User:Madvlad00/sandbox

Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the cat species that is commonly kept as a pet. For cats in general, see Felidae. Page semi-protected Domestic cat[1] Conservation status Domesticated Scientific classification Kingdom: 	Animalia Phylum: 	Chordata Class: 	Mammalia Order: 	Carnivora Family: 	Felidae Genus: 	Felis Species: 	F. catus Binomial name Felis catus[2] Linnaeus, 1758[3] Synonyms

Felis silvestris catus (subjective synonym)[4] Felis catus domestica (invalid junior synonym)[5]

The domestic cat[1][2] (Felis catus[2] or Felis silvestris catus[4]) is a small, usually furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal. It is often called the housecat when kept as an indoor pet,[6] or simply the cat when there is no need to distinguish it from other felids and felines. Cats are valued by humans for companionship and their ability to hunt vermin and household pests.

Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. Cat senses fit a crepuscular and predatory ecological niche. Cats can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by mice and other small game. They can see in near darkness. Like most mammals, cats have poorer color vision and a better sense of smell than humans.

Despite being solitary hunters, cats are a social species, and cat communication includes the use of a variety of vocalizations (meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling and grunting) as well as cat pheromones and types of cat-specific body language.[7]

Cats have a rapid breeding rate. Under controlled breeding, they can be bred and shown as registered pedigree pets, a hobby known as cat fancy. Failure to control the breeding of pet cats by spaying and neutering, and the abandonment of former household pets, has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, with a population of up to 60 million of these animals in the United States alone, requiring population control.[8]

Since cats were cult animals in ancient Egypt, they were commonly believed to have been domesticated there,[9] but there may have been instances of domestication as early as the Neolithic.[10]

A genetic study in 2007 revealed that domestic cats have descended from African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) c. 8000 BCE, in the Middle East.[9][11] According to Scientific American cats are the most popular pet in the world, and are now found almost every place where people live.[12] Contents [hide]

* 1 Nomenclature and etymology * 2 Taxonomy and evolution * 3 Genetics * 4 Anatomy * 5 Physiology * 6 Senses * 7 Health o 7.1 Diseases o 7.2 Poisoning * 8 Behavior o 8.1 Sociability o 8.2 Grooming o 8.3 Fighting o 8.4 Hunting and feeding o 8.5 Play o 8.6 Reproduction o 8.7 Vocalizations * 9 Ecology o 9.1 Habitats o 9.2 Impact on prey species o 9.3 Impact on birds * 10 Cats and humans o 10.1 Census * 11 Feral cats * 12 History and mythology * 13 Gallery * 14 See also * 15 References * 16 External links

Nomenclature and etymology Classification based on human interaction[13] Population 	Food source 	Shelter 	Socialized Pedigree 	Fed by owner 	Human homes 	Yes Pet 	Fed by owner 	Human homes 	Yes Semi-feral 	General feeding 	Buildings 	Yes Feral 	General feeding/foraging 	Buildings 	No

The English word cat (Old English catt) is in origin a loanword, introduced to many languages of Europe from Latin cattus[14] and Byzantine Greek κάττα, including Portuguese and Spanish gato, French chat, German Katze, Lithuanian katė and Old Church Slavonic kotka, among others.[15] The ultimate source of the word is Afroasiatic, presumably from Late Egyptian čaute,[16] the feminine of čaus "wildcat". The word was introduced, together with the domestic animal itself, to the Roman Republic by the 1st century BCE.[citation needed] An alternative word with cognates in many languages is English puss (pussycat). Attested only from the 16th century, it may have been introduced from Dutch poes or from Low German puuskatte, related to Swedish kattepus, or Norwegian pus, pusekatt. Similar forms exist in Lithuanian puižė and Irish puisín. The etymology of this word is unknown, but it may have simply arisen from a sound used to attract a cat.[17][18]

A group of cats is referred to as a "clowder" or a "glaring",[19] a male cat is called a "tom" or "tomcat"[20] (or a "gib",[21] if neutered), a female is called a "molly"[citation needed] or (especially among breeders) a "queen",[22] and a pre-pubescent juvenile is referred to as a "kitten". The male progenitor of a cat, especially a pedigreed cat, is its "sire",[23] and its female progenitor is its "dam".[24] In Early Modern English, the word kitten was interchangeable with the now-obsolete word catling.[25]

A pedigreed cat is one whose ancestry is recorded by a cat fancier organization. A purebred cat is one whose ancestry contains only individuals of the same breed. Many pedigreed and especially purebred cats are exhibited as show cats. Cats of unrecorded, mixed ancestry are referred to as domestic short-haired or domestic long-haired cats, by coat type, or commonly as random-bred, moggies (chiefly British), or (using terms borrowed from dog breeding) mongrels or mutt-cats.

While the African wildcat is the ancestral species from which domestic cats are descended, there are several intermediate stages between domestic pet and pedigree cats on the one hand and those entirely wild animals on the other. The semi-feral cat is a mostly outdoor cat that is not owned by any one individual, but is generally friendly to people and may be fed by several households. Feral cats are associated with human habitation areas and may be fed by people or forage in rubbish, but are wary of human interaction.[13] Taxonomy and evolution Main article: Cat evolution The wildcat, Felis silvestris, is the ancestor of the domestic cat.

