Cat

Domestic Cats: A Brief Overview

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal that originated in the Near East around 7500 BC. It’s hard to imagine life without these furry companions, but have you ever wondered how they came to be such beloved pets? From their origins in ancient settlements to their current status as household darlings, cats have a fascinating history. Let’s dive into this feline journey together!

The Origins of Cats

Did you know that the domestic cat was the second most popular pet in the United States in 2017? With an estimated 220 million owned and 480 million stray cats worldwide as of 2021, it’s clear why they hold such a special place in our hearts. But where did these sleek hunters come from?

The domestic cat was the second most popular pet in the United States in 2017, with an estimated 220 million owned and 480 million stray cats worldwide as of 2021. The word ‘cat’ is thought to have originated from Late Latin and may be derived from African languages or Germanic words.

Etymology: English word ‘cat’ is believed to come from Old English catt, which was first used in the 6th century. The word may be related to Nubian words or Germanic languages. Male cats are called tomcats, females queens, and juveniles kittens. In Early Modern English, ‘kitten’ was interchangeable with ‘catling.’ A group of cats can be referred to as a clowder, glaring, or colony.

Domestication and Breeding

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is considered a distinct species and subspecies has been identified as F. silvestris catus. The domestic cat is a member of the Felidae family, which had a common ancestor around 10-15 million years ago.

It was thought that domestication began in ancient Egypt, but evidence suggests it may have occurred earlier, around 7500-7200 BC, on the island of Cyprus. African wildcats were likely attracted to early human settlements by rodents and were tamed by Neolithic farmers. Wildcats from Egypt contributed to the maternal gene pool of the domestic cat later.

The earliest known evidence for domestic cats in Greece dates back to around 1200 BC. During the Roman Empire, domestic cats were introduced to Corsica and Sardinia before the 1st century AD. By the end of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, Egyptian domestic cats had arrived in a Baltic Sea port in northern Germany.

Cat breeds developed in the mid-19th century, with most breeds founded on random-bred domestic cats. The ancestral wildcat genome was significantly altered during domestication, resulting in specific mutations that developed cat breeds. Most breeds have low genetic diversity, with over 20 deleterious genetic disorders in purebred populations.

Physical Characteristics and Behavior

Cats are digitigrade, walking on their toes with a ‘pacing’ gait that moves both legs on one side of the body before the legs on the other side. As they speed up, their gait changes to a diagonal gait where diagonally opposite hind and fore legs move simultaneously.

Cats are generally fond of sitting in high places or perching, which allows them to survey their territory or hunt from a concealed site. They have an acute sense of balance and flexibility that enables them to right themselves when falling from heights, often landing on their paws. This reflex is known as the cat righting reflex.

Cats are characterized by their smaller skull and shorter bones compared to European wildcats. They average 46 cm in head-to-body length, 23-25 cm in height, and weigh 4-5 kg. Males are larger than females. Cats have a unique skeletal system with seven cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic, and seven lumbar vertebrae.

Cats have protractible and retractable claws that are sharp and allow for silent stalking of prey. They can extend their claws voluntarily in hunting or self-defense, climbing, kneading, or for extra traction. Most cats have five claws on their front paws and four on their rear paws, with the dewclaw being proximal to the other claws.

Cats are generally less messy than other animals due to their grooming habits and instinctual behavior. Outdoor cats are active day and night, while domestic cats spend most of their time near homes. They establish territories that vary in size and conserve energy by sleeping for extended periods, often between 12-16 hours a day.

Health and Genetics

Cats have undergone minor changes during domestication and can still survive in the wild. Traits like small size, social nature, love of play, and high intelligence may have pre-adapted them for domestication as pets. Domestic cats are generally less messy than other animals due to their grooming habits and instinctual behavior.

Cats have excellent night vision, which is partly due to a tapetum lucidum that reflects light back into the eye. Their eyes also have slit pupils, allowing them to focus bright light without chromatic aberration. Cats can see at one sixth the light level required for human vision and have poor color vision.

The domestic cat’s hearing is most acute in the range of 500 Hz to 32 kHz, with a range of 10.5 octaves. They also have large movable outer ears that amplify sounds and help detect the location of a noise. Cats have an acute sense of smell due to their well-developed olfactory bulb and a large surface of olfactory mucosa.

