The Domestic Cat

Cats are animals that can be seen almost everywhere on our planet. They can be big or

small, wild or tamed, hairy or with no hair at all. Some are friendly and playful and can be kept

as pets, while others can be extremely dangerous and should be better left alone. The species I

want to write about is Felis catus, or the Domestic cat, which most of us is familiar with and

likes to keep as pets. I will write about different scientific aspects of domestic cats including

their taxonomic classification, their habitat, and their diet.

Like any other living organism, a domestic cat is classified according to the kingdom,

phylum, class, order, genus and species it belongs to. Domestic cats belong to the kingdom

Animalia because they are multi-cellular organisms, and are heterotrophs which means that they

must obtain food from other living organisms as they cant produce it on their own (Myers).

Moreover, domestic cats belong to the phylum Chordata (Subphylum Vertebrata) whose

members possess either a pouch or a notochord (a long, rod-like structure supporting the vertical

axis of the body) at some point during their embryonic development. This notochord is replaced

by a backbone in many vertebrates. Domestic cats are, therefore, vertebrates which, apart from

having a backbone, also possess a brain inside their heads, two pairs of legs, one heart, two eyes

and two kidneys (Maggitti 2). Domestic cats have bilateral symmetry, which means that their

bodies can be divided into two mirror-image halves. They are also endothermic animals meaning

that they can generate their own heat through metabolic process to regulate their body

temperature (Myers). Furthermore, domestic cats belong to the class Mammalia (Maggitti 2).

This means that they feed their young with milk produced by organs in the mothers body called

mammary glands. More precisely, they belong to the group of placental mammals because they

develop inside their mothers bodies in an organ called placenta through which materials
between the mother and the embryo are exchanged. Placental mammals develop inside placenta

until their body systems can function independently (Buckley, et all 163). Like all other members

of class Mammalia, domestic cats are warm-blooded, hairy, and have four-chambered hearts.

Furthermore,t hey are carnivorous animals, therefore are classified into the order of Carnivora.

The ability to retract their claws into their pads and having slit irises makes them members of the

family Felidae. They belong to genus Felis because of their slender bodies and dentition

patterns. Finally, because they are domesticated and have descended from African and European

wild cats, they got their Species name Catus (Maggitti 2-3). All in all, a domestic cat is a

carnivorous endothermic vertebrate mammal with bilateral symmetry, a distinctive body shape

and status.

Domestic cats live primarily in habitats populated by humans. This means that they can

be found in almost any part of the world except Antarctica. As is previously said, they are

descendants of African and European wild cats. In fact, domestic cats may have been first

domesticated by ancient Egyptians. A cats skills to hunt and kill rodents earned cats human

affection, so people started to domesticate them and keep them around their settlements. Ancient

Egyptians were so devoted to cats that they even worshipped a cat godess! The affection for cats

spread to other cultures around the world and they became human companions ever since

("Domestic Cat"). In addition, domestic cats are able to adapt to various environments including

forests, deserts, and urban areas. They are often kept as pets so a number of them often live

together with humans. Those that are not domesticated or kept as pets (feral cats) mostly live

near human settlements, urban or rural, as this makes it easier to find food (Anna Toenjes). In

short, domestic cats can be found in almost all parts of the world, including both urban and rural

areas.
 Domestic cats diet mainly consists of meat. As is previously mentioned, domestic cats

are carnivorous animals and hunters as well, so they predominantly prey on small rodents and

birds. Their prey may also include amphibians, reptiles, birds and other animals smaller than

them. This predominantly meat diet can be explained by the fact that domestic cats are naturally

adapted to be meat-eaters because of their sharp teeth and claws, and their digestive tract. To be

more precise, the cat kills its prey with its canines, and cuts it up with its molars. The cats short

intestines and digestive juices also act primarily on meat. However, cats occasionally eat grass

and other plants that may serve them both as a laxative or a hair ball remover (Fox). In general,

domestic cats like to prey on food they want to eat as they are natural hunters, and are able to

survive in the wild on smaller animals, such as mice. While all of the above said is typical for

feral cats, it may not be so for the pet cats. In fact, domestic cats kept in home environments

usually depend on humans supplying them with food. In this case, it is important that the cat diet

"consists of about 30 to 35% muscle meat, 30% carbohydrates, and 8 to 10% fats, so that cats

can have a healthy skin and fur, and normal growth (Anna Toenjes). In short, domestic cats are

naturally predisposed to be meat-eaters because of their physical adaptations such as sharp teeth,

specific digestive tract, and the hunting instinct, though they may depend on human feeding

supplements if kept as pets.

To sum up, domestic cats are endothermic vertebrate mammals with bilateral symmetry.

They are highly adaptive to live in various types of habitats, but mostly live in areas with human

population. They can live independently or be kept as pets. They are carnivorous animals whose

diet consists mainly of meat because they are naturally predisposed to be flesh-eaters. Therefore,

those who intend to adopt a cat need to pay attention to their diet needs if they want a healthy

and a happy pet.

Anna Toenjes, N. "Felis Catus (Domestic Cat)". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan:

Museum of Zoology, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2017.

Buckley, Miller, et all. Interactive Science: The Diversity of Life. New Jersey: Pearson, Prentice

Hall, 2011. Print.

"Domestic Cat". National Geographic. National Geographic Society. n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.

Fox, Michael W. "Domestic Cat (Mammal)". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia

Britannica Inc., 15 Jul. 2016. Web. 28 Jan.2017.

Maggitti, P. Guide to a Well-Behaved Cat. New York: Barrons Educational Series, Inc.,1993.

Print.

Myers, P. "Animalia (Animals)". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan: Museum of

Zoology, 2001. Web. 28 Jan. 2017.