The felids are a rapidly evolving family of mammals that share a common ancestor only 10–15 million years ago,[26] and include, in addition to the domestic cat, lions, tigers, cougars, and many others. Within this family, domestic cats (Felis catus) are part of the genus Felis, which is a group of small cats containing approximately seven species (depending upon classification scheme).[1][27] Members of the genus are found worldwide and include the jungle cat (Felis chaus) of southeast Asia, European wildcat (F. silvestris silvestris), African wildcat (F. s. lybica), the Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti), and the Arabian sand cat (F. margarita), among others.[28]

All the cats in this genus share a common ancestor that probably lived around 6–7 million years ago in Asia.[29] The exact relationships within the Felidae are close but still uncertain,[30][31] e.g. the Chinese mountain cat is sometimes classified (under the name Felis silvestris bieti) as a subspecies of the wildcat, like an African variety F. S. lybica.[4][30] As domestic cats are little altered from wildcats, they can readily interbreed. This hybridization poses a danger to the genetic distinctiveness of wildcat populations, particularly in Scotland and Hungary, and possibly also the Iberian Peninsula.[32]

The domestic cat was first classified as Felis catus by Carolus Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae in 1758.[1][3] However, because of modern phylogenetics, domestic cats are now usually regarded as another subspecies of the wildcat, Felis silvestris.[1][4][33] This has resulted in mixed usage of the terms, as the domestic cat can be called by its subspecies name, Felis silvestris catus.[1][4][33] Wildcats have also been referred to as various subspecies of F. catus,[33] but in 2003 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature fixed the name for wildcats as F. silvestris.[34] The most common name in use for the domestic cat remains F. catus, following a convention for domesticated animals of using the earliest (the senior) synonym proposed.[34] Sometimes the domestic cat has been called Felis domesticus[35] or Felis domestica,[1] as proposed by German naturalist J. C. P. Erxleben in 1777, but these are not valid taxonomic names and have only rarely been used in scientific literature,[36] because Linnaeus's binomial takes precedence.[37]

Cats have either a mutualistic or commensal relationship with humans. However, in comparison to dogs, cats have not undergone major changes during the domestication process, as the form and behavior of the domestic cat are not radically different from those of wildcats, and domestic cats are perfectly capable of surviving in the wild.[38][39] This limited evolution during domestication means that domestic cats tend to interbreed freely with wild relatives,[32] which distinguishes them from other domesticated animals.[citation needed] Fully domesticated house cats also often interbreed with feral F. catus populations.[13] However, several natural behaviors and characteristics of wildcats may have pre-adapted them for domestication as pets.[39] These traits include their small size, social nature, obvious body language, love of play, and relatively high intelligence;[40]:12–17 they may also have an inborn tendency towards tameness.[39]

There are two main theories about how cats were domesticated. In one, people deliberately tamed cats in a process of artificial selection, as they were useful predators of vermin.[41] However, this has been criticized as implausible, because there may have been little reward for such an effort: cats generally do not carry out commands and, although they do eat rodents, other species such as ferrets or terriers may be better at controlling these pests.[4] The alternative idea is that cats were simply tolerated by people and gradually diverged from their wild relatives through natural selection, as they adapted to hunting the vermin found around humans in towns and villages.[4] Genetics Main article: Cat genetics

The domesticated cat and its closest wild ancestor are both diploid organisms that possess 38 chromosomes[42] and roughly 20,000 genes.[43] About 250 heritable genetic disorders have been identified in cats, many similar to human inborn errors.[44] The high level of similarity among the metabolisms of mammals allows many of these feline diseases to be diagnosed using genetic tests that were originally developed for use in humans, as well as the use of cats as animal models in the study of the human diseases.[45][46] Anatomy Main article: Cat anatomy Diagram of the general anatomy of a male

Domestic cats are similar in size to the other members of the genus Felis, typically weighing between 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) and 5 kilograms (11 lb).[30] However, some breeds, such as the Maine Coon, can occasionally exceed 11 kilograms (25 lb). Conversely, very small cats (less than 1.8 kilograms (4.0 lb)) have been reported.[47] The world record for the largest cat is 21.297 kilograms (46 lb 15.2 oz).[48] Conversely, feral cats tend to be lighter as they have more limited access to food than house cats. In the Boston area, the average feral adult male will scale 3.9 kg (8.6 lb) and average feral female 3.3 kg (7.3 lb).[49] The smallest adult cat ever officially recorded weighed around 1.36 kilograms (3 lb).[48] Cats average about 23–25 centimeters (9–10 in) in height and 46 centimeters (18.1 in) in head/body length (males being larger than females), with tails averaging 30 centimeters (11.8 in) in length.[50]

Cats have seven cervical vertebrae like almost all mammals, 13 thoracic vertebrae (humans have 12), seven lumbar vertebrae (humans have five), three sacral vertebrae like most mammals (humans have five because of their bipedal posture), and a variable number of caudal vertebrae in the tail (humans retain three to five caudal vertebrae, fused into an internal coccyx).[51]:11 The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's spinal mobility and flexibility. Attached to the spine are 13 ribs, the shoulder, and the pelvis.[51] :16 Unlike human arms, cat forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by free-floating clavicle bones, which allow them to pass their body through any space into which they can fit their heads.[52] Cat skull

The cat skull is unusual among mammals in having very large eye sockets and a powerful and specialized jaw.[53]:35 Within the jaw, cats have teeth adapted for killing prey and tearing meat. When it overpowers its prey, a cat delivers a lethal neck bite with its two long canine teeth, inserting them between two of the prey's vertebrae and severing its spinal cord, causing irreversible paralysis and death.[54] Compared to other felines, domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine teeth; which is an adaptation to their preferred prey of small rodents, which have small vertebrae.[54] The premolar and first molar together compose the carnassial pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently shears meat into small pieces, like a pair of scissors. These are vital in feeding, since cats' small molars cannot chew food effectively.[53]:37

Cats, like dogs, are digitigrades. They walk directly on their toes, with the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg.[55] Cats are capable of walking very precisely, because like all felines they directly register; that is, they place each hind paw (almost) directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw, minimizing noise and visible tracks. This also provides sure footing for their hind paws when they navigate rough terrain. Unlike most mammals, when cats walk, they use a "pacing" gait; that is, they move the two legs on one side of the body before the legs on the other side. This trait is shared with camels and giraffes. As a walk speeds up into a trot, a cat's gait will change to be a "diagonal" gait, similar to that of most other mammals (and many other land animals, such as lizards): the diagonally opposite hind and forelegs will move simultaneously.[56]

