Témbongkeun sumber pikeun Ucing

{{Tarjamahkeun|Inggris}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Ucing
| status = {{StatusDomesticated}}
| image = Cat poster 1.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| image_caption = Rupa-rupa ragam ucing doméstik
| genus = Felis
| species = catus<ref name="Linnaeus1758"/>
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758
| synonyms = <small>''Felis lybica'' invalid [[junior synonym]]</small>
}}
'''Ucing''' ([[Basa Indonésia]]:''Kucing'') nyaéta [[mamalia]] [[karnivora]] leutik.<ref name="Linnaeus1758">{{Cite book |last=Linnaeus |first=C. |title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis |location=Holmiae |publisher=Laurentii Salvii |date=1758 |page=42 |chapter=Felis Catus |language=la |volume=1 |edition=Tenth reformed |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/mobot31753000798865/page/42}}</ref><ref name="MSW3fc">{{MSW3 Wozencraft |id=14000031 |pages=534–535 |heading=Species ''Felis catus''}}</ref> Ucing ilaharna jadi sato ingu pikeun [[manusa]], boh minangka sato cocoeun atawa pikeun nyingsieunan [[beurit]]. Ieu sato geus dalit jeung manusa sahenteuna salila <u>+</u> 9.500 taun<ref name="9500 years">{{cite web |title=Oldest Known Pet Cat? 9500-Year-Old Burial Found on Cyprus |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/04/0408_040408_oldestpetcat.html |accessdate=2007-03-06 |date=2004-04-08 |publisher=National Geographic News}}</ref>.

Minangka [[prédator]], ucing moroan leuwih ti saréwu [[spésiés]] sasatoan pikeun kadaharanana. Ucing mah calakan tur bisa dilatih pikeun nurutan  paréntah anu gampil.<!-- Individual cats have also been known to learn to manipulate simple mechanisms (see [[cat intelligence]]). Cats use a variety of vocalizations and types of [[Cat body language|body language]] for [[cat communication|communication]], including mewing ("meow" or "miaow"), [[purr]]ing, [[hissing]], [[growling]], squeaking, [[chirp]]ing, [[click consonant|clicking]], and grunting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel3000.com/news/1472741/detail.html |title=Meows Mean More To Cat Lovers |publisher=Channel3000.com |accessdate=2006-06-14}}</ref>
-->

== Anatomi jeung morpologi==
[[Gambar:Scheme_cat_anatomy-su.svg|thumb|350px|Gambaran anatomi ucing sacara umum]]
Gumantung kana spésiésna, awak ucing beuratna 2,5 – 7&nbsp;kg. Tapi, sababaraha spésiés budidaya, misalna ''[[Maine Coon]]'', bisa nepi ka 11,3&nbsp;kg. Mangkaning mun parabna keleuwihan mah beuratna bisa nepi ka 23&nbsp;kg. Sabalikna, aya ogé ucing pangleutikna nu kungsi kalaporkeun beuratna kurang ti 1,8&nbsp;kg<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.messybeast.com/dwarfcats.html |title=DWARF, MIDGET AND MINIATURE CATS |accessdate=2007-03-06}}</ref>.

Sakumaha mamalia lianna, ucing miboga tujuh [[cervical vertebrae]], tilu welas [[thoracic vertebrae]] (manusa boga salosin), tujuh [[lumbar vertebrae]] (manusa boga lima), tilu [[sacral vertebrae]] (manusa boga lima sabab bipedal), sarta 22/23 [[caudal vertebrae]] (manusa boga 3-5, ngahiji jadi [[coccyx]]).

==Ras Ucing==
Dumasarkeun kana kaayaan buluna ras ucing kabagi 5 bagian nyaéta <ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan">Susanty, Yuliana. Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan. Agromedia Pustaka.Jakarta Selatan 2007</ref> :
# Bulu pondok
# Bulu sedeng
# Bulu campuran (pondok jeung panjang)
# Bulu panjang
# Bulu campuran

'''Bulu pendék'''
* '''''Exotik''''' mangrupa variasi tina ras bulu pondok.<ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>
* '''''Chartreux, Russian Blue''' jeung''' Korat'''''. Tilu ras ieu miboga warna bulu anu sarua nyaéta biru atawa hauk. katilu ras ieu mangrupa ras asli, tapi béda asal daérahna, saperti Chartreux anu aslna ti Prancis, Russian Blue asalna ti Rusia, jeung Korat ti Thailand.<ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>
* '''''Manx''' jeung '''Japanese Bobtail'''''. Manx mangrupa ras anu teu boga buntut, sedengkeun Japanese bobtail miboga rupa buntut anu ahéng.<ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>
* '''''Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, California Spangled, Bengal'''''<ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>
* '''''Siamese''' jeung '''Burmese'''''.Kadua ras ieu téh asalna ti Thailand <ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>
*'''''British shorthair, Européan Shorthair,''' jeung '''American Shorthair'''''<ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>
* '''''Abyssinian''''''' dipercaya yén ras ieu ras pangkolotna mangrupa ras katurunan Mesir Kuna.<ref name="Memilih dan Merawat Kucing Kesayangan"/>

==Ucing dina kabudayaan Sunda==
Dina kabudayaan Sunda, aya babasan jeung paribasa nu ngandung kecap ucing saperti ''ngabudi ucing'', ''kawas ucing gering'', ''kawas ucing jeung anjing'', ''heunceut ucingeun''.

Dina carita Sunda ogé aya carita ngeunaan ucing saperti "[[candramawat]]", nyaéta ucingna [[Nini Anteh]] anu aya di [http://su.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulan_(satelit) bulan].

<!--The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's enhanced spinal mobility and flexibility, compared to humans; the caudal vertebrae form the tail, used by the cat for counterbalance to the body during quick movements.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cat Skeleton| url=http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/zoolab/Table_of_Contents/Lab-9b/Cat_Skeleton_1/cat_skeleton_1.htm |accessdate=2006-12-12}}</ref>

Cats have highly specialized [[tooth|teeth]] and a [[gastrointestinal tract|digestive tract]] suitable to the digestion of meat. The [[premolar]] and [[Molar (tooth)|first molar]] together compose the [[carnassial]] pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently functions to shear meat like a pair of [[scissors]]. While this is present in [[Canidae|canines]], it is highly developed in felines. The cat's [[tongue]] has sharp spines, or [[papillae]], useful for retaining and ripping flesh from a carcass. These papillae are small backward-facing hooks that contain [[keratin]] and assist in their grooming.

===Ears===
Thirty-two individual muscles in the ear allow for a manner of directional hearing:<ref>{{cite web | title=At Home : Care / Health : Understanding Cats | url=http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_pets_care_health/article/0,1801,HGTV_3152_1380540,00.html | accessmonthday=August 15 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> the cat can move each ear independently of the other. Because of this mobility, a cat can move its body in one direction and point its ears in another direction. Most cats have straight ears pointing upward. Unlike [[dog]]s, flap-eared breeds are extremely rare. ([[Scottish Fold]]s are one such exceptional [[genetic mutation]].) When angry or frightened, a cat will lay its ears back, to accompany the growling or [[hiss]]ing sounds it makes. Cats will also turn their ears back when they are playing, or occasionally to show interest in a sound coming from behind them.

===Legs===
[[Image:CatJumping.PNG|thumb|150px|A cat jumping.]]
Cats, like dogs, are [[digitigrade]]s: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. Cats are capable of walking very precisely, because like all felines they directly register; that is, they place each hind paw (almost) directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw, minimizing noise and visible tracks. This also provides sure footing for their hind paws when they navigate rough terrain.

Unlike dogs and most mammals, cats walk by moving both legs on one side and then both legs on the other. Most mammals move legs on alternate sides in sequence. Cats share this unusual [[Gait analysis|gait]] with [[camel]]s, [[giraffe]]s, some horses ('pacers'), and a select few other mammals. There is no known connection between these animals which might explain this.

