Domestic Cats

1. Domestic Cats Learn about these amazing animals and their interesting lives.

2. Intro To a Cat’s World Slowly, the sun sets. A young tabby cat stretches and yawns. She rises from her napping place, which is made of fluffy pillows. The darkness feels inviting, especially to her eyes. She creeps around a corner, small paws gentling pattering against the hardwood floors. The world is falling asleep. Even her human owners are curled up in beds for the night. But for this cat, the night has just begun. She strolls to her food dish, nibbles for a few seconds, and then backs away in distaste. Yuck! There are vegetables in her meat again. Sighing, the cat sips some water. Just as soon as the refreshing drink hits her throat, something moves in the corner. A tiny gray body scampers across the kitchen. The cat narrows her green eyes and watches warily. Seconds tick by slowly as she waits. Finally, the rodent returns. The cat bunches up her muscles, gathers up her strength, and pounces. She reaches out her left paw, trying to catch the mouse by its tail. And she almost does. But somehow, the mouse escapes from her grip and takes a headlong dash to a hole in the wall. Plopping down in retreat, the cat promises herself to get that mouse next time. And there would definitely be a next time. Cats are very unique creatures. They are quite secretive at times, although can create a strong bond with allies. With sleek, beautiful posture and lots of attitude, cats are clearly some of the most amazing animals on the face of the earth. They descend from years of living in the wild, hunting food, and fighting for survival. Over the years, some cats have been domesticated and are often referred to as “house cats.” These cats can live right in your own home, quickly filling it with attitude and fun! Fun Fact: Cats are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are wake during the night. Bold Word: Domesticated- To tame. A cat enjoys a nap, grasping a well loved toy.

3. Social Life In some ways, cats are underestimated and overlooked as far as their social skills. For one thing, many people think of cats as quiet, independent creatures. Yes, cats can be that way, but can also be friendly and outgoing. A cat’s nature all depends on how they are treated by humans. If a cat is constantly cuddled, petted, and nurtured, he/she is outgoing and confident. That is the type of cat that will sit in your lap and be very affectionate towards humans. If a cat is somewhat ignored or left alone, he/she will become independent. A cat who acts this way is really only reacting to the way that humans teach him/her to be. Cats could have gained this independent reputation due to the fact that they are solitary predators, meaning that they don’t hunt in packs like dogs. A cat will use a hiding, watching, and pouncing method to hunt, but this wouldn’t work with a whole pack of dogs. A cat’s ways of communication are so small and slight that humans often times don’t even notice them. A cat could communicate just by the wink of an eye or tilt of a tail. They don’t have very dramatic signals of communication but can be easily understood if paid attention to. Also, cats choose woman as their social partners many times. Besides humans, cats can bond with other animals. Some cats get along with other cats; some cats need to be the only cat in the house! If two cats don’t get along, they can seriously terrorize, injure, cause medical affects, or any other problem to each other. I, personally, have experienced two cats not getting along. They made each other clearly uncomfortable and one cat was so afraid that he would hide. My family feared that the cats would never end up getting along. We had a reason to worry. Sometimes cats will never get along because their personalities don’t clash, just like humans. It took a long time and many different methods to get the cats to get along. Finally, but slowly, those two cats even became good enough buddies to sleep next to each other! Cats that have lived together for years and suddenly don’t get along could be ill. Sometimes animals have very unique and different ways of expressing how they feel. If a cat is used to being an “only child”, they may have a tougher time getting along with other cats. A cat that has lived with other cats most of the time would probably have no problem living with a group of cats. Horses can be companions to cats as well. Usually barn cats, which are near horses all day, will bond with the horses. I think that cats have amazingly interesting personalities. Just like people, no two cats are nearly the same. Fun Fact House cats will try to mimic Bird calls when looking out A window. Cats love to snuggle and cuddle together. As well as it being relaxing, the body heat keeps them warm!

