<#000000>Cat
<#868686>(Felis silvestris forma catus)

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<#000000>Description
<#868686>Cats are very popular pets. They are extremely independently-minded: they can be playful and cuddly but can also be tetchy and aloof.  




<#000000>Appearance
<#868686>The domestic cat belongs to the carnivorous family Felidae, which is divided into in three main groups: small cats, including our domestic cats, big cats such as lions and tigers, and cheetahs.
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Everyone knows what a cat looks like: it is a quadruped with a small head, two ears, long sensitive whiskers on either side of the nose, a long tail and soft, thick fur. The cat has retractable claws, which it can extend in a split second during an attack to seize its prey. A cat's teeth are characteristic of a carnivorous predator, with long, sharp canines. Cats are extremely agile and also have excellent night vision.
They are bred in longhaired, semi-longhaired, and shorthaired variations, and their fur can be multicolored or striped. Cats' eyes can be several different colors: blue, green, orange, or copper.
The male cat (tom) is normally larger than the female and has a bigger head. The average cat weighs between 6 and 13 lbs.



<#000000>Origin
<#868686>The domestic cat is descended from the North African wild cat. Cats were already popular companions for humans in the time of the Pharaohs and were worshiped as goddesses. Today, cats are kept as pets all over the world.

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<#000000>Habitat
<#868686>Cats live with their owners and enjoy roaming round meadows, gardens, and fields. Cats were often kept on farms to catch mice: a job they take very seriously to this day!

<#000000>Species and breeds
<#868686>Domestic cats are related to the European wildcats, although these are now rarely found in the wild. Numerous different breeds of cat exist today, with the European Shorthair being one of the most popular. The British Shorthair and Maine Coon are also very well known breeds. The Siamese is an extremely elegant creature with a short, pale coat. These cats are very slim and usually have dark patches on their heads, legs, backs, and tails. Persian cats have very soft fur and are among the quieter, more independent breeds of cat. The Birman breed was revered as a temple cat in its homeland of Burma.

<#000000>Life expectancy
<#868686>Cats have a lifespan of between 11 and 14 years, although they have been known to live for up to 20 years.  <IMG=./Data/Lexicon/Katze02.dds>
<#000000>Behavior

<#000000>Habits
<#868686>The cat is a nocturnal animal. The low light bounces off a reflective film in its eyes, intensifying the level of light and giving the cat the "translucence" that makes its eyes shine in the dark. 
The cat's excellent hearing can even detect sounds in the ultrasound range, which are inaudible to humans. This means it can hear the squeaks and rustles made by mice and other small animals. A cat's sense of smell is extremely important, and it has scent glands on the side of its head which it uses to mark its territory. Toms also mark their territory with urine, which smells very unpleasant to humans. The cat's whiskers are also sensory organs used to judge distances between objects. This prevents it bumping into things, even in total darkness.
When grooming, a cat uses its tongue and paws to spread the secretion produced by the sebaceous glands in its skin over its entire fur, which smoothes every single hair. The hairs that the cat swallows during this process form hairballs in its stomach, which it then regurgitates. 

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<#000000>Predators
<#868686>The domestic cat's worst enemy is the car, although cats can also be at risk from large predators such as foxes or lynxes.  

<#000000>Breeding habits
<#868686>Cats mate from mid-February until mid-April in the spring and from May until mid-June in the summer.
The young are born in a sheltered place approximately 9 weeks after mating. The helpless kittens are blind when they are born and are suckled by their mother. They start eating their first solid food after about 4 weeks but should not be separated from their mother until they are 10 weeks old.
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<#000000>Hunting
<#868686>Cats are agile, stealthy hunters: their prey usually doesn't even realize that a cat is creeping up on it. Once the cat pounces, it can kill its victim with a single bite, although it often spends some time toying with its catch first. A cat's whiskers and the sensitive hairs elsewhere on its body make it an extremely adept hunter under cover of darkness. 

<#000000>Ownership

<#000000>Diet
<#868686>Because cats are carnivores, it is best to feed them commercial cat food, which is available in the form of wet or dry food.
Bear in mind, however, that kittens need special food to satisfy their nutritional requirements.
The quantity of food given depends on the age and size of the cat. The food bowl must be washed daily to prevent decomposing leftovers making the cat ill. 
Cats are very fussy about their food, so they may not necessarily like every kind of food. Opened cans of wet food should not be stored in the fridge, as cats dislike chilled food. Instead, the food should be covered and stored in a dry place. 
Cats must always have fresh water available: the more dry food they are given, the more water they will need. If the cat’s eating habits suddenly change or if it loses its appetite, the owner should contact a vet immediately. 

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<#000000>Care
<#868686>Cats that are allowed outdoors should have a cat door to allow them to leave the house when they want and to go and roam round their territory.
Cats that never leave the house should always have plenty of toys to play with to prevent them from getting bored. A litter tray should also be provided, which must be cleaned regularly and should always contain plenty of cat litter.