A domestic cat sits atop a fence.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Cat 55
leopard, puma, and cheetah. The scientific
name of the domestic cat is Felis
catus.
Where Cats Live
Domestic cats live with people in nearly
every part of the world. Some domestic
cats have no home. These cats, called
feral cats, wander freely in many cities.
Physical Features and Breeds
The domestic cat has a long and powerfully
built body. Males are about 28
inches (71 centimeters) long. Females
are about 20 inches (51 centimeters)
long. Large, forward-facing eyes help the
cat to see well, even at night. Its triangular
ears can turn quickly toward the
source of a sound. Four rows of stiff
whiskers grow on each side of the nose.
Small groups of whiskers also grow on
other parts of the body. These give the
cat a delicate sense of touch.
A cat’s fur may be black, white, brown,
gray, yellow, red, or orange. It may also
be striped (tabby); a mixture of white,
black, and yellow (tortoiseshell); or
marked with patches of color (calico).
Cats use their rough tongues to comb
and to clean their fur.
There are many breeds of domestic cat.
Cats of the same breed have a similar
length of hair and other similar features.
Most breeds—for example, the Abyssinian,
the American Shorthair, and the
Siamese—have short hair. Other breeds,
including the Persian, have long, thick
coats.
Some Longhair Breeds of Cat
Name Origin Features
Himalayan United States, sapphire-blue eyes; thick body;
Europe short, full tail
Maine Coon United States large, muscular body; shaggy
coat of fur
Persian possibly Iran thick body; large head
Ragdoll United States blue eyes; heavy and powerful
build
Turkish Angora Turkey long, full tail; large, pointed
ears
56 Cat BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Behavior
Domestic cats are carnivores, or meateaters.
Many hunt and eat small animals,
including birds, mice, and rabbits.
They use their claws, which they can
draw back or in, and their strong, sharp
Some Shorthair Breeds of Cat
Name Origin Features
Abyssinian probably Egypt slim body with long legs
American Shorthair United States broad, muscular body; thick fur
Bengal United States spotted coat; hind legs shorter
than forelegs
Cornish Rex England curly, short coat; large ears
Japanese Bobtail Japan triangular head with large ears;
rabbitlike tail
Manx Isle of Man tailless or with stump; double
coat of fur
Russian Blue Russia blue coat with silver tips;
muscular
Scottish Fold Scotland folded ears; short, rounded
body
Siamese Asia sapphire-blue eyes; long, lean
body
Sphynx Canada hairless; large ears
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Cat 57
teeth to catch prey. House cats eat
mainly canned or dry food made especially
for cats.
The cat is the only animal that makes a
sound called a purr. Cats produce purring
in their throat. No one knows
exactly why cats purr, but it may be a
sign of comfort. Cats also make other
sounds, including meowing, hissing,
yowling, and growling.
Life Cycle
A female cat gives birth to a litter of
kittens about two months after mating.
A female may have two to three litters a
year. The average litter is four kittens,
but there may be only one kitten or as
many as seven. A newborn kitten is
about 3 inches (8 centimeters) long. It
has no teeth, the ears lie flat, and the
eyes are closed. A kitten’s full development
takes about one year. Cats may live
to be about 15 years old.
Cats and Humans
About 4,500 years ago the ancient Egyptians
worshipped cats. The Egyptians
probably domesticated, or tamed, wild
cats about 3,500 years ago. They used
these cats to kill the rats and mice that
ate their stored grain. Cats were also
present in Greece, China, and India in
ancient times.
During the Middle Ages (about AD 500–
1500), many Europeans feared cats
because cats were linked with witches.
Some people still think that black cats
are unlucky.
Today millions of people around the
world keep cats as pets. In the United
States there are more pet cats than pet
dogs.
#More to explore
Cheetah • Jaguar • Leopard • Lion
• Mammal • Puma • Tiger
Catacomb
In ancient times people in the region
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea buried
their dead in underground tunnels
and rooms. They cut these tunnels and
rooms, called catacombs, out of a layer
of soft stone below the ground.
The most famous catacombs were created
around Rome, Italy, by early Christians.
About 40 Christian catacombs
have been found in the area. Most were
built between about AD 200 and 400.
The Jews and many other peoples also
built catacombs in ancient times.
The Egyptian
goddess Bast,
or Bastet, was
represented in
pictures and
statues as a
lioness or as a
woman with a
cat’s head.
People were buried in stone graves on the
floor and in the walls of a catacomb in Italy.
58 Catacomb BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Stairways led from ground level to the
catacombs below. The catacombs were
long, narrow passageways with rows of
rectangular graves carved out of the rock
along the sides. Several rows of graves
were stacked from floor to ceiling. In
Christian catacombs rooms along the
passageways were used for burying martyrs
(people who were killed because of