Like almost all members of the Felidae family, cats have protractable and retractable claws.[57] In their normal, relaxed position the claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the paw's toe pads. This keeps the claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows the silent stalking of prey. The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the hind feet.[58] Cats can voluntarily extend their claws on one or more paws. They may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, kneading, or for extra traction on soft surfaces. Most cats have five claws on their front paws, and four on their rear paws.[59] The fifth front claw (the dewclaw) is proximal to the other claws. More proximally, there is a protrusion which appears to be a sixth "finger". This special feature of the front paws, on the inside of the wrists, is the carpal pad, also found on the paws of big cats and of dogs. It has no function in normal walking, but is thought to be an anti-skidding device used while jumping. Some breeds of cats are prone to polydactyly (extra toes and claws).[59] These are particularly common along the northeast coast of North America.[60] Physiology Normal physiological values[61]:330 Body temperature 	38.6 °C (101.5 °F) Heart rate 	120–140 beats per minute Breathing rate 	16–40 breaths per minute

As cats are familiar and easily kept animals, 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.[35] 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),[53]:46 and can tolerate temperatures of up to 56 °C (133 °F) if they have access to water.[62]

Cats conserve heat by reducing the flow of blood to their skin and lose heat by evaporation through their mouth. They do not sweat, and pant for heat relief only at very high temperatures[63] (but may also pant when stressed). Unusually, a cat's 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 night.[64]:1 Cats' feces are comparatively dry and their urine is also highly concentrated, both of which are adaptations that allow cats to retain as much fluid as possible.[35] Their kidneys are so efficient that cats can survive on a diet consisting only of meat, with no additional water,[65] and can even rehydrate by drinking seawater.[64]:29[66]

Cats are obligate carnivores: their physiology has evolved to efficiently process meat, and they have difficulty digesting plant matter.[35] In contrast to omnivores such as rats, which only require about 4% protein in their diet, about 20% of a cat's diet must be protein.[35] Cats are unusually dependent on a constant supply of the amino acid arginine, and a diet lacking arginine causes marked weight loss and can be rapidly fatal.[67] Another unusual feature is that the cat also cannot produce the amino acid taurine, with taurine deficiency causing macular degeneration, wherein the cat's retina slowly degenerates, causing irreversible blindness.[35] Since cats tend to eat all of their prey, they obtain minerals by digesting animal bones, and a diet composed only of meat may cause calcium deficiency.[35]

A cat's gastrointestinal tract is also adapted to meat eating, being much shorter than that of omnivores and having low levels of several of the digestive enzymes that are needed to digest carbohydrates.[68] These traits severely limit the cat's ability to digest and use plant-derived nutrients, as well as certain fatty acids.[68] Despite the cat's meat-oriented physiology, several vegetarian or vegan cat foods have been marketed that are supplemented with chemically synthesized taurine and other nutrients, in attempts to produce a complete diet. However, some of these products still fail to provide all the nutrients that cats require,[69] and diets containing no animal products pose the risk of causing severe nutritional deficiencies.[70]

Cats also eat grass occasionally. Proposed explanations include that grass is a source of folic acid or dietary fiber.[71] Senses Main article: Cat senses Eyes of a tabby cat Cats' whiskers are highly sensitive to touch.

Cats have excellent night vision and can see at only one-sixth the light level required for human vision.[53]:43 This is partly the result of cat eyes having a tapetum lucidum, which reflects any light that passes through the retina back into the eye, thereby increasing the eye's sensitivity to dim light.[72] Another adaptation to dim light is the large pupils of cats' eyes. Unlike some big cats, such as tigers, domestic cats have slit pupils.[73] These slit pupils can focus bright light without chromatic aberration, and are needed since the domestic cat's pupils are much larger, relative to their eyes, than the pupils of the big cats.[73] Indeed, at low light levels a cat's pupils will expand to cover most of the exposed surface of its eyes.[74] However, domestic cats have rather poor color vision and (like most non-primate mammals) have only two types of cones, optimized for sensitivity to blue and yellowish green; they have limited ability to distinguish between red and green,[75] although they can achieve this in some conditions.[76]

Cats have excellent hearing and can detect an extremely broad range of frequencies. They can hear higher-pitched sounds than either dogs or humans, detecting frequencies from 55 Hz up to 79 kHz, a range of 10.5 octaves; while humans can only hear from 31 Hz up to 18 kHz, and dogs hear from 67 Hz to 44 kHz, which are both ranges of about 9 octaves.[77][78] Cats do not use this ability to hear ultrasound for communication but it is probably important in hunting,[79] since many species of rodents make ultrasonic calls.[80] Cat hearing is also extremely sensitive and is among the best of any mammal,[77] being most acute in the range of 500 Hz to 32 kHz.[81] This sensitivity is further enhanced by the cat's large movable outer ears (their pinnae), which both amplify sounds and help a cat sense the direction from which a noise is coming.[79]

Cats have an acute sense of smell, which is due in part to their well-developed olfactory bulb and also to a large surface of olfactory mucosa, in cats this mucosa is about 5.8 square centimetres (0.90 sq in) in area, which is about twice that of humans and only 1.7-fold less than the average dog.[82] Cats are very sensitive to pheromones such as 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol,[83] which they use to communicate through urine spraying and marking with scent glands.[84] Cats also respond strongly to plants that contain nepetalactone, especially catnip, as they can detect that substance at less than one part per billion.[85] This response is also produced by other plants, such as silver vine (Actinidia polygama) and the herb valerian; it may be caused by the smell of these plants mimicking a pheromone and stimulating cats' social or sexual behaviors.[86]

Cats have relatively few taste buds compared to humans. Domestic and wild cats share a gene mutation that keeps their sweet taste buds from binding to sugary molecules like carbohydrates, leaving them with no ability to taste sweetness.[87] Their taste buds instead respond to amino acids, bitter tastes and acids.[88]

