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| SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON NAME: |
cat, domestic cat, pussy cat, kitty cat, kitty, feline |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Carnivora |
| FAMILY: |
Felidae |
| GENUS SPECIES: |
Felis catus |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Believed to be decended from the wildcat of Africa and southwestern Asia (F. silvestris libyca). Domestication occurred in Egypt roughly 4,000 years ago. There are approximately 30 different breeds of domestic cats. |
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| SIZE: |
Average head/body length = 460 mm (18 in.) |
| Tail length = 300 mm (12 in.) |
| MALE |
Average head/body length = 522 mm (21 in.) for feral cats |
| Tail length = 269 mm (11 in.) |
| FEMALE |
Average head/body length = 478 mm (19 in.) for feral cats |
| Tail length = 252 mm (9.9 in.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
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| MALE |
Average = 4.5 kg (9.9 lb.) for feral cats |
| FEMALE |
Average = 3.3 kg (7.3 lb.) for feral cats |
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| DIET: |
Feral diet: small mammals (rabbits, mice), birds and carrion |
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| GESTATION: |
Average 65 days |
| ESTRAL PERIOD |
Polyestrous; can produce 2 litters per year |
| NURSING DURATION |
8 weeks |
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| SEXUAL MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
9-12 months |
| FEMALE |
7-12 months |
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| LIFE SPAN: |
15 years for domestically reared cats |
| 2-3 years for feral cats |
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| RANGE: |
Global with the acception of Antarctica and a few islands in Pacific southwest |
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| HABITAT: |
Highly adaptable. Feral cats shelter in burrows of other animals, under thick vegetation or under rocks and other debris. Urban feral cats shelter in abandon buildings and other structures. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
| REGIONAL |
Estimated U.S. population of feral cats - 60 million |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed |
| CITES |
Not listed |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
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| 1. |
It is believed that domestication of Felis catus by ancient civilizations began because of its prowess as a hunter of rodents. They were put to use ridding grain stores of rodent populations. |
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| 2. |
In the ancient Egyptian city of Bubastis, the cat was an object of worship by the followers of Bastet, the goddess of pleasure. This cult flourished at least into Roman times. |
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| 3. |
Within a large population of feral cats on Macquarie Island, south of Australia, 90% are orange or tabby in color. The other 10% are black and tortoise-shell colored. |
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| 4. |
Cats can produce a purr during inhalation, exhalation, and when vocalizing. |
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| 5. |
In some societies, cats have been associated with evil and some superstitions still exist in modern times. |
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| 6. |
Free ranging cats are believed to be responsible for the decimation of native wildlife species, especially among the songbirds. |
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| Domestic cats are capable of living in feral and semi-feral states and have established substantial populations in areas where they are not native. Predation on native species has resulted in the decimation of a number of species, especially affecting the songbirds. |
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| Nowak, R. M. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999. |
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| Burnie, D. and Wilson, D.E. Smithsonian Institution - Animal. New York: DK Publishing Inc., 2001. |
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| MacDonald, D. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Andromeda Oxford Ltd., 2001. |
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| http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/body/maturity.html |
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| http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Felis_catus.html |
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