CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alvesgaspar · source
Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 46–51 cm body length
- Weight
- 3.6–4.5 kg
- Habitat
- Human homes, urban and rural areas worldwide
- Diet
- Carnivore — meat, birds, rodents, insects
- Active Time
- Crepuscular — most active at dusk and dawn
- Lifespan
- 12–18 years
Field Notes
- Cats spend up to 50% of their waking hours grooming themselves.
- A cat's purr vibrates at 25–150 Hz, a frequency linked to bone healing in studies.
- Cats have 32 muscles in each ear and can rotate them 180 degrees.
About the Domestic Cat
The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) and was domesticated roughly 10,000 years ago in the Near East, likely attracted to grain stores by rodent prey. Unlike most domesticated animals, cats have retained much of their solitary, predatory nature. They are obligate carnivores and skilled hunters, capable of leaping six times their body length. With nearly 600 million individuals worldwide, the domestic cat is one of the most popular pets and also one of the most widespread invasive predators.
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