To aid with navigation and sensation, cats have dozens of movable vibrissae (whiskers) over their body, especially their face. These provide information on the width of gaps and on the location of objects in the dark, both by touching objects directly and by sensing air currents; they also trigger protective blink reflexes to protect the eyes from damage.[53]:47 Health Main article: Cat health

The average life expectancy for male indoor cats at birth is around 12 to 14 years,[89] with females usually living a year or two longer.[90] However, there have been reports of cats reaching into their 30s,[91] with the oldest known cat, Creme Puff, dying at a verified age of 38.[92] Feline life expectancy has increased significantly in recent decades.[93] Having a cat neutered or spayed confers some health benefits, since castrated males cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed females cannot develop uterine or ovarian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of mammary cancer.[94] The lifespan of feral cats is hard to determine accurately, although one study reported a median age of 4.7 years, with a range between 0 to 8.3 years.[95] Diseases

Cats can suffer from a wide range of health problems, including infectious diseases, parasites, injuries and chronic disease. Vaccinations are available for many of these diseases, and domestic cats are regularly given treatments to eliminate parasites such as worms and fleas. Poisoning

In addition to obvious dangers such as rodenticides, insecticides and herbicides, cats may be poisoned by many chemicals that are usually considered safe by pet owners.[96] This is because their livers are less effective at some forms of detoxification than those of many other animals, including humans and dogs.[35][97] Some of the most common causes of poisoning in cats are antifreeze and rodent baits.[98] It has also been suggested that cats may be particularly sensitive to environmental pollutants.[96][99] When a cat has a sudden or prolonged serious illness without any obvious cause, it is possible that it has been exposed to a toxin.

Many human medicines should never be given to cats. For example, the painkiller paracetamol (also called acetaminophen, sold as Tylenol and Panadol) is extremely toxic to cats: even very small doses need immediate treatment and can be fatal.[100][101] Even aspirin, which is sometimes used to treat arthritis in cats, is much more toxic to them than to humans[101] and must be administered cautiously.[96] Similarly, application of minoxidil (Rogaine) to the skin of cats, either accidentally or by well-meaning owners attempting to counter loss of fur, has sometimes been fatal.[102] Essential oils can be toxic to cats and there have been reported cases of serious illnesses caused by tea tree oil, including flea treatments and shampoos containing it.[103]

Other common household substances that should be used with caution around cats include mothballs and other naphthalene products.[96] Phenol-based products (e.g. Pine-Sol, Dettol (Lysol) or hexachlorophene)[96] are often used for cleaning and disinfecting near cats' feeding areas or litter boxes but these can sometimes be fatal.[104] Ethylene glycol, often used as an automotive antifreeze, is particularly appealing to cats, and as little as a teaspoonful can be fatal.[105] Some human foods are toxic to cats; for example chocolate can cause theobromine poisoning, although (unlike dogs) few cats will eat chocolate.[106] Large amounts of onions or garlic are also poisonous to cats.[96] Many houseplants are also dangerous,[107] such as Philodendron species and the leaves of the Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum), which can cause permanent and life-threatening kidney damage.[108] Behavior See also: Cat behavior, cat communication, and cat intelligence

Free-ranging cats are active both day and night, although they tend to be slightly more active at night.[109][110] The timing of cats' activity is quite flexible and varied, which means that house cats may be more active in the morning and evening (crepuscular behavior), as a response to greater human activity at these times.[111] Although they spend the majority of their time in the vicinity of their home, housecats can range many hundreds of meters from this central point, and are known to establish territories that vary considerably in size, in one study ranging from 7 to 28 hectares (17 to 69 acres).[110] Cats conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. The daily duration of sleep varies, usually 12–16 hours, with 13–14 being the average. Some cats can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period. The term "cat nap" for a short rest refers to the cat's tendency to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period. While asleep, cats experience short periods of rapid eye movement sleep often accompanied by muscle twitches, which suggests that they are dreaming.[112] Sociability Social grooming in a pair

Although wildcats are solitary, the social behavior of domestic cats is much more variable and ranges from widely dispersed individuals to feral cat colonies that form around a food source, based on groups of co-operating females.[113][114] Within such groups one cat is usually dominant over the others.[36] Each cat in a colony holds a distinct territory, with sexually active males having the largest territories, which are about ten times larger than those of female cats and may overlap with several females' territories.[84] These territories are marked by urine spraying, by rubbing objects at head height with secretions from facial glands, and by defecation.[84] Between these territories are neutral areas where cats watch and greet one another without territorial conflicts. Outside these neutral areas, territory holders usually chase away stranger cats, at first by staring, hissing, and growling, and if that does not work, by short but noisy and violent attacks. Despite some cats cohabiting in colonies, cats do not have a social survival strategy, or a pack mentality and always hunt alone.[115]

Domestic cats use many vocalizations for communication, including purring, trilling, hissing, growling/snarling, grunting, and several different forms of meowing.[7] By contrast, feral cats are generally silent.[116]:208 Their types of body language, including position of ears and tail, relaxation of whole body, and kneading of paws, are all indicators of mood. The tail and ears are particularly important social signal mechanisms in cats,[117][118] e.g. with a raised tail acting as a friendly greeting, and flattened ears indicating hostility. Tail-raising also indicates the cat's position in the group's social hierarchy, with dominant individuals raising their tails less often than subordinate animals.[118] Nose-to-nose touching is also a common greeting and may be followed by social grooming, which is solicited by one of the cats raising and tilting its head.[114] Cats intimidate opponents by arching their backs, raising their fur, turning sideways, and hissing.