Like all members of [[family (biology)|family]] ''[[Felidae]]'' except the [[cheetah]], cats have retractable [[claw]]s. In their normal, relaxed position the claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the [[paw|toe pads]]. This keeps the claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows the silent stalking of prey.  The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the hind feet. Cats can extend their claws voluntarily on one or more paws at will. They may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, "[[Kneading (cats)|kneading]]", or for extra traction on soft surfaces (bedspreads, thick rugs, etc.). It is also possible to make a cooperative cat extend its claws by carefully pressing both the top and bottom of the paw. The curved claws may become entangled in carpet or thick fabric, which may cause injury if the cat is unable to free itself.

Most cats have 5 claws at their front paws, and 4 or 5 at their rear paws. Because of an ancient [[mutation]], however, domestic cats are prone to [[Polydactyl cat|polydactyly]], and may have 6 or 7 toes. The fifth front claw (the [[dewclaw]]) is in a more [[Anatomical terms of location|proximal]] position than those of the other claws. More proximally, there is a protrusion which appears to be a sixth "finger". This special feature of the front paws, on the inside of the wrists, is the [[carpal pad]], also found on the paws of [[big cat]]s and [[dog]]s. It has no function in normal walking, but is thought to be an anti-skidding device used while jumping.

===Senses===

{{main|Cat senses}}
Cat senses are attuned for hunting. Cats have highly advanced hearing, eyesight, taste, and touch receptors, making the cat extremely sensitive among mammals. Cats' [[night vision]] is superior to humans although their [[Visual perception|vision]] in daylight is inferior. Humans and cats have a similar range of [[hearing]] on the low end of the scale, but cats can hear much higher-pitched sounds, up to 64 [[Hertz|kHz]], which is 1.6 [[octave]]s above the range of a human, and even one octave above the range of a dog.<ref>[http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/HearingRange.html Strain, G.M., How Well Do Dogs and Other Animals Hear?]</ref> A domestic cat's [[olfaction|sense of smell]] is about fourteen times as strong as a human's.<ref name="senseofsmell">{{cite web | url=http://cats.about.com/cs/felineanatomy/a/catsnose_scent.htm | title=The Nose Knows | publisher=About.com | accessdate=2006-11-29}}</ref> To aid with navigation and sensation, cats have dozens of movable [[vibrissae]] (whiskers) over their body, especially their face. Due to a mutation in an early cat ancestor, one of two genes necessary to taste [[sweetness]] has been lost by the cat family.<ref>
{{cite journal
  | last = Li
  | first = Xia
  | coauthors = Weihua Li, Hong Wang, Jie Cao, Kenji Maehashi, Liquan Huang, Alexander A. Bachmanov, Danielle R. Reed, Véronique Legrand-Defretin, Gary K. Beauchamp, Joseph G. Brand
  | title = Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar
  | journal = PLOS Genetics
  | volume = 1
  | issue = 1
  | publisher = [[Public Library of Science]]
  | date = July 2005http://genetics.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003
  | doi = 10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003
  | accessdate = 2006-11-08 }}
</ref>

==Physiology==
===Metabolism===
[[Image:Cat-sleeping tortoiseshell cat-20051019.jpg|frame|right|250px|A cat sleeping curled into a tight ball to conserve body heat]]
Cats conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. Daily durations of sleep vary, usually 12–16 hours, with 13–14 being the average.  Some cats can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period.  The term ''cat nap'' refers to the cat's ability to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period and has entered the English lexicon – someone who nods off for a few minutes is said to be "taking a cat nap".

Due to their [[crepuscular]] nature, cats are often known to enter a period of increased activity and playfulness during the evening and early morning, dubbed the "evening crazies", "night crazies", "elevenses" or "mad half-hour" by some.<ref>Animal Doctor (July 9 2002). "Dear Dr. Fox". ''The Washington Post'', p. C10.</ref><ref>* Ring, Ken and Romhany, Paul (August 1 1999). ''Pawmistry: How to Read Your Cat's Paws''. Ten Speed Press (Berkeley, California), p. 10. ISBN 1-58008-111-8</ref>

The temperament of a cat can vary depending on the breed and socialization. Cats with "oriental" body types tend to be thinner and more active, while cats that have a "cobby" body type tend to be heavier and less active.

The normal [[thermoregulation|body temperature]] of a cat is between 38 and 39 °[[Celsius|C]] (101 and 102.2 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]).<ref>{{cite web | title=Normal Values For Dog and Cat Temperature, Blood Tests, Urine and other information in ThePetCenter.com | url=http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/nv.html|accessmonthday=August 8 |accessyear=2005 }}</ref> A cat is considered [[febrile]] ([[hyperthermia|hyperthermic]]) if it has a temperature of 39.5 °C (103 °F) or greater, or [[hypothermic]] if less than 37.5 °C (100 °F). For comparison, humans have a normal temperature of approximately 36.8 °C (98.2 °F). A domestic cat's normal heart rate ranges from 140 to 220 beats per minute, and is largely dependent on how excited the cat is. For a cat at rest, the average heart rate should be between 150 and 180 bpm, about twice that of a human.

==Ecology and life history==
===Behavior===
{{main|Cat behavior}}
====Communication====
{{main|Cat communication}}

====Social behavior====

Many people characterize cats as 'solitary' animals. However, cats are actually highly social.  A primary difference in social behavior between cats and dogs (to which they are often compared) is that cats do not have a ''social survival strategy'', or a 'pack mentality'; however this only means that cats take care of their basic needs on their own (e.g., finding food, defending themselves, etc.).  It is not the same thing as being asocial.  Perhaps the best example of how domestic cats are 'naturally' meant to behave is to observe feral domestic cats, which often live in colonies, but in which each individual basically  looks after itself.

Living with humans is a symbiotic social adaptation which has developed over thousands of years.  The sort of social relationship cats have with their human keepers is hard to map onto more generalized wild cat behavior, but it is certain that the cat thinks of the human differently than it does other cats (i.e., it does not think of itself as human, nor that the human is a cat).  This can be seen in the difference in body and vocal language it uses with the human, when compared to how it communicates with other cats in the household, for example.  Some have suggested that, psychologically, the human keeper of a cat is a sort of surrogate for the cat's mother, and that adult domestic cats live forever in a kind of suspended kittenhood.<ref>Meowing is one example of kittenish behavior that persists into adulthood in domesticated cats.</ref>

With proper training and reinforcement of social behavior, poorly socialized cats can become more social over time.<ref>http://www.petfinder.com/journalindex.cgi?path=/private/behaviortraining/cat/multiplecats/2.2.524.txt&template=templateprint.html</ref> Older cats have also been reported to sometimes develop aggressiveness towards kittens, which may include biting and scratching; this type of behavior is known as Feline Asocial Aggression.<ref>http://faculty.washington.edu/jcha/330_cats_introducing.pdf</ref>

====Fondness for heights====
[[Image:Cat in tree03.jpg|thumb|250px|A domestic cat standing on the branch of a tree]]
Most breeds of cat have a noted fondness for settling in high places, or perching.  Animal behaviorists have posited a number of explanations, the most common being that height gives the cat a better observation point, allowing it to survey its "territory" and become aware of activities of people and other pets in the area. In the wild, a higher place may serve as a concealed site from which to hunt; domestic cats are known to strike prey by pouncing from such a perch as a tree branch, as does a leopard.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Do Cats Like High Places?|publisher=Dr. Holly Nash, DVM, MS|url=http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1313&articleid=1125|work=Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.}}</ref>  Height, therefore, can also give cats a sense of security and prestige.