4. Breeds and Colors Cats come in many different varieties. Most people aren’t even aware of how many breeds and colors exist. Every breed of cat usually has some colors that are distinctive to them. Here are a few breeds/colors: Ragamuffins- Did you have a tough day at work? Are you tired and stressed out? Well, this won’t last long when you own a Ragamuffin cat. Most likely, your Ragamuffin will be waiting at the door, ready to cheer you up. He will tag along your heels, accept wearing a leash, and even play fetch! This dog-like personality makes Ragamuffin cats a favorite among cat owners. They are also very laid back, love to be stroked, and never protest. I once owned a Ragamuffin and can honestly say that Ragamuffin cats don’t have a mean bone in their body. They don’t see anyone as a threat, as if everyone on the planet is their friend. Ragamuffins are “indoor” cats and should not be let outside. People tend to worry about cats with a thick coat shedding. I have to admit, Ragamuffins do have quite some fur on them, but their bunny like hair barely sheds and never mats. It is soft, long and super easy to care for. These cats have a standard size of 10-12 pounds. Sometimes females can reach 15 pounds. One thing that really sets Ragamuffins apart from other cats is the fact that they don’t come in any certain color; they can be any color. Ragamuffins are an eye catcher at cat shows, but really like to be adored in a home as well. Tabby Cats- Most people think of tabby as a breed, but it is not. In all truth, tabby is actually a popular cat color. In fact, every feline possesses the tabby gene. One unique thing about tabby cats is a letter “M” on their foreheads. Tabby cats also have markings around their eyes and skinny pencil lines on their faces. Though tabbies have similarities, each tabby coat is different. There are five tabby coat patterns. The first is the classic tabby. Classic tabbies have swirling patterns along their sides. These are referred to as a “blotched tabby” in some parts of the world. One thing that you can really notice about a classic tabby is that the coat pattern resembles marble cake! The second type of tabby coat pattern is the patched tabby. Patched tabbies are also tortoiseshell tabbies. They have red tabby splotches and brown tabby splotches. Their markings are most visible on the legs and head. The third type of tabby is the spotted tabby. Spotted tabbies are very beautiful and stunning. A spotted tabby has spots on his sides. These can resemble broken mackerel stripes, or be large, or small. It is unknown whether spotted tabbies get their spots from mackerel tabbies or an unknown gene. Next, there is a type of tabby coat called the mackerel tabby. Mackerel tabbies have stripes that run vertically. Last, but not least, is the ticked tabby. A ticked tabby is sometimes called an Abyssinian or agouti tabby. Unlike other tabby coat patterns, the ticked tabby is more difficult to recognize. But ticked tabbies have tabby markings on their faces and hairs with alternating dark and light bands called agouti hairs. Bold Words: Feline- Cat Agouti- A fur pattern found on animals. Abyssinian- A former name of Ethiopia.

5. Food Just like anyone else, cats get hungry. So when your cat meows, yearning for food, you should at least know what to feed him/her. Cats are carnivores, meaning that they eat meat. Domestic (house) cats don’t catch their meals so, of course, you need to purchase cat food at the pet store. There are two types of food that cats are commonly fed: Dry food and wet food. Wet food comes in cans primarily, although sometimes is sold in little pouches. It includes meat and moist sauce, almost like gravy. Wet food has many nutritional values for cats developing muscles and strong bones. Because it is so moist, wet food allows for cats to intake more water and moisture, which is good for them. Wet food may be more expensive than dry food, but certainly worth it. Dry food, on the other hand, is a type of cat food that most cat owners flock to. It is cheaper than wet food and can be bought in huge bags. Each little piece of dry food is packed with carbohydrates. However, cats like the tasty crunch of dry food and it doesn’t spoil quickly, so has its upside. Still, canned food has more nutrients. Personally, I would put my cat on a wet and dry food diet so that they get the best of both worlds. A cat on only dry food certainly could get obese and unhealthy. A few researches are even finding that dry food diets could be linked to feline diabetes. Some wet foods can be unhealthy, too. Commercial brands usually limit the use of vegetables and wholesome ingredients. If you buy holistic cat food, you will probably find your cats feeling better due to natural ingredients. Holistic cat food isn’t hard to find. I put my cats on it for awhile and they were lively and spunky. Even their coats shone! Fun Fact: Cats can be picky about their Food. They sometimes only like certain types and won’t eat others! Bold Words: Carnivores- Meat eaters.

6. Amazing Cats The tabby cat blinked her eyes against the raising sun. It was time for her to go back to sleep. Morning was approaching. The cat stretched her back, suddenly feeling tired. It had been a long night, chasing the mouse and all. Contently, she walks back to her bed of pillows, yawning. The fluffy, cushiony bed looks inviting. The cat steps in, curls up, and closes her eyes to dream of catching mice. Cats are truly amazing creatures. They come in such a variety, have many cool social qualities, and tons of different types of food to choose from! I love cats because they will always have their secrets, the things that only a cat knows. Nobody ever knows everything about cats. There is always more to be discovered. And what better teachers are there than cats themselves? Glossary Abyssinian- A former name of Ethiopia. Agouti- A fur pattern found on animals. Carnivores- Meat eaters. Domesticated- To tame. Feline- Cat.