However, some pet cats are poorly socialized. In particular, older cats may show aggressiveness towards newly arrived kittens, which may include biting and scratching; this type of behavior is known as Feline Asocial Aggression.[119]

For cats, life in proximity to humans and other animals kept by them amounts to a "symbiotic social adaptation".[this quote needs a citation] They may express great affection towards their human (and even other) companions, especially if they psychologically imprint on them at a very young age and are treated with consistent affection.[citation needed] It has been suggested that, ethologically, the human keeper of a cat functions as a sort of surrogate for the cat's mother,[citation needed] and that adult housecats live their lives in a kind of extended kittenhood,[120] a form of behavioral neoteny. It has even been theorized[121] that the high-pitched sounds housecats make to solicit food may mimic the cries of a hungry human infant, making them particularly hard for humans to ignore. Grooming The hooked papillae on a cat's tongue act like a hairbrush to help clean and detangle fur.

Cats are known for their cleanliness, spending many hours licking their coats.[122] The cat's tongue has backwards-facing spines about 500 micrometers long, which are called papillae. These are quite rigid, as they contain keratin.[123] These spines allow cats to groom themselves by licking their fur, with the rows of papillae acting like a hairbrush. Some cats, particularly longhaired cats, occasionally regurgitate hairballs of fur that have collected in their stomachs from grooming. These clumps of fur are usually sausage-shaped and about two to three centimeters long. Hairballs can be prevented with remedies that ease elimination of the hair through the gut, as well as regular grooming of the coat with a comb or stiff brush.[122] Some cats can develop a compulsive behavior known as psychogenic alopecia, or excessive grooming.[124][clarification needed] Fighting

Among domestic cats, males are more likely to fight than females.[125] Among feral cats, the most common reason for cat fighting is competition between two males to mate with a female. In such cases, most fights will be won by the heavier male.[126] Another common reason for fighting in domestic cats is the difficulty of establishing territories within a small home.[125] Female cats will also fight over territory or to defend their kittens. Spaying females and neutering males will decrease or eliminate this behavior in many cases, suggesting that the behavior is linked to sex hormones.[citation needed]

When fighting, cats make themselves appear more impressive and threatening by raising their fur, arching their backs, and turning sideways, thus increasing their apparent size.[117] Often, the ears are pointed down and back to avoid damage to the inner ear and potentially listen for any changes behind them while focused forward. They may also vocalize loudly and bare their teeth in an effort to further intimidate their opponent. Fights usually comprise of grappling and delivering powerful slaps to the face and body with the forepaws as well as bites. Cats will also throw themselves to the ground in a defensive posture to rake their opponent's belly with their powerful hind legs.[127] Serious damage is rare as the fights are usually short in duration, with the loser running away with little more than a few scratches to the face and ears. However, fights for mating rights are typically more severe and injuries may include deep puncture wounds and lacerations. Normally, serious injuries from fighting will be limited to infections of scratches and bites, though these can occasionally kill cats if untreated. In addition, bites are probably the main route of transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).[128] Sexually active males will usually be involved in many fights during their lives, and often have decidedly battered faces with obvious scars and cuts to the ears and nose. Hunting and feeding

Cats feed on small prey, primarily birds and rodents,[129] and are often used as a form of pest control.[130][131] Feral cats and house cats that are free-fed tend to consume many small meals in a single day, although the frequency and size of meals varies between individuals.[115] Cats use two hunting strategies, either stalking prey actively, or waiting in ambush until an animal comes close enough to be captured. Although it is not certain, the type of strategy used may depend on the prey species in the area, with for example, cats waiting in ambush outside burrows, but tending to actively stalk birds.[132]:153

Most breeds of cat have a noted fondness for settling in high places, or perching. In the wild, a higher place may serve as a concealed site from which to hunt; domestic cats may strike prey by pouncing from such a perch as a tree branch, as does a leopard.[133][clarification needed] Other possible explanations include that height gives the cat a better observation point, allowing it to survey its territory. During a fall from a high place, a cat can reflexively twist its body and right itself using its acute sense of balance and flexibility.[134][clarification needed] This is known as the cat righting reflex. An individual cat always rights itself in the same way, provided it has the time to do so, during a fall. The height required for this to occur is around 90 cm (3 feet). Cats without a tail (e.g. Manx cats) also have this ability, since a cat mostly moves its hind legs and relies on conservation of angular momentum to set up for landing, and the tail is in fact little used for this feat.[135] This leads to the proverb "a cat always lands on its feet". Eating a house sparrow.

One poorly understood element of cat hunting behavior is the presentation of prey to human owners. Ethologist Paul Leyhausen proposed that cats adopt humans into their social group, and share excess kill with others in the group according to the local pecking order, in which humans are placed at or near the top.[136] Anthropologist and zoologist Desmond Morris, in his 1986 book Catwatching, suggests that when cats bring home mice or birds, they are attempting to teach their human to hunt, or trying to help their human as if feeding "an elderly cat, or an inept kitten".[137][clarification needed] Morris's theory is inconsistent with the fact that male cats also bring home prey, despite males having no involvement with raising kittens.[132]:153

Domestic cats select food based on its temperature, smell and texture, strongly disliking chilled foods and responding most strongly to moist foods rich in amino acids, which are similar to meat.[70][115] Cats may reject novel flavors (a response termed neophobia) and learn quickly to avoid foods that have tasted unpleasant in the past.[115] They may also avoid sugary foods and milk; since they are lactose intolerant, these sugars are not easily digested and may cause soft stools or diarrhea.[115][138] They can also develop odd eating habits. Some cats like to eat or chew on other things, most commonly wool, but also plastic, paper, string, aluminum foil/Christmas tree tinsel, or even coal. This condition is called pica and can threaten their health, depending on the amount and toxicity of the items eaten.[139][140]

Since cats cannot fully close their lips around something to create suction, they use a lapping method with the tongue to draw liquid upwards into their mouths. Lapping at a rate of four times a second, the cat touches the smooth tip of its tongue to the surface of the water, and quickly retracts it, drawing water upwards.[141] Play Main article: Cat play and toys

Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of play. This behavior mimics hunting and is important in helping kittens learn to stalk, capture, and kill prey.[142] Cats will also engage in play fighting, with each other and with humans. This behavior may be a way for cats to practice the skills needed for real combat, and might also reduce any fear they associate with launching attacks on other animals.[143]

Owing to the close similarity between play and hunting, cats prefer to play with objects that resemble prey, such as small furry toys that move rapidly, but rapidly lose interest (they become habituated) in a toy they have played with before.[144] Cats also tend to play with toys more when they are hungry.[145] String is often used as a toy, but if it is eaten it can become caught at the base of the cat's tongue and then move into the intestines, a medical emergency which can cause serious illness, even death.[146] Owing to the risks posed by cats eating string, it is sometimes replaced with a laser pointer's dot, which cats may chase.[147] While concerns have been raised about the safety of these lasers, John Marshall, an ophthalmologist at St Thomas' Hospital, has stated that it would be "virtually impossible" to blind a cat with a laser pointer.[148][clarification needed] Reproduction When cats mate, the tomcat (male) bites the scruff of the female's neck as she assumes a position conducive to mating known as lordosis behavior. See also: Kitten

Female cats are seasonally polyestrous, which means they may have many periods of heat over the course of a year, the season beginning in spring and ending in late autumn. Heat periods occur about every two weeks and last about 4 to 7 days.[149] Multiple males will be attracted to a female in heat. The males will fight over her, and the victor wins the right to mate. At first, the female will reject the male, but eventually the female will allow the male to mate. The female will utter a loud yowl as the male pulls out of her. This is because a male cat's penis has a band of about 120–150 backwards-pointing penile spines, which are about one millimeter long;[150] upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which is a trigger for ovulation. This act also occurs to clear the vagina of other sperm in the context of a second (or more) mating, thus giving the later males a larger chance of conception.[citation needed]

After mating, the female will wash her vulva thoroughly. If a male attempts to mate with her at this point, the female will attack him. After about 20 to 30 minutes, once the female is finished grooming, the cycle will repeat.[149]

Because ovulation is not always triggered by a single mating, females may not be impregnated by the first male with which they mate.[151] Furthermore, cats are superfecund; that is, a female may mate with more than one male when she is in heat, with the result that different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.[149] A newborn kitten

The gestation period for cats is between 64–67 days, with an average length of 66 days.[152] The size of a litter averages three to five kittens, with the first litter usually smaller than subsequent litters. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven weeks, and cats normally reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months (females) and to 5–7 months (males), although this can vary depending on breed.[149] Females can have two to three litters per year, so may produce up to 150 kittens in their breeding span of around ten years.[149]

Cats are ready to go to new homes at about 12 weeks old,[153] or when they are ready to leave their mother. Cats can be surgically sterilized (spayed or castrated) as early as 7 weeks to limit unwanted reproduction.[154] This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as aggression, territory marking (spraying urine) in males and yowling (calling) in females. Traditionally, this surgery was performed at around six to nine months of age, but it is increasingly being performed prior to puberty, at about three to six months.[155] In the USA approximately 80% of household cats are neutered.[156] Vocalizations Main article: Cat communication

The cat is a very vocal animal. Known for its trademark purring, it also produces a wide variety of other sounds.

The mechanism by which cats purr is elusive. The cat has no unique anatomical feature that is clearly responsible for the sound.[157][clarification needed] It was, until recent times, believed that only the cats of the Felis genus could purr. However, felids of the Panthera genus (tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard) also produce sounds similar to purring, but only when exhaling.[158][clarification needed][unreliable source?] Ecology Habitats A Black cat under the snow.

Cats are a cosmopolitan species and are found across much of the world.[38] Geneticist Stephen James O'Brien, of the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, remarked on how successful cats have been in evolutionary terms: "Cats are one of evolution's most charismatic creatures. They can live on the highest mountains and in the hottest deserts."[159] They are extremely adaptable and are now present on all continents except Antarctica, and on 118 of the 131 main groups of islands – even on sub-Antarctic islands such as the Kerguelen Islands.[160][161] Feral cats can live in forests, grasslands, tundra, coastal areas, agricultural land, scrublands, urban areas and wetlands.[162] Their habitats even include small oceanic islands with no human inhabitants.[163] This ability to thrive in almost any terrestrial habitat has led to the cat's designation as one of the world's worst invasive species.[164] Despite this general adaptability, the close relatives of domestic cats, the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) and the Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita) both inhabit desert environments,[4] and domestic cats still show similar adaptations and behaviors.[35] Impact on prey species Young feral cat eating a cottontail rabbit.

To date, there are few scientific data available to assess the impact of cat predation on prey populations. Even well-fed domestic cats may hunt and kill, mainly catching small mammals, but also birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates.[129][165] Hunting by domestic cats may be contributing to the decline in the numbers of birds in urban areas, although the importance of this effect remains controversial.[166] In the wild, the introduction of feral cats during human settlement can threaten native species with extinction.[163] In many cases controlling or eliminating the populations of non-native cats can produce a rapid recovery in native animals.[167] However, the ecological role of introduced cats can be more complicated: for example, cats can control the numbers of rats, which also prey on birds' eggs and young, so in some cases eliminating a cat population can actually accelerate the decline of an endangered bird species in the presence of a mesopredator, controlled by cats.[168]

In the Southern Hemisphere, cats are a particular problem in landmasses such as Australasia, where cat species have never been native and there were few equivalent native medium-sized mammalian predators.[169] Native species such as the New Zealand Kakapo and the Australian Bettong, for example, tend to be more ecologically vulnerable and behaviorally "naive" to predation by feral cats.[170] Feral cats have had a major impact on these native species and have played a leading role in the endangerment and extinction of many animals.[171]

Cat numbers in the UK are growing and their abundance is far above the "natural" carrying capacity, because their population sizes are independent of their prey's dynamics: i.e. cats are "recreational" hunters, with other food sources.[172] Population densities can be as high as 2,000 individuals per km2[173] and the trend is an increase of 0.5 million cats annually. Impact on birds

The domestic cat is probably a significant predator of birds. UK assessments indicate that they may be accountable for an estimated 64.8 million bird deaths each year.[129] Certain species appear more susceptible than others; for example, 30% of house sparrow mortality is linked to the domestic cat.[174] In the recovery of ringed robins (Erithacus rubecula) and dunnocks (Prunella modularis), it was also concluded that 31% of deaths were a result of cat predation.[175] The presence of larger carnivores such as coyotes which prey on cats and other small predators reduces the effect of predation by cats and other small predators such as opossums and raccoons on bird numbers and variety.[176] The proposal that cat populations will increase when the numbers of these top predators decline is called the mesopredator release hypothesis.

