A History of Cats
The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or the feline, is domesticated species of large carnivoresmammalian. It is by far the only domesticated specie in the feline family and is usually referred to by its single name to differentiate it from its wild forefathers. Domesticated cats have been widely used for various purposes ranging from companion animals to laboratory pets and designers’ felines. In recent years, genetic modification of cats has allowed for the creation of ‘designer cats’, those with altered physical traits like color patterns, coat length and body structure among others.
The domestic cat is an attractive, warm and sociable cat with a wide variety of colors. They are most popular as house cats due to their easy care requirements and low cost in comparison to the other cat breeds. Although they can be quite expensive at times, they have been able to gain a steady popularity due to the public’s increasing acceptance of the cat as a loving pet. It is also considered a symbol of elegance and style and many cat owners even go to the extent of breeding exotic cats to create more unique appearances.
Despite their domestication, many people prefer to own cats over other pets because they do not shed fur unlike dogs and do not require daily grooming. Though cats do require a certain amount of care and attention, there are a number of cat breeds that are considered easy and simple to maintain. Persian cats, for example, are very well suited to being indoor pets as they require no grooming and do not shed hair. Cat breeds like the Maine Coon, Shih Tzu, and even Hyenas are deeming easy to maintain and provide a wonderful source of joy to people of all ages. For those who do not want to spend much time caring for their cats, there are also certain pet stores that offer a wide variety of cat varieties such as cats with specific needs like assistance for allergies, diabetes, or neurological disorders. Cats who require special care like spaying, neutering, and pregnancy are even available in some pet shops.
The oldest known cat is believed to be a feral cat who was found living in the woods in England. This early domesticated feline is attributed with helping humans in carrying out farming by providing them with food and a source of meat. As time passed, this cat evolved into a sleek-bodied animal with elegant features and a long tail. Though it is not clear how far back this cat originated, it is believed that it could have lived up to 5 centuries ago.
Not only did the cat evolve through the generations, but so too did many different types of wild cats that are now recognized as true domestic cats. There is the leopard cat or Leopardus Bengalensis, the Asian Wild Cat or Leopardus Bengalensis, the African Wild Cat or Leopardus Diardi, and the American Wildcat or Leopardus Retillus. Recent studies have revealed that some cats such as the Bobcat have lived for nearly one hundred years! This lengthens the history of domesticated cats.
Domesticated cats are very social and well-settled animals. They live together as a single unit in houses and apartments. They enjoy playing together and hunting together as a team. They can be friendly to people, but they also need to be trained not to bite and to not leave their litters unsupervised. Training should start when a cat is still young so that the young can learn acceptable behavior.