This fondness for high spaces, however, can dangerously test the popular notion that a cat "always lands on its feet."  The [[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] warns owners<ref>Many animal rights advocates hold the belief that a living creature should not be owned, and thus that using the word "owner" in conjunction with cats (or any pets) is misleading. The usage of the word "owner" in this article should not be construed as taking any position in this debate, but rather to acknowledge the current common usage of the term in the available literature.</ref> to safeguard the more dangerous perches in their homes, to avoid "high-rise syndrome," where an overconfident cat falls from an extreme height.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=2032&articleid=3409|title="High-Rise Syndrome: Cats Injured Due to Falls"|author=Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department|publisher=Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.}}</ref>

During a fall, a cat can reflexively twist its body and right itself using its acute [[equilibrioception|sense of balance]] and flexibility.<ref>{{cite web | title=Falling Cats | url=http://www.verrueckte-experimente.de/leseproben_e.html|accessmonthday=October 24 |accessyear=2005 }}</ref> This is known as the cat's "[[cat righting reflex|righting reflex]]." It always rights itself in the same way, provided it has the time to do so, during a fall. The height required for this to occur in most cats (safely) is around 3 feet (90cm). To achieve this, cats probably relax their ventral muscles, "flattening" their bodies to some extent and creating more resistance to air. Cats without a [[tail (anatomy)|tail]] also have this ability, since a cat mostly moves its hindlegs and relies on conservation of [[angular momentum]] to set up for landing, and the tail is in fact little used for this feat.<ref>[http://helix.gatech.edu/Classes/ME3760/1998Q3/Projects/Nguyen/How does a cat always land on its feet?]</ref>

====Play====
Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of string play. Many cats cannot resist a dangling piece of string, or a piece of rope drawn randomly and enticingly across the floor. This well known love of string is often depicted in cartoons and photographs, which show kittens or cats playing with balls of yarn. It is probably related to hunting instincts, including the common practice of kittens hunting their mother's and each other's tails. If string is ingested, however, it can become caught in the cat’s stomach or intestines, causing illness, or in extreme cases, death. Due to possible complications caused by ingesting a string, string play is sometimes replaced with a [[laser pointer]]'s dot, which some cats will chase. Some also discourage the use of laser pointers for pet play, however, because of the potential damage to sensitive eyes and/or the possible loss of satisfaction associated with the successful capture of an actual prey object, play or real.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

===Ecology===
====Feeding ecology====
Cats are highly specialized for hunting, compared to other mammals such as dogs.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} This is now thought to be the indirect result of cats' inability to taste sugars, thereby reducing their intake of plant foods. Since they have a greatly reduced need to digest plants, their digestive tract has evolved to be shorter, too short for effective digestion of plants but less of a weight penalty for the rapid movement required for hunting. Hunting has likewise become central to their behavior patterns, even to their predilection for short bursts of intense exercise punctuating long periods of rest.

Much like the [[big cat]]s, domestic cats are very effective predators. They ambush and immobilize vertebrate [[Predation|prey]] using tactics similar to those of [[leopard]]s and [[tiger]]s by pouncing; then they deliver a lethal neck bite with their long [[canine tooth|canine teeth]] that severs the victim's [[spinal cord]], causes fatal bleeding by puncturing the [[carotid artery]] or the [[jugular vein]], or asphyxiates it by crushing its trachea. The domestic cat can hunt and eat about one thousand [[species]], many of them [[invertebrate]]s, especially insects — many [[big cat]]s will eat fewer than a hundred different species. Although, theoretically, big cats can kill most of these species as well, they often do not due to the relatively low nutritional content that smaller animals provide for the effort. An exception is the [[leopard]], which commonly hunts rabbits and many other smaller animals.

Even well-fed domestic cats hunt and kill birds, mice, rats, scorpions, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and other small animals in the vicinity. They often present such trophies to their owner. The motivation is not entirely clear, but friendly bonding behaviors are often associated with such an action. It is probable that cats in this situation expect to be praised for their symbolic contribution to the group. Some theories suggest that cats see their owners gone for long times of the day and assume they are out hunting, as they always have plenty of food available. It is thought that a cat presenting its owner with a dead animal thinks it's 'helping out' by bringing home the kill.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}  [[Ethology|Ethologist]] [[Paul Leyhausen]], in an extensive study of social and predatory behavior in domestic cats (documented in his book ''Cat Behavior''), proposed a mechanism which explains this presenting behavior.  In simple terms, cats adopt humans into their social group, and share excess kill with others in the group according to the local pecking order, in which humans place at or near the top.  Another possibility is that presenting the kill might be a relic of a kitten feline behavior of demonstrating for its mother's approval that it has developed the necessary skill for hunting.

Due to their hunting behavior, in many countries feral cats are considered pests. Domestic cats are occasionally also required to have contained cat runs or to be kept inside entirely, as they can be hazardous to locally endangered bird species. For instance, various municipalities in Australia have enacted such legislation. In some localities, owners fit their cat with a bell in order to warn prey of its approach. On the other hand, the cat may figure out how and when the bell works and learn to move more carefully to avoid ringing it.

Domesticated cats eat fairly little vegetable matter. It is quite common, however, for cats to occasionally supplement their carnivorous diets with small amounts of grass or other plant matter to help their digestive tract. Whereas [[bear]]s and dogs commonly supplement their diet of meat with fruits, berries, roots, and honey when they can get them, cats prefer to mostly feed on meat. All felines, including the big cats, have a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness,<ref>{{cite web | title=PLoS Genetics: Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar | url=http://genetics.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003 | accessmonthday=August 8 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> which very likely is related to their meat-dominated eating habits, and almost certainly related to their aversion to fruits and berries. However, many domesticated cats are known to like vegetables.<ref>{{cite web | title=Vegan Society: Cats | url=http://www.vegansociety.com/html/animals/care/cats/ }}</ref> The majority of brand-name [[cat food]]s are primarily meat based, but often contain large amounts of corn or rice, supplemented with meat byproducts and minerals and vitamins. Cats are also known to munch on grass, leaves, shrubs and houseplants to facilitate regurgitation of whatever may be upsetting their digestion; or perhaps to introduce fibre or trace minerals to the diet.

Cats are obligate [[carnivores]], and cannot live on an unsupplemented [[vegetarianism|vegetarian]] diet because they cannot synthesize several required nutrients which are absent or rare in plant food. This applies mainly to [[taurine]], [[vitamin A]] (cats cannot convert the pro-vitamin A that is abundant in plants to vitamin A proper) and to certain [[fatty acids]]. The absence of taurine causes the cat's retina to slowly degenerate, causing eye problems and (eventually) irreversible blindness, a condition called [[macular degeneration]]. Cow's milk is a poor source of taurine and adult cats are generally [[lactose intolerant]]. Lactose-free milk is perfectly safe, but still not a substitute for meat.

Some houseplants are harmful to cats. The leaves of the [[Lilium longiflorum|Easter Lily]] can cause permanent and life-threatening kidney damage to cats. [[Philodendron]] are also poisonous to cats. ''[[Cat Fancy]]'' has a full list of [http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html plants harmful to cats].

Some cats have a fondness for [[catnip]]. While they generally do not consume it, they will often roll in it, paw at it, and occasionally chew on it (as catnip is sensed by the cat's [[vomeronasal organ]]). The effect is usually relatively short, lasting for only a few minutes. After two hours or less, susceptible cats gain interest again. Several other species of plants cause this effect, to a lesser degree.

Cats can be fussy eaters, possibly due to the mutation which caused their ancestor to lose the ability to taste sugars. Unlike most mammals, cats can voluntarily starve themselves indefinitely despite being presented with palatable food, even a food which they had previously readily consumed. This can happen when the [[vomeronasal organ|vomeronasal or Jacobson's organ]] becomes accustomed to a specific food, or if the cats are spoiled by their owners, in which case the cat will reject any food that does not fit the pattern it is expecting. It is also known for cats to merely become bored with their given food and decide to stop eating until they are tempted into eating again. Although it is extremely rare for a cat to deliberately starve itself to the point of injury, the sudden loss of weight can cause a fatal condition called [[hepatic lipidosis]], a liver dysfunction which causes pathological loss of appetite and reinforces the starvation, which can lead to death within as little as 48 hours.

Additionally, cats have been known to develop a fondness for prepared human foods, normally preparations which are rich in proteins or fats.  However, a diet consisting only of human food (even if high quality meat) is unlikely to contain the balanced nutrition required by the cat.  Cats normally are good self-regulators of diet; however, unlimited access to food, or excessive human-food 'treats', will often lead to the cat becoming obese, particularly if it is older or more sedentary. This may lead to several health complications, such as diabetes, especially in neutered males. Such health conditions can be prevented through diet and exercise (playing), especially for cats living exclusively indoors.

Cats can also develop [[Pica (disorder)|pica]]. Pica is a condition in which animals chew or eat unusual things such as fabric, plastic or wool. In cats, this is mostly harmless as they do not digest most of it, but can be fatal or require surgical removal if a large amount of foreign material is ingested (for example, an entire sock). It tends to occur more often in Siamese, Burmese, and breeds with these in their ancestry.

