Cat Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These territories are marked by urine spraying, rubbing objects at head height with secretions from facial glands, and by defecation. The term "cat nap" for a short rest refers to the cat's tendency to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period. These provide information on the width of gaps and on the location of objects in the dark, both by touching objects directly and by sensing air currents. However, these receptors contain molecular changes that make them taste umami differently from humans. Cats are sensitive to pheromones such as 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol, which they use to communicate through urine spraying and marking with scent glands.

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Egyptian royalty adorned their cats in gold, while the lower classes made and wore jewelry depicting cats. Since Cyprus is an island and cats are not native, it is clear that cats were transported there by boat, and the burial suggests that cats were already considered companions. A grave containing the remains of a human and a cat dating to about 9,500 years ago was discovered in southern Cyprus. Consequently, cats have retained their independent nature and can thrive as predators in the wild today. It is thought that all true cat species evolved from this small civetlike predator.

Cat care and welfare

Domestic and wild cats share a taste receptor gene mutation that keeps their sweet taste buds from binding to sugary molecules, leaving them with no ability to taste sweetness. This response is also produced by other plants, such as silver vine (Actinidia polygama) and the herb valerian; it may be cat caused by the smell of these plants mimicking a pheromone and stimulating cats' social or sexual behaviors. A cat always rights itself in the same way, and it has enough time in falls of at least 90 cm (3.0 ft). Most cats have five claws on their front paws and four on their rear paws. This mutual relationship between early farmers and tamed cats lasted thousands of years.

We encourage you to browse our directory of adoptable cats in your area, or use our shelter finder to start your search. We have lots of cats and kittens in need of a loving new home, so why not adopt a kitten or cat from us? Compare cat and dog breeds to help you decide which pet is right for you and your budget. No two cats are the same, but understanding their biology and behaviour can help you to understand your pet better. On this page, we'll take you through some top cat facts to help you get to know these amazing animals, and point you in the direction of our expert advice on how to keep your kitten or cat happy and healthy. Over time, you've come to accept these unique characteristics of the various cats that share your life here on Earth.

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Thousands of cat mummies have been discovered in Egypt, along with mouse mummies, presumably to provide food for the cats in the afterlife. Humans needed their grain protected from rodents, and cats needed a ready food source. The following article deals with general characteristics of the domestic cat.

Several ancient religions believed cats are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that are all-knowing but mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans. Walter Chandoha made his career photographing cats after his 1949 images of Loco, a stray cat, were published. Public attitudes toward feral cats vary widely, from seeing them as free-ranging pets to regarding them as vermin.

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Because cats do not have a social survival strategy or herd behavior, they always hunt alone. Outside these neutral areas, territory holders usually chase away stranger cats, at first by staring, hissing, and growling, and, if that does not work, by short and violent, noisy attacks. Between these territories are neutral areas where cats watch and greet one another without territorial conflicts. The timing of cats' activity is quite flexible and varied; but being low-light predators, they are generally crepuscular, which means they tend to be more active near dawn and dusk. Outdoor cats are active both day and night, although they tend to be slightly more active at night. To aid with navigation and sensation, cats have dozens of movable whiskers (vibrissae) over their body, especially their faces.

• The domestic cat has rather poor color vision and only two types of cone cells, optimized for sensitivity to blue and yellowish green; its ability to distinguish between red and green is limited.
• However, its introduction to places where no native felines are present also contributes to the decline of native species.
• Their rigorous grooming habits and instinct to bury their bodily waste make them generally much less messy than other domesticated animals.
• The cat moves towards the animal it wants to hunt, keeping its body flat and near the ground so that it cannot be seen easily.

Since 1990, Alley Cat Allies has led the movement to protect and improve the lives of ALL cats. Together with our over 1.7 million supporters, we work toward a world where cats are valued and every community has humane and effective programs and policies to defend them. Just as many, many kind people place bird feeders, suet and bird houses in the gardens to help increase the odds of birds living through cold winters, many kinds people feed community cats and build outdoor shelters for them.