The domestic cat; (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus is a small, usually furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal. It is often called a housecat when kept as an indoor pet, or simply a cat, Cats are often valued by humans for companionship, and their ability to hunt vermin and household pests. The history of our modern day cat (Felis silvestris catus) begins with her descent from one of five separate wild cats: the Sardinian wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), the European wildcat (F. s. silvestris), the Central Asian wildcat (F.s. ornata), the subsaharan African wildcat (F.s. cafra and the Chinese desert cat (F.s. bieti). Each of these species is a distinctive subspecies of F. silvestris. Genetic analysis suggests that all domestic cats derive from at least five founder cats from the Fertile Crescent region, from whence they (or rather their descendants) were transported around the world. According to cat researcher Sarah Hartwell, one theory of domestication promulgated by archaeologist J.A. Baldwin is that wild cats were first attracted to human settlements by the small rodents who themselves came to feed on agricultural stores. Humans may have simply tolerated or actively encouraged the cats to hang around and essentially guard.. Cats are familiar and easily kept animals, and their physiology has been particularly well studied; it generally resembles that of other carnivorous mammals, but displays several unusual features probably attributable to cats descent from desert-dwelling species.[ For instance, cats are able to tolerate quite high temperatures: Humans generally start to feel uncomfortable when their skin temperature passes about 38 °C (100 °F), but cats show no discomfort until their skin reaches around 52 °C (126 °F), and can tolerate temperatures of up to 56 °C (133 °F) if they have access to water.Cats conserve heat by reducing the flow of blood to their skin and lose heat by evaporation through their mouths. Cats have minimal ability to sweat, with glands located primarily in their paw pads, and pant for heat relief only at very high temperatures (but may also pant when stressed). A cats body temperature does not vary throughout the day; this is part of cats general lack of circadian rhythms and may reflect their tendency to be active both during the day and at nigh. The earliest known pet CAT: Ancient Egyptian bones reveal that felines were cared for more than 5,700 years ago Researchers from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences said a cat skeleton indicates humans cared for cats in 3,700BC Its long been thought cats were first domesticated by the Egyptians, but a recent study found Chinese farmers also kept them as pets in 3,300BC DNA studies suggest most domestic cats today are descendants of the near eastern wildcat, which still lives in northern Africa and the Middle East Respect is Due
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 20:59:25 +0000
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