On islands, birds can contribute as much as 60% of a cat's diet.[177] In nearly all cases, however, the cat cannot be identified as the sole cause for reducing the numbers of island birds, and in some instances eradication of cats has caused a ‘mesopredator release’ effect;[178] where the suppression of top carnivores creates an abundance of smaller predators that cause a severe decline in their shared prey. Domestic cats are, however, known to be a contributing factor to the decline of many species; a factor that has ultimately led, in some cases, to extinction. The South Island Piopio, Chatham Islands Rail,[175] the Auckland Islands Merganser,[179] and the common diving petrel[180] are a few from a long list, with the most extreme case being the flightless Stephens Island Wren, which was driven to extinction only a few years after its discovery.[181][182]

Some of the same factors that have promoted adaptive radiation of island avifauna over evolutionary time appear to promote vulnerability to non-native species in modern time. The susceptibility inherent of many island birds is undoubtedly due to evolution in the absence of mainland predators, competitors, diseases and parasites. In addition to lower reproductive rates and extended incubation periods.[183] The loss of flight, or reduced flying ability is also characteristic of many island endemics.[184] These biological aspects have increased vulnerability to extinction in the presence of introduced species, such as the domestic cat.[185] Equally, behavioural traits exhibited by island species, such as "predatory naivety"[186] and ground-nesting,[183] have also contributed to their susceptibility. Cats and humans Main article: Cats and humans Girl with young cat

Cats are common pets in Europe and North America, and their worldwide population exceeds 500 million.[9] Although cat ownership has commonly been associated with women,[187] a 2007 Gallup poll reported that men and women were equally likely to own a cat.[188]

According to the Humane Society of the United States, as well as being kept as pets, cats are also used in the international fur trade,[189] for making coats, gloves, hats, shoes, blankets and stuffed toys. About 24 cats are needed to make a cat fur coat.[190] This use has now been outlawed in several countries, including the United States, Australia and the European Union.[191] However, some cat furs are still made into blankets in Switzerland as folk remedies that are believed to help rheumatism.[192]

People less often eat cat meat than the flesh of other common domestic animals. Census Estimated domestic cats in top cat-owning countries and regions (millions, rounded to the nearest hundred thousand): Country 	Domestic 	Ref. Feral 	Ref. USA 	93.6 	[193] 	60.0–100.0 	[194] Europe 	60.0 	[195] China 	58.0 	[196] Australia 	2.7 	[197] 	18.0+ 	[198] Russia 	17.8 	[199] Brazil 	11.0 	[200] United Kingdom 	9.0 	[201] 	1.0+ 	[202] France 	10.0 	[203] Japan 	10.0 	[204] Germany 	8.0 	[203] Canada 	7.9–8.5 	[205][206] Italy 	7.5–9.4 	[207][208] Ukraine 	7.4 	[209] Poland 	6.0 	[210] India 	3.9 	[211] Netherlands 	3.0 	[212] Spain 	2.8 	[213] Belgium 	1.7 	[214] Mexico 	13.5 	[215] New Zealand 	2.0 	[216] South Africa 	2.0 	[217] 	7.0 	[218]

There are approximately 220 million domestic cats in the world, according to the International Federation for Animal Health Europe (IFAH).[219]

A few attempts to build a cat census have been made over the years, both through associations or national and international organization (such as the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies's one [220]) and over the net,[221][222] but such a task does not seem so simple to achieve. Feral cats Main article: Feral cat American feral farm cat

Feral cats are domestic cats that were born in or have reverted to a wild state. They are unfamiliar with and wary of humans and roam freely in urban and rural areas.[8] The numbers of feral cats are not known, but estimates of the US feral population range from 25 to 60 million.[8] Feral cats may live alone, but most are found in large groups called feral colonies, which occupy a specific territory and are usually associated with a source of food.[223] Famous feral cat colonies are found in Rome around the Colosseum and Forum Romanum, with cats at some of these sites being fed and given medical attention by volunteers.[224]

Public attitudes towards feral cats vary widely: ranging from seeing them as free-ranging pets, to regarding them as vermin.[225] One common approach to reducing the feral cat population is termed trap-neuter-return, where the cats are trapped, neutered, immunized against rabies and the feline leukemia virus, and then released. Before releasing them back into their feral colonies, the attending veterinarian often nips the tip off one ear to mark the feral as neutered and inoculated, since these cats may be trapped again. Volunteers continue to feed and give care to these cats throughout their lives. Given this support, their lifespan is increased, and behavior and nuisance problems caused by competition for food are reduced.[223] History and mythology Main articles: Cultural depictions of cats and Cats in ancient Egypt 19th century drawing of a tabby cat

Traditionally, historians tended to think that ancient Egypt was the site of cat domestication, owing to the clear depictions of house cats in Egyptian paintings about 3,600 years old.[4] However, in 2004, a Neolithic grave was excavated in Shillourokambos, Cyprus, that contained the skeletons, laid close to one another, of both a human and a cat. The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known feline–human association significantly.[11][226][227] The cat specimen is large and closely resembles the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), rather than present-day domestic cats. This discovery, combined with genetic studies, suggest that cats were probably domesticated in the Middle East, in the Fertile Crescent around the time of the development of agriculture and then they were brought to Cyprus and Egypt.[4]

