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Everything You Need To Know About The Domestic Cat

Even though domestic cats are one of the most beloved animals in the world, there are many things some people don't know about these unique creatures. Which is why you're reading this article, right? To learn more about cats — one of the cutest and most affectionate companions known to man.

Everything You Need To Know About Cats

Without wasting much of your time, let's kick things off with the most important takeaways.

Over the course of domestication, cat behaviours have continued to change, but their abilitity to hunt their own food and live comfortably in a given territory have endeared them to many.

So, how did cats become human companions?

The domestication of cats first occurred in Egypt, China and the Middle East. But this was due largely to their ability to control pests and mice. It was around 6500BC that humans begin to keep cats as pets rather than just food sources or predator/prey animals. 

Cats became popular as companions because they were easy to care for and didn't require a lot of space or resources like dogs did at that time period (being able to hunt their own food).

Here's what else we know about cats:

  • The Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats and keep them as pets.
  • The word cat comes from the Egyptian word for housecat.
  • Cattus, the Latin word for housecat, was believed to have derived from the Egyptian word kat ("house").
  • Cats are natural hunters and may eat 20 times their own weight per day when young.
  • They are also carnivores, that need meat in their diet.
  • Cats should be given wet or dry food depending on their sizes and appetite.
  • Cats shouldn't be fed with human food or dog food (which contains too much fat), since their digestive system were not designedd to break down and absorb these types of foods.
  • Cats are territorial in nature, but males may defend larger territories than females.
  • Female cats can have one litter of kittens per year and in general, they are more likely to give birth to litters when they are older than six months old.
  • Kittens are born blind and deaf so it’s important for them to be raised by humans or other members of the family so that they don't suffer from neglect later on in life (which could lead to behavioral issues).
  • Kittens stay with their mother until they're weaned at six weeks old—this helps teach them how to eat solid food as well as play with toys and explore without getting into trouble.
  • It takes about six months for a kitten to reach full size and maturity.
  • As a kitten grows, it will likely gain weight at a slower rate than humans. This is because cats have a different growth rate than humans: their bodies can only handle so much food in one sitting, and the nutritional content of cat food varies widely from brand to brand. For example, some brands are better suited for growing kittens than others.
  • Cats are more likely to be in shelters because they tend to live long.
  • On average, the lifespan for a domestic cat is about 11-14 years depending on its health, diet and environment. But some pet cats can survive to be around 20 years old.
  • They can survive after falling down from great heights. Cats can fall from a height of 100 feet and still be able to walk away.
  • Domestic Cats are mammals 
  • Their sizes are about 28 inches
  • They can weigh up to 20 pounds
  • There are at least 45 breeds of domestic cats.
  • The Maine Coon is the largest breed, with males reaching an average of 3.5 feet long.
  •  The smallest breed is the Singapura, native to Singapore, with adult females weighing as little as four pounds.
  •  The most unusual-looking cats is the Sphynx, a mostly hairless cat known for being robust and intelligent.

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