Cat
Cat[1]
Other images of cats
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Subkingdom:
Eumetazoa
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Mammalia
Subclass:
Theria
Order:
Carnivora
Suborder:
Feliformia
Family:
Felidae
Subfamily:
Felinae
Genus:
Felis
Species:
F. catus
Binomial name
Felis catus
(Linnaeus, 1758)[2]
Synonyms
Felis catus domestica (invalid junior synonym)[3]
Felis silvestris catus[4]
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, scorpions, and
other unwanted household pests. It has been associated
with humans for at least 9,500 years.[5]
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.[6] Cats use a vari-
ety of vocalizations and types of body language for com-
munication, including meowing, purring, hissing, growl-
ing, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting.[7] Cats
may be the most popular pet in the world, with over 600
million in homes all over the world.[8] They are also bred
and shown as registered pedigree pets. This hobby is
known as the "cat fancy."
Until recently the cat was commonly believed to
have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a
cult animal.[9] However, a 2007 study 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.[4]
Physiology
Size
Diagram of the general anatomy of a male cat
Cats typically weigh between 2.5 and 7 kilograms
(5.5–16 lb); however, some breeds, such as the Maine
Coon, can exceed 11.3 kilograms (24.9 lb). Conversely,
very small cats (less than 1.8 kilograms (4.0 lb)) have
b