With a reputation for independence and little attachment to their caregivers, the truth is that cats are excellent companions for any home, they can be as affectionate as dogs, but they differ greatly, not only physically, it is essential that you know the character, behavior and needs, that is, all the characteristics of cats before adopting one.
To ensure a happy coexistence, in this article by Animal Expert, we cover all the details and explain what cats are like.
- There are many qualities of cats.
- Smart.
- Elegant and agile are just some of the possible qualities to designate this feline that has adapted to live with humans.
- Within their homes and in cities.
- Forming what we call colonies.
- Cats approached people about 10.
- 000 years ago.
- Attracted by the abundance of rodents that roamed human settlements.
- Which in turn realized the cat’s value to control these pests.
- But also.
- In civilizations such as Egypt.
- Cats were sacred animals.
- Gods and so respectable that they were buried with honor.
Over the years the relationship between cats and humans has had several ups and downs, but felines have always been able to adapt to every situation to survive, today they are one of people’s favorite pets, but unfortunately there are still many people who decide to leave them on the street.
As for the origin of the cat as a species, there are several theories about it, so it is still discussed how they were born and where cats, mammals, carnivores and seasonal hairs were born, then we will delve into the characteristics of cats.
As for the characteristics of the cat with its taxonomy, which is the scientific classification that places this species in the animal kingdom according to its most important parameters.It’s as follows:
As for the physical characteristics of the cat, we are talking about a quadrupedally mammal, with tail, although the cat Manx does not possess it, retractable claws and hairs that cover the whole body.It has 230 bones that give it great flexibility and elasticity, highlight its whiskers, which are modified hairs with sensory function.
Its coloration is very variable being monochrome, bicolor or tricolor, with different patterns of stripes and lengths, although there are variations between specimens and larger and smaller breeds, we can establish an average weight between 3 and 5 kg.
In addition, cats are viviparous animals, which means that they give birth to their young in litters of about 4 to 5 puppies that will be fed breast milk during the first weeks of life, also highlighting their senses of sight, hearing and smell, facilitating their life as a predator animal.Your cat’s body temperature is between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius.
Cats are scattered all over the world. Currently, we can talk about the habitat of the domestic cat, which would correspond to specimens that live under the care of the human being in their homes and other felines, considered savages, which are found in natural environments without contact with humans, in addition, around human nuclei., there are free cats that live without anyone being directly responsible for them, in these conditions only cats survive.
It is important to take into account the characteristics of the cat for the coexistence in your home to be successful, for this it is necessary to have essential utensils, such as a sandbox with shovel, a scraper, a pot of food., a drinker and food adapted to the nutritional needs of the cat according to the stage of life in which it is located.In addition, it is convenient to provide entertainment to the cat, for which you will find various toys for sale, as well as an environment where you can climb, hide, rest, etc.
Cats are strictly carnivorous animals. Their diet in the wild was based on hunting rodents, birds and lizards, but it is not uncommon for them to occasionally eat plants, supposedly to supplement their diet.
Currently, you can choose from several options, such as home-cooked food, pet food, wet or dehydrated foods, but always depending on the stage of life the cat is in, so that there are no nutritional deficiencies.
Contrary to the popular belief that the image of the cat is associated with a milk dish, adult cats do not need to consume this food, since, with age, they lose the enzyme essential for the digestion of milk, which makes milk unworthy for these.Animals. For more information on the topic, see the article “Can cats drink milk?”.
Among the characteristics of the cat stands out its character, although it is possible to find large variations depending on the individual and the experiences he has lived throughout his life, it is worth highlighting his rich communication, which includes body language and sounds such as meowing, sniffing and purring.The pheromones it emits and detects are another very important form of communication.
Cats are distinguished by their cleanliness and, except when they are sick, they spend many hours self-cleaning. Much of the remaining time is spent sleeping. In addition to cleanliness, cats need to sharpen their claws. Places for this, like a scraper, your furniture or curtains can tear. Always for hygiene, they do what is necessary in the sandbox since they were little.
Cats, with the exception of the female and her young, have solitary habits, although they can live in colonies or collectives, it is also true that it is a stressful situation for them, which manifests itself in inadequate defecation, fights, lack of appetite. Cats love routine, so any changes should be made after a period of adaptation. Unlike dogs, they do not need to learn basic commands, although it is convenient to establish certain rules of coexistence and dedicate time to play and their attention.
How do cats reproduce? Male cats can reproduce as soon as they notice the proximity of a cat in heat, they are seasonal policies, that is, during the months most exposed to the sun pass through continuous spines, which makes one of the characteristics of cats the ability to produce up to three litters per year.Gestation lasts about nine weeks. After birth, puppies must spend at least eight weeks with their mother and siblings.
Cats quickly reach sexual maturity, in about 6 to 8 months.Early sterilization of males and females is recommended as part of responsible care to avoid problems of coexistence, health and uncontrolled reproduction.
Currently there are more than 100 breeds of cats standardized and registered, the oldest had short hair and are descendants of cats that the Romans spread throughout Europe, the first long-haired cat was the Angora, from Turkey, the next was the famous Persian of Asia Minor.From the Far East came the Siamese, while from Russia the Blue of Russia and Ethiopia, the Abyssinian, spread.
The characteristics of the cat do not vary fundamentally from one breed to another, but if you can find some characteristics more typical of one or the other, it is advisable to inform yourself before adopting.According to the International Feline Federation, breeds of cats are grouped into four categories, which are:
If you have decided to adopt and wonder how long a cat lives, even if there are variations depending on the quality of life received, you can enjoy your company for about 12 to 15 years.Of course, there are also cats that are older than this age and live until age 20, it will depend on the quality of life you have had and the care you have received.
To offer everything your cat needs, don’t miss our YouTube video watch out for your cat to keep going longer:
One of the most curious characteristics of cats is that the male has a penis with spines, this conformation is due to the end of copulation, the cat must receive a stimulus for ovulation to occur.in the opposite direction, do it.
Another curiosity of its anatomy is the carey or tricolor fur, which occurs only in females, because the so-called red color is associated with the X chromosome.In addition, cats are no longer revered animals, with punishments for those who dare to harm them.., to refer to pagan celebrations, so they end up associating with the devil and witchcraft, so in many places it is associated with black cats with bad luck.
On the other hand, the resistance of cats has popularized the belief that they have seven lives, the seven is a number that is considered luck and cats always fall standing, although this claim is not entirely true, it is another curiosity of cats that are able to straighten their bodies to fall well when they jump high.
Finally, the love of cats and their current popularity have led some specimens to become mayors of their cities, such as the famous Stubbs, honorary leader of a small Alaskan town who died a few years ago.
See more cat views in our YouTube video
If you want to read articles similar to Cat Features, we recommend that you visit our Curiosities section of the animal world.