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Cat |
The cat (Felis catus), also known as the
domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from
other felines, is a small carnivorous species of
crepuscular mammal that is often valued by
humans for its companionship and its ability to
hunt vermin. It has been associated with humans
for at least 9,500 years.
A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. It is intelligent and can be trained to obey simple commands. Individual cats have also been known to learn on their own to manipulate simple mechanisms, such as doorknobs. Cats use a variety of vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting. Cats are popular pets and are also bred and shown as registered pedigree pets. This hobby is known as the "Cat Fancy".
Until recently the cat was commonly believed to
have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where
it was a cult animal. However a 2007 study found that all house cats are probably descended from a group of as few as five self-domesticating desert wildcats Felis silvestris lybica circa 8000 BC, in the Near East. |
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