Domestic Cat

Overview

The domestic cat, known scientifically as Felis catus, is a small carnivorous mammal that has been living with humans for a very long time - domestication is thought to have begun in the Near East around 7500 BCE. Today there are an estimated 10.9 million cats living in the UK, making them one of the nation's most popular pets.

Cats are valued both for companionship and for their natural ability to keep rodents at bay. Although they have been domesticated for thousands of years, they have undergone only minor changes in anatomy and behaviour along the way, and many of their wild instincts remain very much intact.

Adult cats typically weigh between 4 and 5 kg and measure around 46 cm in head-to-body length. Males tend to be larger than females. A male cat is called a tom, a female is called a queen, and a young cat is called a kitten.

Temperament & behaviour

Cats are social animals, but they are also solitary hunters by nature. They are most active at dawn and dusk - a pattern known as crepuscular behaviour - so do not be surprised if your cat is full of energy at those times of day.

Cats communicate in a rich variety of ways, including meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and through body language and scent marking. They can hear sounds at frequencies far beyond what human ears can detect, which helps explain why they sometimes seem to react to things you cannot hear at all.

Cat intelligence is well recognised - they can learn through observation, adapt to new situations, and solve problems. Their instinct to groom themselves thoroughly and to bury their waste also makes them generally tidy companions around the home.

Care basics

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need a predominantly meat-based diet to stay healthy. A good quality diet that meets their carnivore needs is one of the most important things you can provide.

Cats have retractable claws that they shed the outer layer of by scratching rough surfaces - so providing a suitable scratching post is a practical must. This keeps their claws in good condition and helps protect your furniture.

Spaying or neutering your cat is widely recommended. It helps with population control and reduces the number of cats that end up living as strays. A neutered male is sometimes called a gib, and a spayed female is sometimes called a molly.

Health awareness

Cats can be subject to occasional tooth loss and infection, even though their dental health is generally considered good compared to many other animals. It is worth keeping an eye on your cat's mouth and eating habits as a general rule.

Purebred cats can carry a higher number of genetic disorders than cats from more varied backgrounds, so if you have a pedigree cat it is worth being aware that some breed-specific health considerations may apply.

Because cats are such independent and self-contained animals, they can be good at hiding when something is not quite right. Regular check-ups with a vet are a sensible way to stay on top of your cat's general wellbeing and catch any concerns early.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

Fun facts

A group of cats can be called a clowder, a glaring, or a colony - all wonderfully descriptive names for a gathering of such independent creatures.

The cat's spine is unusually flexible thanks to extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae compared to humans. Their forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by free-floating clavicle bones, which is why a cat can squeeze through any gap it can fit its head into.

Domestication of cats is thought to have begun when African wildcats were attracted to early farming settlements by rodents - a mutually beneficial arrangement that has lasted thousands of years. It is a relationship that, in many ways, cats and humans are still enjoying today.

Source

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat