Definition
noun, plural: domestic cats
A small domesticated Felis species, e.g. F. domestica or F. catus
Supplement
The domestic cat is a species of the genus, Felis. It belongs to the subfamily Felinae, of the family Felidae. There are over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme Southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago.
These cats are domesticated and kept as indoor pets for companionship and for their ability to hunt house pests or vermin. They have strong, flexible body and quick reflexes. Their sense of hearing is capable of detecting faint sounds made by small animals (e.g. mice). Their claws are sharp and retractable and their teeth are adapted for catching and eating small prey. Their vision at night is good at detecting animal movements in the dark. Nevertheless, their color vision is not as efficient as that in humans. They use a variety of vocalizations, e.g. purring, hissing, grunting, and mewing.
Scientific classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Felidae
- Genus: Felis
- Species: F. catus
Other common name(s):
See also:
