robert A. Glover $14.50 $12.99
The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers - Hardcover By Braun, Lilian Jackson - Very GoodThe Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers - Hardcover By Braun, Lilian Jackson - Very Good
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links eBay