====Toxic sensitivity====
The liver of a cat is less effective at [[detoxification]] than those of other animals, including humans and dogs; therefore exposure to many common substances considered safe for households may be dangerous to them.<ref name="judy"/><ref name="vetinfo"/>  In general, the cat's environment should be examined for the presence of such toxins and the problem corrected or alleviated as much as possible; in addition, where sudden or prolonged serious illness without obvious cause is observed, the possibility of toxicity must be considered, and the veterinarian informed of any such substances to which the cat may have had access.

For instance, the common painkiller [[paracetamol]] or [[acetominophen]], sold under brand names such as [[Tylenol]] and [[Panadol]], is extremely toxic to cats; because they naturally lack enzymes needed to digest it, even minute portions of doses safe for humans can be fatal<ref name="CanVetJ2003-Allen">{{cite journal | author=Allen AL | title=The diagnosis of acetaminophen toxicosis in a cat | journal=Can Vet J | year=2003 | pages=509-10 | volume=44 | issue=6 | id=PMID 12839249|url= http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12839249 }}</ref><ref name="vetinfo"/> and any suspected ingestion warrants immediate veterinary attention.<ref name="VetHumToxicol1998-Villar">{{cite journal | author=Villar D, Buck WB, Gonzalez JM | title=Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen toxicosis and treatment in dogs and cats | journal=Vet Hum Toxicol | year=1998 | pages=156-62 | volume=40 | issue=3 | id=PMID 9610496}}</ref> Even [[aspirin]], which is sometimes used to treat [[arthritis]] in cats, is much more toxic to them than to humans and must be administered cautiously.<ref name="vetinfo"/> 
Similarly, 
application of [[minoxidil]] ([[Rogaine]]) to the skin of cats, either accidental or by well-meaning owners attempting to counter loss of fur, has sometimes proved fatal.<ref>{{cite journal | 
author=Camille DeClementi| 
coauthors=Keith L. Bailey, Spencer C. Goldstein, and Michael Scott Orser| 
title=Suspected toxicosis after topical administration of minoxidil in 2 cats| 
journal=Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care| 
year=2004 | 
month=December|
pages=287-292| 
volume=14 | 
issue=4 | 
id={{doi|10.1111/j.1476-4431.2004.04014.x}} |
url= http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2004.04014.x?journalCode=vec
|accessdate= 2007-01-18
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.showcatsonline.com/x/minoxidil.htm
| title = Minoxidil Warning 
| accessdate = 2007-01-18
| publisher = ShowCatsOnline.com
| quote = Very small amounts of Minoxidil can result [in] serious problems or death
}}</ref>

In addition to such obvious dangers as [[insecticide]]s and [[weed killer]]s, other common household substances that should be used with caution in areas where cats may be exposed to them include [[mothball]]s and other [[naphthalene]] products,<ref name="vetinfo"/> as well as  
[[phenol]] based products often used for cleaning and disinfecting near cats' feeding areas or litter boxes, such as [[Pine-Sol]], [[Dettol]] (Lysol), [[hexachlorophene]], ''etc.''<ref name="vetinfo"> 
{{cite web
| url = http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/ctoxin.html 
| title = Toxic to Cats
| accessdate = 2007-01-18
| publisher = Vetinfo4Cats 
}}
</ref> 
which, although they are widely used without problem, have been sometimes seen to be fatal.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Rousseaux CG, Smith RA, Nicholson S| title=Acute Pinesol toxicity in a domestic cat.| journal=Vet Hum Toxicol| year=1986| pages=316-7| volume=28 | issue=4 | id=PMID 3750813|url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3750813&dopt=Abstract}}</ref> [[Antifreeze]] is particularly appealing to cats, and as little as a teaspoonful can be fatal.<ref>http://www.cfainc.org/articles/antifreeze.html</ref>
 
Many human foods are somewhat toxic to cats; [[theobromine]] in [[chocolate]] can cause [[theobromine poisoning]], for instance, although few cats will eat chocolate. Toxicity in cats ingesting relatively large amounts of [[onion]]s or [[garlic]] has also been reported.<ref name="vetinfo"/> Even such seemingly safe items as [[cat food]] packaged in [[pull tab]] [[tin can]]s  have been statistically linked to [[hyperthyroidism]]; although the connection is far from proved, suspicion has fallen on the use of [[bisphenol A]],  another phenol based product as discussed above, to seal such cans.<ref name="vetinfo"/>

As is well known, many [[houseplant]]s are at least somewhat toxic to many species, cats included<ref name="judy">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.judyshealthcafe.com/articles/substances.html 
| title = Substances That Are Poison to Pets
| accessdate = 2007-01-18
| publisher = Judy's Health Cafe.com
}}
</ref> and the consumption of such plants by cats is to be avoided.

===Habitat===
The [[wild cat]], ancestor of the domestic cat, is believed to have evolved in a desert climate, as evident in the behavior common to both the domestic and wild forms. Wild cats are native to all continents other than Australia and Antarctica, although feral cats have become [[apex predator]]s in the Australian Outback where they are menaces to wildlife.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Their feces are usually dry, and cats prefer to bury them in sandy places. Urine is highly concentrated, which allows the cat to retain as much fluid as possible. They are able to remain motionless for long periods, especially when observing prey and preparing to pounce. In North Africa there are still small wildcats that are probably related closely to the ancestors of today's domesticated breeds.

Cats enjoy heat and solar exposure, often sleeping in a sunny area during the heat of the day. Cats prefer warmer temperatures than humans do. People start to feel uncomfortable when their skin's temperature gets higher than about 44.5 °C (112 °F), but cats don't start to show signs of discomfort until their skin reaches about 52 °C (126 °F).

Being closely related to desert animals, cats can easily withstand the heat and cold of a [[temperate]] climate, but not for extended periods. Although certain breeds such as the [[Norwegian Forest Cat]] and [[Maine Coon]] have developed heavier coats of fur than other cats, they have little resistance against moist cold (eg, fog, rain and snow) and struggle to maintain their 39 °C (102 °F) body temperature when wet.

Most cats dislike immersion in water; one major exception is the [[Turkish Van]] breed which has an unusual fondness for water.<ref>http://www.swimmingcats.com/faqs.html</ref> [[Abyssinian (cat)|Abyssinian]]s are also reported to be more tolerant of water than most cats.

===Life history===
====Reproduction====
[[Image:White_Cat_Nursing_Four_Kittens_HQ.jpg|thumb|Four kittens being [[breastfeeding|nursed]]]]
Cats are seasonally [[polyestrous]], which means they may have many periods of heat over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4 to 7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat period lasts longer.

Multiple males will be attracted to a female in heat.  The males will fight over her, and the victor wins the right to mate.  At first, the female will reject the male.  But eventually, the female will allow the male to mate.  The female will give a loud yowl as the male pulls out of her.  After mating, the female will give herself a thorough wash.  If a male attempts to breed with her at this point, the female will attack him.  Once the female is done grooming, the cycle will repeat.

The male cat's [[penis]] has spines which point backwards. Upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's [[vagina]], which may cause ovulation. Because this does not always occur, females are rarely impregnated by the first male with which they mate. Furthermore, cats are [[superfecundation|superfecund]]; that is, a female may mate with more than one male when she is in heat, meaning different [[kitten]]s in a litter may have different fathers.

The [[gestation]] period for cats is approximately 63-65 days. The size of a [[Litter (animal)|litter]] averages three to five kittens, with the first litter usually smaller than subsequent litters. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven weeks, and cats normally reach sexual maturity at 4-10 months (females) and to 5-7 months (males).

[[Image:Youngkitten.JPG|thumb|220px|right|A kitten which has opened his [[eye]]s for the first time.]]

Cats are ready to go to new homes at about 12 weeks old (the recommended minimum age by Fédération Internationale Féline), or when they are ready to leave their mother. Cats can be surgically [[spay|sterilized]] (spayed or neutered) as early as 6-8 weeks to limit unwanted reproduction. This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as [[Territorial marking|territory marking]] (spraying urine) in males and yowling (calling) in females. If an animal is neutered after such behavior has been learned, however, it may persist.

