 | Cats are independent characters.
|
| They cannot be trained to obey commands in the same way as dogs.
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| They don't need taking for walks.
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| They can let themselves out during the day if they need to be left.
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| They are affectionate, playful and amusing.
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| Cats can make excellent pets for the elderly or less active.
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| Cats have a long life-span - some live into their twenties.
|
| A cat may not be the pet for you if you live near a very busy road.
|
| Cats, dogs and children can all learn to get along, but you'll need to
allow for a period of adjustment if you introduce a cat or kitten into a
household with dogs or children.
|
| Don't underestimate the financial commitment of feeding and caring for
a cat, including annual vaccinations, neutering plus unexpected vet's
bills for accident or injury.
|
| If you travel or work away from home a lot, is there someone you can
trust to care for your cat?
|
| Is there anyone in your household who is asthmatic or allergic to
cats?
|
| Are you allowed to keep a cat in your home? Check if you are in rented
accommodation or sheltered housing. |
History
All
cats belong to a family called the felids and were thought to have evolved 12
million years ago. Domestic cats originated from African wild cats, which they
are still closely related to. The first domestic cats were thought to have lived
8,000 years ago in Cyprus. Early settlers must have introduced the cats to the
island, as there were no wild cats present.
Cats
are depicted in Egyptian paintings and sculptures from 3,000 BC. They were used
to control pests in grain stores and came to be worshipped by people. Anyone who
killed a cat was severely punished and cats became so respected that they were
often mummified when they died, along with their owners.
From
Egypt, cats were taken to Italy after the Romans invaded in 30 BC. It is thought
that the Romans also introduced cats into Britain. Medieval Britain was not a
good time for cats. The people believed that they were associated with witches
and the devil, and they were often tortured and burned. Cats in the Far East
faced a happier life – they were seen as a sign of good luck and many of
today's breeds originated from here. In Islam, cats are a symbol of purity.
Life
span
Average
lifespan is between 9 and 15 years, though they can sometimes live for over 20
years.
Distribution
and Habitat in the wild
Wild
cats can be found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They
occupy a range of habitats, including forest, jungle, grassland and mountainous
regions.
Behaviour
in the wild
Wildcats
(Felis silvestris), closest relatives to the domestic cat, are highly adaptable
predators and although their main diet consists of rodents, they also feed on
rabbits, hares, birds, amphibians, insects and reptiles. As they rely on small
prey items, wildcats need to hunt regularly throughout the day to get enough
food.
Wildcats
are solitary and both males and females maintain territories. Males overlap
ranges with females, but females will not overlap ranges with other females.
Wildcats mate in February and March and after a gestation period of 63-65 days,
females give birth to 2-6 young. The young stay with their mothers until they
are 6 months old, but may stay with their siblings for a while longer.
Wildcats
are nocturnal or crepuscular (active during twilight hours - dawn and dusk).
Wildcats cannot roar, but they do use a variety of other sounds to communicate
including growling, mewling, purring, hissing and spitting.
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