The domestic cat (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus) is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal. It is often called the housecat, or simply the cat when there is no need to distinguish it from other felids and felines. Cats are valued by humans for companionship and ability to hunt vermin and household pests. Cats have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years, and are currently the most popular pet in the world. Owing to their close association with humans, cats are now found almost everywhere in the world.

Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. As crepuscular predators, cats use their acute hearing and ability to see in near darkness to locate prey. Not only can cats hear sounds too faint for human ears, they can also hear sounds higher in frequency than humans can perceive. This is because the usual prey of cats (particularly rodents such as mice) make high frequency noises, so the hearing of the cat has evolved to pinpoint these faint high-pitched sounds. Cats also have a much better sense of smell than humans.

Despite being solitary hunters, cats are a social species, and cat communication includes the use of a variety of vocalizations (meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling and grunting) as well as pheromones and types of cat-specific body language.

Cats have a rapid breeding rate. Under controlled breeding, they can be bred and shown as registered pedigree pets, a hobby known as cat fancy. Failure to control the breeding of pet cats by spaying and neutering and the abandonment of former household pets has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, with a population of up to 60 million of these animals in the United States alone.

Since cats were cult animals in ancient Egypt, it was commonly believed to have been domesticated there. In 2004, the earliest date of human association with cats was pushed back to 9,500 years ago, when a kitten that was unearthed in a child's grave in Cyprus was radiocarbon dated. (Cyprus is an island devoid of any wild Felis silvestris.) A genetic study in 2007 revealed that all house cats are descended from as few as five female African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) c. 8000 BC, in the Middle East.

Noun

cats

1. Plural form of cat.
2. (Internet, shorthand, slang) Plural form of category.

cats

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of cat.

This entry is about the animal. For the musical, see Cats (musical).

The cat, also called the domestic cat or house cat, is a small feline carnivorous mammal of the subspecies Felis silvestris catus. It has been living in close association with humans for between 3,500 and 8,000 years.

Contents

• 1 Sourced
  • 1.1 In praise of cats
  • 1.2 Cats and humans
  • 1.3 Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations
• 2 Unsourced
  • 2.1 In praise of cats
  • 2.2 Cats and humans
  • 2.3 Cat elegance
  • 2.4 Cat arrogance
  • 2.5 Cat intelligence
• 3 External links