[[Image:WhiteCat.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Blue-eyed cats with white fur have a higher incidence of [[genetics|genetic]] [[deafness]].]]

====Genetics====
The domestic cat and its closest wild ancestor both possess 38 [[chromosome]]s, in which over 200 heritable genetic defects have been identified, many homologous to human inborn errors. Specific metabolic defects have been identified underlying many of these feline diseases.
There are several [[gene]]s responsible for the hair color identified. The combination of them gives different [[phenotype]]s.

Features like hair length, lack of tail or presence of a very short tail (bobtail cat) are also determined by single alleles and modified by polygenes.

The '''Cat Genome Project''', sponsored by the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the U.S. [[National Cancer Institute]] Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center in [[Frederick, Maryland]], focuses on the development of the cat as an animal model for human hereditary disease, infectious disease, genome evolution, comparative research initiatives within the family Felidae, and forensic potential.

It is a common misconception that all white cats with blue eyes are [[deaf]], leading to some people rejecting blue eyed white cats as pets. This is not true, as there are many blue eyed cats with perfect hearing. However, white cats with blue eyes do have slightly higher incidences of [[genetic]] [[deafness]] than white cats of other eye colours.

==Etymology and taxonomic history==
===Scientific classification===
The domestic cat was named ''Felis catus'' by [[Carolus Linnaeus]] in his ''[[Systema Naturae]]'' of 1758. [[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber]] named the [[Wildcat]] ''Felis silvestris'' in 1775. The domestic cat was considered a subspecies of the Wildcat: by the strict rule of priority of the [[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature]] the name for the species thus ought to be ''F. catus'' since Linnaeus published first, and so  almost all biologists use ''F. silvestris'' for the wild species, using ''F. catus'' only for the domesticated form.

In opinion 2027 (published in Volume 60, Part 1 of the ''Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature'', March 31 2003<ref>{{cite journal|last = ICZN|title = OPINION 2027: Usage of 17 specific names based on wild species which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic animals (Lepidoptera, Osteichthyes, Mammalia): conserved|journal = Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature|volume = 60|issue = 1|publisher = [[International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature]]|date = March 31 2003|accessdate = July 13 2006|url = http://www.iczn.org/BZNMar2003opinions.htm#opinion2027}}</ref>) the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature "conserved the usage of 17 specific names based on wild species, which are predated by or contemporary with those based on domestic forms", thus confirming ''F. silvestris'' for the Wildcat and ''F. silvestris catus'' for its domesticated cousin. ''F. catus'' is still valid if the domestic form is considered a separate species. Recent DNA and comparative bone research shows that the separate species name ''F. catus'' is correct after all.<ref name=msw3/> The results show little relation to the ''F. sylvestris'' group with ''F. catus'' being derived from ''F. lybica'' 7000 years ago when the very first small felines were domesticated in Asia Minor.

[[Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben]] named the domestic cat ''Felis domesticus'' in his ''Anfangsgründe der Naturlehre and Systema regni animalis'' of 1777. This name, and its variants ''Felis catus domesticus'' and ''Felis silvestris domesticus'', are often seen, but they are not valid scientific names under the rules of the [[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature]].

===Nomenclature===
A group of cats is referred to as a '''clowder''', a male cat is called a '''tom''' (or a '''gib''', if neutered), and a female is called a '''queen'''. The male progenitor of a cat, especially a pedigreed cat, is its '''sire''', and its female progenitor is its '''dam'''.  An immature cat is called a '''[[kitten]]''' (which is also an alternative name for young [[rat]]s, [[rabbit]]s, [[hedgehog]]s, [[beaver]]s, [[squirrel]]s and [[skunk]]s). In [[Britain in the Middle Ages|medieval Britain]], the word ''kitten'' was interchangeable with the word ''catling''. A cat whose [[genealogy|ancestry]] is formally registered is called a  [[pedigree (cat)|pedigreed cat]], [[purebred cat]], or a [[show cat]] (although not all show cats are pedigreed or purebred). In strict terms, a purebred cat is one whose ancestry contains only individuals of the same breed. A pedigreed cat is one whose ancestry is recorded, but may have ancestors of different breeds (almost exclusively new breeds; cat registries are very strict about which breeds can be mated together). Cats of unrecorded mixed ancestry are referred to as [[domestic longhair cat|domestic longhairs]] and [[domestic shorthair cat|domestic shorthairs]] or commonly as random-bred, moggies, [[mongrel]]s, mutt-cats or alley cats.  The ratio of pedigree/purebred cats to random-bred cats varies from country to country. However, generally speaking, purebreds are less than ten percent of the total feline population.<ref>''ASPCA Complete Guide to Cats'' by James R. Richards,, DVM</ref>

The word ''cat'' derives from [[Old English]] ''catt'', which belongs to a group of related words in European languages, including Welsh ''cath'', Spanish ''gato'', Basque ''katu'', Byzantine Greek κάττα, Old Irish ''cat'', German ''Katze'', and Old Church Slavonic ''kotka''. The ultimate source of all these terms is unknown.<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary'' s.v. ''cat''</ref>  However, it may be linked to the ancient [[Nobiin language|Nubian]] ''kadis'' and the [[Berber languages|Berber]] ''kadiska''.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cat Etymonline.com:cat]</ref>

The term ''puss'' (as in [[pussycat]] or [[Puss in boots]]) may come from [[Dutch language|Dutch]] (from ''"poes"'', a female cat, or the diminutive ''"poesje"'', an endearing term for any cat) or from other Germanic languages.

==Importance to humans==
Because of their small size, domestic cats pose almost no danger to humans — the main hazard is the possibility of infection (e.g., [[cat scratch disease]], or, rarely, [[rabies]]) from a cat bite or scratch. Cats can also potentially inflict severe scratches or puncture an eye, though this is quite rare. Dogs have been known to be blinded by cats in fights in which the cat specifically targeted the eyes of the larger animal with some accuracy.

Cats can be destructive to [[ecosystem]]s in which they are not native and whose species have not had time to adapt to their [[introduced species|introduction]]. In some cases, cats have contributed to or caused [[extinction]]s -— for example, see the case of the [[Stephens Island Wren]].

===Cats as pets===
In captivity, indoor cats typically live 14 to 20 years, though the oldest-known cat lived to age 36.<ref>{{cite web | title=Feline Statistics | url=http://www.pawsonline.info/feline_statistics.htm | accessmonthday=August 15 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>  Domestic cats tend to live longer if they are not permitted to go outdoors (reducing the risk of injury from fights or accidents and exposure to diseases) and if they are [[spaying and neutering|spayed or neutered]]. Some such benefits are: neutered male cats cannot develop [[testicular cancer]], spayed female cats cannot develop [[ovarian cancer]], and both have a reduced risk of [[mammary tumor|mammary cancer]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Spay and Neuter Your Pet Cats | url=http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/a/spay_neuter.htm}}</ref>

====Hygiene====
[[Image:Beibeigroom.JPG|A tabby cat grooming itself|170px|thumb|right]]
Cats are known for their fastidious cleanliness. They [[Personal grooming|groom]] themselves by licking their [[fur]], employing their hooked papillae and saliva. Their [[saliva]] is a powerful cleaning agent, but it can provoke [[Allergy|allergic]] reactions in humans.  Some people who are [[Cat allergy|allergic to cats]]—typically manifested by [[hay fever]], [[asthma]] or a skin [[rash]] —quickly acclimate themselves to a particular animal and live comfortably in the same house with it, while retaining an allergy to cats in general.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animaltrustees.org/ATA_Web/pdfs/dealingwithcatallergies.pdf | title=Dealing with cat allergies | work=animaltrustees.org}}</ref>  Many cats also enjoy grooming humans or other cats.  Sometimes the act of grooming another cat is initiated as an assertion of superior position in the pecking order of a group (dominance grooming). Some cats occasionally regurgitate [[hair balls]] of fur that have collected in their stomachs as a result of their grooming. Longhair cats are more prone to this than shorthairs. Hairballs can be prevented with certain cat foods and remedies that ease elimination of the hair and regular grooming of the coat with a comb or stiff brush. Cats expend nearly as much fluid grooming as they do urinating.

