Types of Cats
By definition, a cat is a feline mammal that usually has a thick soft fur, though some hardly have any hair. There are two different types of cats; those that are wild and those that are domesticated. Intentional and unintentional cross-breeding of domestic house cats has resulted in the introduction of hundreds of varied breeds.
Wild cats
Wild cats are indigenous to Africa, Europe and the western sections of Asia. A wild cat’s diet consists primarily of small creatures such as birds and mammals.
Domestic cats
Domestic cats are also called house cats as they are considered to be valuable to humans who keep them as companions. Research suggests that household or domestic cats and humans have had a good relationship for almost a thousand decades, making them the most renowned pet in the world. The term Cat is however generally used in association with domestic cats.
Fact and Fiction
Cats were initially thought to be tamed by ancient Egyptians where they were known as the cult animal. This notion was officially dispelled however, when new research proved that domestication of the cat came from African wildcats who adapted themselves to humans. Evidence of these findings on cat domestication emerged in Cyprus when archaeologists discovered an owner and a kitten buried together.
Cat Characteristics
Cats have good hearing and seeing skills which aids them in successfully hunting hundreds of species for food.
7 Amazing Cat Facts
- Cats have 290 bones, 517 muscles and have five more vertebrae in their spinal column than humans do.
- The heart beat of a cat is at 110 to 140 beats per minute which means it’s twice as fast as that of a human’s heart beat.
- Cats are thought to have a sixth sense that alerts them when something is wrong in their owner’s life. If his/her owner is feeling down, irritated or frustrated, a cat may wrap himself/herself around his/her owner’s leg or jump into their lap and cuddle their chin.
- The ragdoll is the largest cat breed while the Singapura is the smallest cat breed. Males in the former breed weigh up to twenty pounds, while the females weigh up to fifteen pounds. In the latter breed, males weigh close to six pounds and the females close to four pounds.
- As with the fingerprints of humans the nose pad of a cat has a unique pattern.
- Only domestic cats can hold their tails vertically while walking. Wild cats either tuck their tails between their legs or hold them horizontally while walking.
- A typical cat can have up to eight kittens per litter with two to three litters per year.
Cats have tiny backward- facing needles on their tongues which help them to clean themselves. A cat will spend countless hours licking his coat and getting knots out of his fur. Long haired cats tend to regurgitate a small collection of fur or hair which was formed or collected in their stomach from hours of grooming. Owners can help their cats by grooming their coats on a regular basis with a stiff brush or comb to avoid regurgitation problems.
Cats are generally considered to be good pets as they are clean; they take care of their owners and are quite affectionate creatures.