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A male cat is called a tom, tommy or tomcat (or a gib, if neutered). The etymology is unknown, but it may be an onomatopoeia from using a sound to attract a cat. The English puss, extended as pussy and pussycat, is attested from the 16th century and may have been introduced from Dutch poes or from Low German puuskatte, related to Swedish kattepus, or Norwegian pus, pusekatt.

• The liquid helps cats feel fuller, which aids in weight control.
• Although no species are sacred in Islam, cats are revered by Muslims.
• Feral cats have had extremely serious impacts on these wildlife species and have played a leading role in the endangerment and extinction of many of them.
• Domestic cats have been diversified by humans into breeds and domestic and wild hybrids.
• There are at least 45 domestic breeds, which differ widely in features such as coat color, tail length, hair texture, and temperament, according to the Cat Fancier’s Association.

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The usual ancient Greek word for 'cat' was ailouros, meaning 'thing with the waving tail'. Others might also acquire infections from cat feces and parasites exiting the cat's body. It is often required that a cat must be healthy and vaccinated to participate in a cat show. A few attempts to build a cat census have been made over the years, both through associations or national and international organizations (such as that of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies) and over the Internet. They are unfamiliar with and wary of humans and roam freely in urban and rural areas. However, its introduction to places where no native felines are present also contributes to the decline of native species.

Cats have no flat-crowned crushing teeth and therefore cannot chew their food; instead, they cut it up. Recent genetic studies have helped determine the origins of some of the oldest recognized breeds. For example, such breeds as the Siberian and Norwegian Forest Cat developed long dense coats to protect themselves from the harsh winters in Russia and Norway.

• The most common reason for feral cat fighting is competition between two males to mate with a female, and most fights are won by the heavier male.
• Some owners like to train their cat to perform “tricks” commonly exhibited by dogs such as jumping, though this is rare.
• This enables cats to see six to eight times better in the dark than humans can.
• Indoor cats have the longest lifespans, living up to 20 years.
• Some organizations in Australia are now creating fenced islands of habitat for endangered species that are free of feral cats and foxes.
• The earliest record of cats in Britain dates to about 936 ce, when Hywel Dda, prince of south-central Wales, enacted laws for their protection.

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However, regardless of the color or pattern on the outside, all domestic cats are genetically tabbies like their wildcat ancestors. Herodotus expressed astonishment at the domestic cats in Egypt, because he had only ever seen wildcats. Pet humanization is a form of anthropomorphism in which cats are kept for companionship and treated more like human family members than traditional pets. He is reported to have photographed 90,000 cats during his career and maintained an archive of 225,000 images that he drew from for publications during cat his lifetime. General estimates for the global population of domestic cats range widely from anywhere between 200 million to 600 million. As of 2024,update the domestic cat was the second most popular pet in the United States, with 73.8 million cats owned and around 42.2 million households owning at least one cat.

The unwantedness that leads to the domestic cat being treated as an invasive species is twofold. The domestic cat is a cosmopolitan species and occurs across much of the world. Furthermore, cats are superfecund; that is, a female may mate with more than one male when she is in heat, with the result that different kittens in a litter may have different fathers. The most common reason for feral cat fighting is competition between two males to mate with a female, and most fights are won by the heavier male.

The feline grimace scale's five criteria—ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, whisker change, and head position—indicated the presence of acute pain in cats. Domestic cats observed in rescue facilities have 276 morphologically distinct facial expressions based on 26 facial movements; each facial expression corresponds to different social functions that are probably influenced by domestication. Adult cats live in a type of extended kittenhood, a form of behavioral neoteny. However, house cats' behavior is also influenced by human activity, and they may adapt to their owners' sleeping patterns to some extent. Domestic cats spend the majority of their time in the vicinity of their homes, but they can range a radius of many hundreds of meters. Many cats also respond strongly to plants that contain nepetalactone, especially catnip, which they can detect at less than one part per billion.

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Before the development of refrigeration and canned cat food in the 20th century, feeding indoor cats who could not supplement their diets by hunting would have been impossible for most Americans, who could not afford extra fresh meat or fish.8 Unlike dogs, who have undergone many physical changes since domestication and evolved to survive on an omnivorous diet, cats haven’t changed much, and still require a high-protein diet. In fact, for more than 10,000 years, cats have lived outdoor lives, sharing the environment with birds and wildlife.

A simple DNA test can provide lifelong benefits, helping you give your cat the best possible care. TICA was founded in 1978 and revolutionized the sport of cat competitions with a completely new and different judging system. New breeds must apply and complete certain requirements before they may participate in TICA sanctioned cat shows. Connect with other members and be a part of a community of like-minded indiviuals that love cats just like you. Furthermore, many geographical and cultural names for cat breeds are fanciful selections made by Western breeders to sound exotic and bear no relationship to the actual origin of the breeds; the Balinese, Javanese, and Himalayan are all examples of this trend.

Cats whose nasal passages become clogged because of illness may lose their appetites. Their sense of smell is crucial to sensing prey and evaluating food. The taste receptors are located on the front, sides, and back of the tongue. They can detect frequencies both above and below the range humans can detect. In addition, bristling creates air pockets that protect the cat against cold.