Indoor cats are usually provided with a [[litter box]] containing [[cat litter|litter]], typically [[bentonite]], but sometimes other absorbent material such as shredded paper or wood chips, or sometimes [[sand]] or similar material. This arrangement serves the same purpose as a toilet for humans. It should be cleaned daily and changed often, depending on the number of cats in a household and the type of litter; if it is not kept clean, a cat may be fastidious enough to find other locations in the house for urination or defecation. This may also happen for other reasons; for instance, if a cat becomes [[constipation|constipated]] and defecation is uncomfortable, it may associate the discomfort with the litter box and avoid it in favor of another location. A litterbox is recommended for indoor-outdoor cats as well. 
Daily attention to the litter box also serves as a monitor of the cat's health. Numerous variations on litter and litter box design exist, including some which automatically sift the litter after each use. Bentonite or clumping litter is a variation which absorbs urine into clumps which can be sifted out along with feces, and thus stays cleaner longer with regular sifting, but has sometimes been reported to cause health problems in some cats.<ref>{{cite web | title=Suspected bentonite toxicosis in a cat from ingestion of clay cat litter | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8888544&dopt=Abstract|accessmonthday=September 10 |accessyear=2005 }}</ref>

[[Image:Toilet_Trained_Cat_22_Aug_2005.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Toilet-trained cat]]
Litterboxes may pose a risk of [[toxoplasmosis]] transmission to susceptible pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals, although this risk is greatly decreased in indoor-only cats which would not normally be exposed to the disease. Transmission risk may be reduced by daily litterbox cleaning by someone other than the susceptible individual.

Some cats can be toilet trained, eliminating the litterbox and its attendant expense and smell. Training involves two or three weeks of incremental moves, such as moving and elevating the litterbox until it is near the toilet. For a short time, an adapter, such as a bowl or small box, may be used to suspend the litter above the toilet bowl; numerous kits and other aids are marketed to help toilet-train cats.  When training is complete, the cat uses the toilet by perching over the bowl.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cat toilet-training | url=http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/toilet.html | accessmonthday=August 8 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> Occasional accidental dunkings, which can traumatize the cat to the point of its avoidance of the toilet, can lead to urinating and defecating in undesirable locations around the house. This can be avoided by use of a simple insert of one or two crossbars or a widely spaced grid to prevent falling in but allow feces to pass; such safety devices have recently become commercially available. Otherwise, if a cat is not trained to use the toilet, it is wise to keep the lid shut to prevent thirsty or curious cats from falling in.

====Scratching====
[[Image:Sok 04.jpg|thumb|Cat scratching wooden post.]] Cats are naturally driven to periodically hook their front claws into suitable surfaces and pull backwards, in order to clean the claws and remove the worn outer sheath as well as exercise and stretch their muscles. This scratching behavior seems enjoyable to the cat, and even [[#Declawing|declawed]] cats will go through elaborate scratching routines with every evidence of great satisfaction, despite the total lack of results. Indoor cats benefit from being provided with a [[scratching post]] so that they are less likely to use carpet or furniture which they can easily ruin.<ref>{{cite web | title=Scratching or clawing in the house | url=http://www.fabcats.org/scratching.html|accessmonthday=August 14 |accessyear=2005 }}</ref> Commercial scratching posts typically are covered in carpeting or upholstery, but some authorities advise against this practice, as not making it clear to the cat which surfaces are permissible and which are not; they suggest using a plain wooden surface, or reversing the carpeting on the posts so that the rougher texture of the carpet backing is a more attractive alternative to the cat than the floor covering. Some indoor cats, however, especially those that were taken as kittens from feral colonies, may not understand the concept of a scratching post, and as a result will ignore it.

[[Image:Cat claw closeup.jpg|left|thumb|Close-up of a cat's claw, with the quick clearly visible]]
Although scratching can serve cats to keep their claws from growing excessively long, their nails can be trimmed if necessary, with a small nail trimmer designed for humans, a small pair of electrician's [[diagonal pliers|diagonal cutting pliers]], or a guillotine type cutter specifically designed for animal nail trimming. Care must always be taken to avoid cutting the [[Wiktionary:quick#Noun|quick]] of the claw, analogous to cutting into the tip of a finger and equally painful and bloody. The position of the quick can be easily seen through the translucent nail of a cat with light colored claws but not in cats with dark colored nails, who therefore require carefully trimming of only small amounts from the nails.

=====Declawing=====
{{main|Onychectomy}}
Declawing is a major surgery known as ''onychectomy'', performed under [[anesthesia]], which removes the tip of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the cat's forepaws (and rarely the hind paws). The primary reason for declawing cats is to prevent them from damaging furniture; in the United States, some [[landlord]]s may require that tenants' cats be declawed.  Rarely, vicious cats, cats that frequently fight with other pets, or cats that are too efficient at predation of songbirds etc. are declawed. The procedure is illegal in [[Onychectomy#Legal status|many countries worldwide]].

An alternative to declawing is the application of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the cat will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.

===Domestication===
In 2004, a grave was excavated in [[Cyprus]] that contained the skeletons, laid close to one another, of both a human and a cat.  The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known feline-human association significantly.<ref name="9500 years"/>
Like some other domesticated animals, cats live in a [[mutualism|mutualistic]] arrangement with humans. It is believed that the benefit of removing rats and mice from humans' food stores outweighed the trouble of extending the protection of a human settlement to a formerly wild animal, almost certainly for humans who had adopted a farming economy. Unlike the dog, which also hunts and kills rodents, the cat does not eat grains, fruits, or vegetables.  A cat that is good at hunting rodents is referred to as a mouser.

The [[simile]] "like herding cats" refers to the seeming intractability of the ordinary house cat to training in anything, unlike dogs. Despite cohabitation in colonies, cats are lone hunters.  It is no coincidence that cats are also "clean" animals; the chemistry of their saliva, expended during their frequent grooming, appears to be a natural deodorant. If so, the function of this cleanliness is to decrease the chance a prey animal will notice the cat's presence in time. In contrast, dog's odour is an advantage in hunting, for a dog is a pack hunter; part of the pack stations itself upwind, and its odour drives prey towards the rest of the pack stationed downwind.  This requires a cooperative effort, which in turn requires communications skills.  No such communications skills are required of a lone hunter.  It is likely this is part of the reason interacting with such an animal is problematic; cats in particular are labeled as opaque or inscrutable, if not obtuse, as well as aloof and self-sufficient.  However, cats can be very affectionate towards their human companions, especially if they [[Imprinting (psychology)|imprint]] on them at a very young age and are treated with consistent affection.

Human attitudes toward cats vary widely.  Some people keep cats for companionship as [[pet]]s. Others go to great lengths to pamper their cats, sometimes treating them as if they were children.  When a cat bonds with its human guardian, the cat may, at times, display behaviors similar to that of a human.  Such behavior may include a trip to the litter box before bedtime or snuggling up close to its companion in bed or on the sofa.  Other such behavior includes mimicking sounds of the owner or using certain sounds the cat picks up from the human; sounds representing specific needs of the cat, which the owner would recognize, such as a specific tone of [[meow]] along with eye contact that may represent "I'm hungry."  The cat may also be capable of learning to communicate with the human using non-spoken language or [[Cat body language|body language]] such as rubbing for affection (confirmation), facial expressions and making eye contact with the owner if something needs to be addressed (e.g., finding a bug crawling on the floor for the owner to get rid of). Some owners like to train their cat to perform "tricks" commonly exhibited by dogs such as jumping, though this is rare.

Allergies to cat [[dander]] are one of the most common reasons people cite for disliking cats.  However, in some instances, humans find the rewards of cat companionship outweigh the discomfort and problems associated with these allergies. Many choose to cope with cat allergies by taking prescription allergy medicine and bathing their cats frequently, since weekly bathing will eliminate about 90% of the cat dander present in the environment. Recent studies have indicated that humans who are exposed to cats or dogs within the first year of their lives develop few animal allergies, while most adults who are allergic to animals did not have a cat or a dog as a pet in childhood.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

In urban areas, some people find feral and free-roaming pet cats annoying and intrusive. Unaltered animals can engage in persistent nighttime calling (termed caterwauling) and defecation or "marking" of private property. Indoor confinement of pets and TNR (trap, neuter, return) programs for feral cats can help; some people also use [[cat deterrent]]s to discourage cats from entering their property.

