Cat

The Domestic Cat: A Feline Wonder

Imagine a small, sleek creature that has been living alongside humans for thousands of years—this is the domestic cat (Felis catus). With its history dating back around 7500 BC in the Near East, it’s no wonder why this furry companion has captured our hearts. But how much do we really know about these fascinating felines?

From Wildcats to Households

The scientific name Felis catus was proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, marking the official recognition of this species. The domestic cat is a distinct species, with F. silvestris catus considered to have descended from the African wildcat. This lineage has led to minor changes in anatomy and behavior, making them perfect companions for humans.

Origins and Evolution

Domestication of cats is believed to have begun around 7500-7200 BC on the island of Cyprus. Early farmers attracted African wildcats with rodents, leading to a symbiotic relationship that lasted thousands of years. By the Roman Empire, cats had spread across Europe and even reached northern Germany by the end of the Western Roman Empire.

Interestingly, the domestic cat’s closest wild ancestor is diploid and possesses 38 chromosomes, similar to the domestic cat, which also has roughly 20,000 genes. This genetic similarity allows for a wide range of colors and patterns in their offspring due to specific genes like MC1R and ASIP.

Physical Characteristics

The average domestic cat is about 46 cm (18 inches) head-to-body length, weighing between 4-5 kg (8.8-11 lb). They have a smaller skull and shorter bones than the European wildcat, with seven cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic, and seven lumbar vertebrae. Cats are digitigrade, walking on their toes with a ‘pacing’ gait.

One of the most remarkable features of cats is their ability to right themselves in mid-air if falling from heights of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet). This phenomenon, known as the cat righting reflex, allows them to land on their paws due to their acute sense of balance and flexibility.

Senses and Behavior

Cats have excellent night vision, partly due to a tapetum lucidum that reflects light back into the eye. Their hearing range extends from 55 Hz to 79 kHz, allowing them to detect ultrasound and track prey effectively. They also possess an acute sense of smell, with a well-developed olfactory bulb and large surface area of olfactory mucosa.

Cats are sensitive to pheromones and respond strongly to nepetalactone, affecting up to 70-80% of cats. Their social behavior ranges from solitary individuals to feral cat colonies that gather around food sources. Within these colonies, one cat is dominant over others and marks its territory with urine spraying, rubbing objects, and defecation.

Domestic Life

The domestic cat family (Felidae) can pass down many colors and patterns to their offspring due to specific genes such as MC1R and ASIP. Cats have 276 distinct facial expressions based on 26 facial movements, which help researchers detect pain in cats using the feline grimace scale.

Cats spend considerable time licking their coats to keep them clean, with their tongues having backward-facing spines called lingual papillae that act like a hairbrush. These papillae can cause hairballs when regurgitated, which is why it’s important for cat owners to be aware of this.

Behavior and Communication

Cats use various vocalizations and body language for communication, including purring, hissing, growling, and meowing. They also use tail position and ear position as social signal mechanisms. Purring may be an evolutionary advantage signaling reassurance between mother cats and kittens.

Redirected aggression is common among multiple cat households, where anxiety or arousal triggers anger towards nearby cats, pets, or humans. Cats have 276 distinct facial expressions based on 26 facial movements, which help researchers detect pain in cats using the feline grimace scale.

Health and Diet

The domestic cat is a skilled predator, hunting small prey like birds, rodents, lizards, and snakes using stalking or ambush strategies. They are a significant threat to wildlife, with estimates suggesting 1-4 billion bird deaths annually in the US alone.

Cats exhibit complex behavior when presenting prey to humans, potentially due to adopting humans into their social group or teaching them to hunt. Play is essential for kittens’ development, allowing them to practice hunting skills and reduce fear of real combat. Cats tend to play with toys that resemble prey, but can become habituated to familiar objects.

Health Concerns

About 250 heritable genetic disorders have been identified in cats, many similar to human inborn errors of metabolism. Diseases affecting domestic cats include acute infections, parasitic infestations, injuries, chronic diseases like kidney disease and thyroid disease, and arthritis.

Life Expectancy and Population

The average lifespan of pet cats has risen in recent decades, from 7 years in the early 1980s to around 13 years as of 2014 and 2023. Neutering increases life expectancy but also decreases metabolism and can cause obesity.

Domestic cats are common pets worldwide, with over 500 million domestic cats as of 2007 and an estimated 220 million owned and 480 million stray cats in 2021. Cats have been used for rodent control, fur trade, and leather industries, but these uses have been largely outlawed.

Conclusion

The domestic cat is a remarkable creature that has evolved alongside humans over thousands of years. From their origins in ancient Cyprus to their current status as beloved pets, cats continue to captivate us with their unique behaviors and physical attributes. As we learn more about these felines, it’s clear that they are much more than just household companions—they are complex beings with a rich history and an important role in our lives.