Cats are sensitive to pheromones and plants containing nepetalactone, which affects their behavior. They have few taste buds compared to humans but possess receptors for acids, amino acids, and bitter tastes, allowing them to detect umami. Cats prefer food at 38°C (100°F) and use whiskers to navigate and sense objects.

Behavioral Traits

Cats do not have consistent behavioral traits based on coat color, but rather are shaped by genetic and environmental factors. Their social behavior ranges from solitary individuals to feral colonies with dominant females leading the groups. Each cat holds a distinct territory, marked by urine spraying, rubbing objects with secretions from facial glands, and defecation.

Domestic cats have formed a symbiotic social adaptation to humans and other animals, showing affection towards their human keepers. Adult cats live in a state of extended kittenhood, displaying high-pitched sounds that mimic human infant cries. Some pet cats are poorly socialized, and redirected aggression is common. Feline scent rubbing behavior is thought to be a form of social bonding.

Cats communicate through various vocalizations, body language, and facial expressions. Purring may be a signaling mechanism of reassurance or contentment. Cats have distinct facial expressions that can indicate pain or discomfort. Cats grooming involves their tongue with backward-facing spines that act like a hairbrush. Long-haired cats can regurgitate furballs due to grooming.

Feeding and Hunting

Cats hunt small prey, using two strategies: stalking and waiting in ambush, depending on the prey species. They are major predators of wildlife, killing billions of birds and mammals annually.

Certain cat behaviors include presenting prey to humans, playing with toys to practice hunting skills, and engaging in play fighting to reduce fear. Domestic cats secrete and perceive pheromones, a chemical signal used for communication and marking territory. Female cats, called queens, are polyestrous with several estrus cycles in a year, lasting 21 days.

Males compete for mating, and after mating, females clean their vulva and reject further attempts to mate. Ovulation is not always triggered by a single mating, and females can be superfecund. Cats are superfecund; a female may mate with multiple males during heat. The gestation of queens lasts 64-67 days.

Impact on Wildlife

Feral cats and free-fed house cats consume several small meals per day. Cats reject novel flavors and learn to avoid unpleasant tastes, are lactose intolerant, and may develop pica, a condition causing them to eat non-food items that can harm their health.

Cats hunt small prey, using two strategies: stalking and waiting in ambush, depending on the prey species. They are major predators of wildlife, killing billions of birds and mammals annually. Feral cats kill 6.3–22.3 billion mammals annually in the US. In Australia, feral cats kill 466 million reptiles per year.

Cats have contributed to the extinction of the Navassa curly-tailed lizard and Chioninia coctei. Domestic cat population worldwide exceeds 500 million as of 2007. In the US, there are 95.6 million domestic cats owned, and in the UK, 26% of adults have a cat.

The global population of domestic cats ranges from 200 million to 600 million. Cats are used for rodent control, fur trade, leather industries, and as superstitious objects. A few attempts have been made to build a cat census, with estimates ranging widely.

Health Risks

Pet humanization is a trend where cats are treated like human family members. Cat shows involve judged events where owners compete to win titles by entering their healthy, vaccinated cats into competitions. Cats can be infected or infested with viruses, bacteria, fungus, protozoans, arthropods, or worms that transmit diseases to humans.

Infections of concern include salmonella, cat-scratch disease, and toxoplasmosis. Ancient Egypt revered cats, often depicting Bastet in cat form. The Greeks kept weasels as pets, but domestic cats later became popular. Aristotle noted female cats’ natural promiscuity, while the Romans adopted Bastet’s associations with Artemis.

Cats eventually replaced weasels as pest control due to their preference for mice hunting. During the Middle Ages, cats were linked to Virgin Mary, and in various cultures, they are seen as exalted souls, guides, or companions, often representing good fortune. The story has no origin in early Muslim writers and seems to confuse a later Sufi saint, Ahmed ar-Rifa’i.

Many cultures have negative superstitions about cats, such as believing they bring bad luck or are witches’ familiar spirits. In some cultures, cats are said to have multiple lives, with varying numbers reported (nine, seven, six). This myth may be attributed to a cat’s ability to twist their bodies around and land on their feet after falls.

Conclusion

The domestic cat has come a long way from its wild origins to become one of the most beloved pets in the world. From their hunting prowess to their affectionate nature, cats continue to captivate us with their unique traits and behaviors. As we learn more about these fascinating creatures, it’s clear that they hold a special place not just in our homes but also in our hearts.