In rural areas, farms often have dozens of semi-feral cats. Hunting in the barns and the fields, they kill and eat rodents that would otherwise spoil large parts of the grain crop. Many pet cats successfully hunt and kill [[rabbits]], [[rodents]], [[bird]]s, [[lizard]]s, [[frog]]s, [[fish]], and large [[insect]]s by [[instinct]], but might not eat their prey. They may even present their kills, dead or maimed, to their humans, perhaps expecting them to praise or reward them, or possibly even to complete the kill and eat the mouse. Others speculate that the behavior is a part of the odd relationship between human and cat, in which the cat is sometimes a 'kitten' (playing, being picked up and carried) and sometimes an adult (teaching these very large and peculiar kittens how to hunt by demonstrating what the point of it all is).

[[Image:GAto.jpg|thumb|Cat arching its back and hissing]]
The domestic cat is social enough to form [[feral cat colony|colonies]], but does not hunt in groups as [[lion]]s do. Some breeds like [[bengal (cat)|bengal]], [[ocicat]] and [[Manx (cat)|manx]] are known to be very social. While each cat holds a distinct territory (sexually active males having the largest territories, and neutered cats having the smallest), there are "neutral" areas where cats watch and greet one another without territorial conflicts. Outside these neutral areas, territory holders usually aggressively chase away stranger cats, at first by staring, hissing, and growling, and if that does not work, by short but noisy and violent attacks. [[Catfight (animal behavior)|Fighting cats]] make themselves appear more impressive and threatening by raising their fur and arching their backs, thus increasing their visual size. Cats also behave this way while playing. Attacks usually comprise powerful slaps to the face and body with the forepaws as well as bites, but serious damage is rare; usually the loser runs away with little more than a few scratches to the face, and perhaps the ears. Normally, serious negative effects will be limited to possible infections of the scratches and bites; though these have been known to sometimes kill cats if untreated. In addition, such fighting is believed to be the primary route of transmission of [[feline immunodeficiency virus]] (FIV). Sexually active males will usually be in many fights during their lives, and often have decidedly battered faces with obvious scars and cuts to the ears and nose. Not only males will fight; females will also fight over territory or to defend their kittens, and even neutered cats will defend their (smaller) territories aggressively.

Domestic cats have been known to protect their territories (dwellings) even to the extent of attacking [[burglary|human intruders]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}, although less often and less reliably than dogs.

===Domesticated varieties===
The [[list of cat breeds]] is quite large: most cat registries recognize between 30 and 40 breeds of cats, and several more are in development, with one or more new breeds being recognized each year on average, having distinct features and heritage. The owners and breeders of show cats compete to see whose animal bears the closest resemblance to the "ideal" definition of the breed (see [[selective breeding]]). Because of common crossbreeding in populated areas, many cats are simply identified as belonging to the homogeneous breeds of [[domestic longhair cat|domestic longhair]] and [[domestic shorthair cat|domestic shorthair]], depending on their type of fur.  In the United Kingdom and Australia, non-purebred cats are referred in slang as [[moggy|moggies]] (derived from "Maggie", short for Margaret, reputed to have been a common name for cows and calves in 18th-century England and latter applied to housecats during the Victorian era).<ref> [http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-mog1.htm "Moggie" definition question and answer] ''Worldwidewords.org''. URL Accessed June 14, 2006.</ref> In the United States, a non-purebred cat is sometimes referred to in slang as a barn or alley cat, even if it is not a [[feral cat|stray]].
Cats come in a variety of colors and patterns. These are physical properties and should not be confused with a breed of cat.
Some original cat breeds that have a distinct phenotype that is the main type occurring naturally as the dominant domestic cat type in their region of origin are sometimes considered as subspecies and also have received names as such in nomenclature, although this is not supported by feline biologists.<ref name=msw3/> Some of These cat breeds are:
*''F. catus anura'' - the Manx
*''F. catus siamensis'' - the Siamese
*''F. catus cartusenensis'' - the Chartreux
*''F. catus angorensis'' - the Turkish Angora

====Coat patterns====
[[Image:Greece-Cat.jpg|thumb|175px|Cat with a [[bicolor cat|van]] pattern.]][[Cat coat genetics]] can produce a variety of coat patterns. Some of the most common are:
; [[Bicolor cat|Bicolor, Tuxedo and Van]] :This pattern varies between the [[Bicolor cat#Tuxedo cats|tuxedo cat]] which is mostly black with a white chest, and possibly markings on the face and paws/legs, all the way to the ''Van'' pattern (so named after the [[Lake Van]] area in Turkey, which gave rise to the Turkish Van breed), where the only colored parts of the cat are the tail (usually including the base of the tail proper), and the top of the head  (often including the ears). There are several other terms for amounts of white between these two extremes, such as ''harlequin'' or ''[[jellicle]] cat''. Bicolor cats can have as their primary (non-white) color black, red, any dilution thereof and tortoiseshell (see below for definition).

[[Image:pinsk.jpg|thumb|175px|Mackerel tabby kitten, showing the characteristic "M" on its forehead.]]
; [[Tabby cat]] :Striped, with a variety of patterns. The classic "blotched" tabby (or "marbled") pattern is the most common and consists of butterflies and bullseyes. The "mackerel" or "striped" tabby is a series of vertical stripes down the cat's side (resembling the fish). This pattern broken into spots is referred to as a "spotted" tabby.  Finally, the tabby markings may look like a series of ticks on the fur, thus the "ticked" tabby, which is almost exclusively associated with the Abyssinian breed of cats. The worldwide evolution of the cat means that certain types of tabby are associated with certain countries; for instance, blotched tabbies are quite rare outside NW Europe, where they are the most common type.

; [[Tortoiseshell cat|Tortoiseshell and Calico]]
: This cat is also known as a Calimanco cat or Clouded Tiger cat, and by the nickname "tortie". In the cat fancy, a tortoiseshell cat is randomly patched over with red (or its dilute form, cream) and black (or its dilute blue) mottled throughout the coat. Additionally, the cat may have white spots in its fur, which make it a "tortoiseshell and white" cat or, if there is a significant amount of white in the fur and the red and black colors form a patchwork rather than a mottled aspect, the cat will be called a "calico". All calicos are tortoiseshell (as they carry both black and red), but not all tortoiseshells are calicos (which requires a significant amount of white in the fur and patching rather than mottling of the colors). The calico is also sometimes called a "tricolor cat".  The Japanese refer to this pattern as ''mi-ke'' (meaning "triple fur"), while the Dutch call these cats ''lapjeskat'' (meaning "patches cat"). A true tricolor must consist of three colors: a reddish color, dark or light; white; and one other color, typically a brown, black or blue, as described by American breeder Barbara French, writing for the Cat Fanciers community.<ref>{{cite web | title=Torties, Calicos and Tricolor Cats | url=http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/tricolors.shtml| accessmonthday=October 24 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>  Both tortoiseshell and calico cats are typically female because the [[coat]] pattern is the result of differential [[X chromosome]] [[Lyonization|inactivation]] in [[female]]s (which, as with all normal female [[mammals]], have two X [[chromosomes]]).  Those male tortoiseshells that are created are usually sterile; conversely, cats where the overall color is ginger (orange) are commonly male (roughly in a 3:1 ratio).  In a litter sired by a ginger tom, the females will be tortoiseshell or ginger. See "[http://www.messybeast.com/tricolours.htm Tortoiseshell and Tricolour Cats]" for an extensive genetic explanation for tricolor cats, and detailing the possible combinations of coloring.<ref>{{cite web | title=White Cats, Eye Colours and Deafness | url=http://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm | accessmonthday=August 8 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>

;[[Point (coat color)|Colorpoint]]
: The colorpoint pattern is most commonly associated with [[Siamese (cat)|Siamese]] cats, but may also appear in any domestic cat. A colorpoint cat has dark colors on the face, ears, feet, and tail, with a lighter version of the same color on the rest of the body, and possibly some white. The exact name of the colorpoint pattern depends on the actual color, so there are seal points (dark brown), chocolate points (warm lighter brown), blue points (dark gray), lilac points (silvery gray-pink), flame points (orange), and tortie (tortoiseshell mottling) points, among others. This pattern is the result of a [[Mutation#Special classes|temperature sensitive mutation]] in one of the [[enzyme]]s in the [[metabolic pathway]] from [[tryptophan]] to pigment, such as [[melanin]]; thus, little or no pigment is produced except in the extremities or "points", where the skin is slightly cooler. For this reason, colorpoint cats tend to darken with age as bodily temperature drops; also, the fur over a significant injury may sometimes darken or lighten as a result of temperature change.

