Domestic cat

Common Name:
Domestic Cat
Scientific Name:
Felis catus
Type:
Mammals
Diet:
Carnivore
Size:
28 inches
Weight:
5 to 20 pounds
IUCN Red List Status:
Not evaluated
Current Population Trend:
Unknown

Where do cats come from?

From ancient Egyptians to today’s internet userspeople have always loved their cats.

In the U.S. alonecats reign over about 45.3 million households. There are at least 45 domestic breedswhich differ widely in features such as coat colortail lengthhair textureand temperamentaccording to the Cat Fancier’s Association.

The Maine Coon is the largestwith males reaching an average of 3.5 feet long. The smallest breed is the Singapuranative to Singaporewith adult females weighing as little as four pounds. One of the most unusual-looking cats is the Sphynxa mostly hairless cat known for being robust and intelligent.

Like their big cat cousinshouse cats are obligate carnivoresmeaning they have to eat meat to stay healthy. Though they’ve been domesticated for thousands of yearsthese predators have maintained a strong hunting instinctrelying on stealth to stalk prey and attack with sharp claws and teeth. (Learn surprising things you never knew about your cat.)

As mostly nocturnal animalscats have excellent vision and hearingwith ears that can turn like satellite dishes. Their reputation for having nine lives stems in part from their ability to navigate difficult environmentsfor example using their tail to balance and mostly land their leanmuscular bodies on all fours. Cushioning discs between vertebrae also give cat bodies exceptional flexibility and speed.

Kitty origins

People began to domesticate cats in the Fertile Crescent about 10,000 years agoaccording to DNA research. Modern-day cats descended from a subspecies of African wildcatFelis silvestris lybicawhich today is the most common and widespread wildcat. (Read more about little-known small wildcats.)

Thousands of years agothese wildcats were likely drawn to human settlements and their plentiful mice and food scraps. People realized these rodent catchers were helpful to have aroundand eventually the two species began living together. Laterpeople began to bring felines aboard ships as they traveled the world. (Read about house cat ancestors’ remains found in Polish caves.)

Anotherindependent foray into cat domestication occurred in China about 5,000 years ago with another wildcat species the leopard cat. Since domestic cats today aren’t related to leopard catsthe harmony doesn’t seem to have lasted.

Reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity at just four months old and go into heat several times a year. Gestation lasts about 64 dayswith an average litter size of four kittens. Young are usually weaned at two months old and grow rapidlyreaching adult size by the time they’re 10 months to a year old.

One litter of kittens can have multiple fathersa phenomenon more likely in city cats due to crowding and lower aggression among males.

Speaking feline

Cats are masters at communicating with other cats and their human caregivers. For instancea quickly swishing tail signals aggressionwhile a tucked tail means they’re nervous.

When relaxeda cat will move its ears forward and point its tail up in the air or perpendicular to the ground. (Related: “What is your cat trying to tell you? Vets weigh in.”)

When cats rub their faces on the furnitureother catsor a personit may be a behavior called bunting. Cats have scent glands in their faceand bunting allows them to mark their territorybond with other catsor show affection.

Speaking ofif you want to make your cat feel comfortablelook them in the eye and blink your eyes very slowly. They recognize this as a sign of friendlinessand you may notice them returning the slow blink—a sign of contentedness.

And it wouldn’t hurt to call them Your Majesty.