Classification of cat

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1. Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae
Genus Felis
Species Felis catus

Geographic Range
Felis catus can be found on every continent except Antarctica, generally in human populated areas. This species can
be found on a large number islands as well. Their nearly global distribution can be attributed their domestication by
humans; however, there is a large global feral population as well.
Habitat
Domestic cats primarily live in areas of human habitation and are somewhat constrained to developed areas. Most
feral populations live in close proximity to current or past human settlements.
Physical Description
 There are over 100 breeds of domestic cats but all have a very similar body shape and size.
 Adult mass ranges from 4.1 to 5.4 kg, and average length is 76.2 cm.
 Domestic cat have approximately 244 bones in their body, of which about 30 are vertebrae
 With so many vertebrae in their spine, cats are very flexible and can rotate half of their spine 180°.
 They are capable of jumping five times their own height and are able to slip through narrow spaces because
they have no collar bone and their scapulae lie medially on their body.
 Each forelimb (i.e., manus) has five digits and the hindlimbs (i.e., pes) have four.
 They have retractable claws on each paw, which typically do not extend when the animal walks.
 They have 26 teeth that usually develop within the first year.
Reproduction
 House cats are polygynandrous, as both males and females have multiple mates throughout the year.
 Male house cats patrol territories in search of estrus females during mating season.
 Estrus females call loudly to potential mates, while continually rolling on the ground.
 Females have induced ovulation which is stimulated by copulation.
 Gestation ranges from 60 to 67 days.
 Females are reproductively mature by 6 months, and males are reproductively mature by 8 months.
 Domestic cat kittens are cared for by their mothers and paternal care is virtually non-existent.
 Mothers also take an active role in teaching their young how to hunt by allowing them to hunt only very
small animals, such as mice.
 Kittens are not permitted to hunt larger prey, such as rats, right away.
Lifespan/Longevity
Captive individuals are expected to live for approximately 14 years.
Behavior
 Territorial boundaries are demarcated by adult cats via rubbing or marking with urine.
 Scent is produced by glands near the ears, neck, and back of the head, and is released by rubbing against an
object.
 Sharpening claws on an object or rubbing against it are forms of gentle marking, whereas spraying is used to
establish territorial boundaries.
 House cats sometimes mimic nursing by chewing or sucking on fabrics or other household items.

2.  House cats with little access or exposure to plants often chew on plants inside the house, which may be a
sign that the cat is craving plant matter or that their diet is fiber deficient.
 Kitten behavior can often be aggressive as kittens are still learning behavioral patterns from their peers or
family.
Communication and Perception
 Body language and vocalizations are ways in which domestic cats communicate with conspecifics.
 Relaxed individuals often have their ears forward and whiskers relaxed.
 Domestic cats also "meow", which changes meaning in relation to posture.
 Cats have advanced auditory perception. Their ears can rotate 180° to either face frontward or be flattened
back or any direction in between.
 Domestic cats have a great sense of balance. Domestic cats can hear a broad range of frequencies, from 50
to 65 kilohertz
 They have vibrissae on the muzzle, eyebrows, and elbows which function as haptic receptors. These touch
receptors allow house cats to navigate their way around obstacles in low light conditions by sensing changes
in air flow around an object as it approaches it.
 Peripheral vision in domestic cats is very good but their eyes are also farsighted which doesn't allow them to
focus on objects within 2 feet.
 Cats cannot see most colors, although some researchers believe that they may be able to see red and blue.
 With about 200 million olfactory cells, the nose of domestic cats is about thirty times more sensitive than
that of humans. Jacobson's organ (i.e., the vomeronasal organ) is located immediately dorsal to the hard
palate and is particularly exposed to scent molecules when an individual inhales via the mouth.
 A domestic cat's tongue is covered in hundreds of papillae; hook-like structures, which face backwards and
are used to comb and clean the fur. Taste buds are located on the sides, tip, and back of the tongue and
allow domestic cats to perceive bitter, acidic and salty flavors but not sweet.
Food Habits
 Domestic cats are carnivorous and a healthy diet consists of about 30 to 35% muscle meat, 30%
carbohydrates, and 8 to 10% fats, which promote growth and healthy skin and coat.
 Adult females require around 200 to 300 calories per day, whereas adult males need between 250 and 300
calories per day.
Predation
Domestic cats are occasionally preyed on by wild predators, such as coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, alligators, and
many other terrestrial predators, such as large snakes, crocodiles, other cat species, and other canids.
Ecosystem Roles
Domestic cats are great pest control agents for rodents in and around areas of human habitation.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Aside from the benefit that humans receive from domestic cats as pets, domestic cats are used as model organisms
for various biomedical research efforts and have been used as rodent pest control agents for thousands of years. It is
likely that cats were first domesticated due to their usefulness as pest control agents. There has been a great deal of
effort put into mapping the genome of domestic cats.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Domestic cats are abundant and overpopulation has become a significant economic burden in some locations. Feral
cats can be a nuisance, and have decreased the abundance and diversity of bird communities at various locations
across the globe. Feral cats have also been known to spread parasites and disease to domesticated individuals. Cats
can also transmit parasites and disease to humans. For example, domestic cats can pass tapeworms, hookworms and
possibly roundworms to humans.