:The tryptophan pathway also produces [[neurotransmitter]]s, thus mutations in the early parts of that pathway may affect not only pigment, but also neurological development. This results in a higher frequency of [[strabismus|cross-eyes]] among colorpoint cats, as well as the [[Melanin#Melanin deficiency in genetic disorders and disease states|high frequency of deafness in white cats]] and the [[White tiger#Inbreeding depression|high frequency of cross-eyes in white tigers]]. (This is not related to [[albinism]]).

====Body types====
Cats can also come in several body types, ranging between two extremes:

; [[Oriental cat|Oriental]] :Not a specific breed, but any cat with an elongated slender build, almond-shaped eyes, long nose, large ears (the [[Siamese (cat)|Siamese]] and oriental shorthair breeds are examples of this).
; Cobby :Any cat with a short, muscular, compact build, roundish eyes, short nose, and small ears. [[Persian cat|Persians]] and [[Exotic (cat)|Exotics]] are two prime examples of such a body type.

===Feral cats===
{{main|Feral cat}}
[[Image:Feral cat gl3.gif|thumb|right|Feral cats are thought to be a major predator of [[Hawaii]]an coastal and forest habitats, and are one species among many responsible for the decline of endemic forest bird species as well as seabirds like the [[Wedge-tailed Shearwater]].<ref>http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/XShearwaterkills2.htm</ref> In one study of 56 cats' [[feces]], the remains of 44 birds were found, 40 of which were [[Endemic birds of Hawaii|endemic species]].<ref>http://www.earlham.edu/~biol/hawaii/mammals.htm</ref>]]

[[Feral cat]]s may live alone, but most are found in large groups called [[feral cat colony|feral colonies]] with communal nurseries, depending on resource availability. Some lost or abandoned pet cats succeed in joining these colonies, although Animal welfare organizations note that few are able to survive long enough to become feral, most being killed by vehicles, or succumbing to [[starvation]], [[predator]]s, exposure, or [[disease]]. Most abandoned cats probably have little alternative to joining a feral colony. The average lifespan of such feral cats is much shorter than a domestic housecat, which can live sixteen years or more. Urban areas in the developed world are not friendly, nor adapted environments for cats; most domestic cats are descended from cats in desert climates and were distributed throughout the world by humans. Nevertheless, some feral cat colonies are found in large cities such as around the [[Colosseum]] and [[Forum Romanum]] in Rome.

Although cats are adaptable, feral felines are unable to thrive in extreme cold and heat, and with a very high protein requirement, few find adequate nutrition on their own in cities. They have little protection or understanding of the dangers from dogs, [[coyote]]s, and even automobiles. However, there are thousands of volunteers and organizations that trap these unadoptable feral felines, [[spaying and neutering|spay or neuter]] them, [[immunization|immunize]] the cats against rabies and [[feline leukemia]], and treat them with long-lasting [[flea]] products. Before release back into their feral colonies, the attending veterinarian often nips the tip off one ear to mark the feral as spayed/neutered and inoculated, since these cats will more than likely find themselves trapped again. Volunteers continue to feed and give care to these cats throughout their lives, and not only is their lifespan greatly increased, but behavior and nuisance problems, due to competition for food, are also greatly reduced. In time, if an entire colony is successfully spayed and neutered, no additional kittens are born and the feral colony disappears. Many hope to see an end to urban feral cat colonies through these efforts.

====Environmental interaction====
There are two divergent views about cats’ relationship with the [[natural environment]]. The first says, The environmental impact of feral cat programs and of indoor/outdoor cats is a subject of debate. Part of this stems from humane concern for the cats themselves and part arises from concerns about cat predation on endangered species. Nearly all studies agree that abandoned animals lead hard lives. Owners who can no longer keep their cats should do best to give them to friends, rescue organizations, or shelters. The amount of ecological damage done by indoor/outdoor cats depends on local conditions. The most severe effect occurs to island ecologies. Serious concerns also exist{{Fact|date=March 2007}} in places such as Florida where housecats are not native, where several small-sized endangered species live near human populations, and where the climate allows cats to breed throughout the year. Environmental concerns may be minimal in most of the UK where cats are an established species and few to none of the local prey species are endangered. Pet owners can contact veterinarians, ecological organizations, and universities for opinions about whether local conditions are suitable for outdoor cats. Additional concerns include potential dangers from larger predators and infectious diseases. Coyotes kill large numbers of housecats in the Southwestern United States, even in urban zones. FELV (feline leukemia), FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), or rabies may be present in the area. If faced with conflicting evidence, the safe choice is to keep a cat indoors. Experts recommend a gradual transition to indoor life for cats who are accustomed to going outside.

Those opposing this view stress this allegation has never been proved. They say that damaging effects do not follow necessarily from the fact that cats are predators. They point out that cats have played a useful role in vermin control for centuries, and that for many animals, especially in urban areas, cats are the only animal available to fill the vital role of predator. Without cats these species would overpopulate.

Cats themselves present a risk of overpopulation as well. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3-4 million cats and dogs are [[Animal euthanasia|euthanized]] each year in the United States and many more are confined to cages in shelters because there are significantly more animals being born than there are homes. 
Spaying or neutering pets helps keep the overpopulation down.<ref>http://www.spayusa.org/main_directory/02-facts_and_education/stats_surveys/javma_articles/02dogs-cats-sterilized.asp</ref> Local humane societies, SPCA's and other animal protection organizations urge people to spay or neuter their pets and to adopt animals from shelters instead of purchasing them.
-->

==Rujukan==
{{reflist}}

==Tumbu kaluar==
{{commonscat|Felis silvestris catus}}
{{wikispecies|Felis silvestris catus|Cat}}
===Isu kawarasan===
*[http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/ Cornell Feline Health Center]
*[http://www.aafponline.org/ American Association of Feline Practitioners]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A4113992 Ailurophilia Gone Bad]
*{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/06/science/06cats.html?ex=1294203600&en=4b75c4da1cdc2167&ei=5090|title=DNA Offers New Insight Concerning Cat Evolution|date=[[January 6]], [[2006]]|publisher=The New York Times}}
*[http://brainmaps.org/index.php?p=speciesdata&species=felis-catus High-Resolution Images of the Cat Brain]
*[http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1763&articleid=1108 Onions are Toxic to Cats]
*[http://www.petcat.us/questions.shtml Information about the third eyelid of cats, and the problem of Kertao, or "dry eye".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111094834/http://www.petcat.us/questions.shtml |date=2007-01-11 }}
*[http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/Feline_Behavior_Guidelines.pdf Feline Behavior Guidelines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307045627/http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/Feline_Behavior_Guidelines.pdf |date=2008-03-07 }} Publikasi [[AAFP]] nu medar jihat peternakan
*[http://www.kedimveben.com Monthly Turkish Free Magazine For Teaching Cat Care, kedimveben.com]
*[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/cats/ National Geographic: Cats]

=== Unak-anik ===
*[http://home.ncifcrf.gov/ccr/lgd/comparative_genome/catgenome/index_n.asp Cat Genome Project] di [http://www.cancer.gov/ The National Cancer Institute] AS
*[http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=animals_oddities&id=4023842 New Potential Smallest Cat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224073628/http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=animals_oddities&id=4023842 |date=2007-02-24 }}
*[https://archive.is/20120723234601/www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/pets/cats.shtml BBC.CO.UK Description of the Cat]
*[http://www.boutiquekittens.com/index.php?id=236 The Origins and Domestication of the Cat]
*''Cationary: Meaningful Portraits of Cats'' by Sharon Montrose, ISBN 0-670-03059-7

[[Kategori:Felis]]
[[Kategori:Sato nyusuan]]