In ancient Egypt cats were sacred animals, with the goddess Bastet often depicted in cat form, sometimes taking on the warlike aspect of a lioness.[228]:220 The Romans are often credited with introducing the domestic cat from Egypt to Europe;[228]:223 in Roman Aquitaine, a 1st or 2nd century epitaph of a young girl holding a cat is one of two earliest depictions of the Roman domesticated cat.[229] However, it is possible that cats were already kept in Europe prior to the Roman Empire, as they may have already been present in Britain in the late Iron Age.[41] Domestic cats were spread throughout much of the rest of the world during the Age of Discovery, as they were carried on sailing ships to control shipboard rodents and as good-luck charms.[228]:223

Several ancient religions believed that cats are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that they are all-knowing but are mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans. In Japan, the maneki neko is a cat that is a symbol of good fortune. Although there are no sacred species in Islam, some writers have stated that Muhammad had a favorite cat, Muezza.[230] He is reported to have loved cats so much that "he would do without his cloak rather than disturb one that was sleeping on it".[231]

Freyja—the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility in Norse mythology—is depicted as riding a chariot drawn by cats.

Many cultures have negative superstitions about cats. An example would be the belief that a black cat "crossing your path" leads to bad luck, or that cats are witches' familiars used to augment a witch's powers and skills. The killing of cats in Medieval Ypres is commemorated in the innocuous present-day Kattenstoet (cat parade).

According to a myth in many cultures, cats have multiple lives. In many countries, they are believed to have nine lives, but in Italy, Germany, Greece and some Spanish-speaking regions they are said to have seven lives,[232] while in Turkish and Arabic traditions the number of lives is six.[233] The myth is attributed to the natural suppleness and swiftness cats exhibit to escape life-threatening situations.[234] Also lending credence to this myth is the fact that falling cats often land on their feet, using an instinctive righting reflex to twist their bodies around. Nonetheless, cats can still be injured or killed by a high fall.[235] Gallery

*

Egyptian sculpture at the Louvre *

Freyja and her cats *

Maneki-neko

See also Book icon

* Book: Cat

Portal icon 	Cats portal

* Animal testing on cats * Cancer in cats * Cat lady * List of cat breeds * List of cats * List of fictional cats * Lolcat * Pet first aid * Pet door including cat flap * Popular cat names

Cats by location

* Cats in ancient Egypt * Cats in New Zealand * Cats in the United States

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Species Felis catus". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 534–535. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000031. 2. ^ a b c "ITIS Standard Report Page: Felis catus". ITIS Online Database. Reston, Virginia: Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2011. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=183798. Retrieved 14 December 2011. 3. ^ a b Linnaeus, Carolus (1766) [1758] (in (Latin)). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. 1 (12th ed.). Holmiae (Laurentii Salvii). p. 62. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k99004c/f62.chemindefer. Retrieved 2 April 2008. 4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Driscoll, C. A.; MacDonald, D. W.; O'Brien, Stephen J. (2009). "In the Light of Evolution III: Two Centuries of Darwin Sackler Colloquium: From Wild Animals to Domestic Pets – An Evolutionary View of Domestication". Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States 106 (S1): 9971–9978. Bibcode 2009PNAS..106.9971D. doi:10.1073/pnas.0901586106. PMC 2702791. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702791/. 5. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Felis catus domestica". op. cit.. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=727487. Retrieved 14 December 2011. 6. ^ "Housecat". American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2010. http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/housecat. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 7. ^ a b Moelk, Mildred (1944-04). "Vocalizing in the House-cat; A Phonetic and Functional Study". The American Journal of Psychology 57 (2): 184–205. doi:10.2307/1416947. JSTOR 1416947. 8. ^ a b c Rochlitz, Irene (2007). The Welfare of Cats. "Animal Welfare" series. Berlin: Springer. pp. 141–175. ISBN 1-4020-6143-9. 9. ^ a b c Wade, Nicholas (29 June 2007). "Study Traces Cat's Ancestry to Middle East". New York Times (New York: NYTC). http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/science/29cat.html. Retrieved 2 April 2008. 10. ^ "Meet Helen and Aphrodite, Cyprus's Indigenous Cats". China Daily. 3 November 2009. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-11/03/content_8904093.htm. Retrieved 3 November 2009. 11. ^ a b "Oldest Known Pet Cat? 9500-year-old Burial Found on Cyprus". National Geographic News. National Geographic Society. 8 April 2004. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/04/0408_040408_oldestpetcat.html. Retrieved 6 March 2007. 12. ^ Driscoll, Carlos A.; Clutton-Brock, Juliet; Kitchener, Andrew C.; O'Brien, Stephen J. (10 June 2009). "The Evolution of House Cats". Scientific American. New York: Nature Pubg. Group. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-taming-of-the-cat. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 13. ^ a b c Bradshaw; Horsfield, G. F.; Allen, J. A.; Robinson, I. H. (1999). "Feral Cats: Their Role in the Population Dynamics of Felis catus". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 65 (3): 273–283. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(99)00086-6. 14. ^ McKnight, George H. (1923). English Words and Their Background. New York: D. Appleton and Company – via Questia (subscription required). pp. 130. http://www.questia.com/read/59505424/english-words-and-their-background. 15. ^ "Cat". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/28649?rskey=dmMbdW&result=2&isAdvanced=false#eid. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 16. ^ Jean-Paul Savignac, Dictionnaire français-gaulois, s.v. "chat" (Paris: Errance, 2004), 82. 17. ^ "Puss". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/155147#eid27609702. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 18. ^ Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Gramercy Books, 1996, p. 1571. 19. ^ "What do you call a group of ...?". Oxford Dictionaries Online. Oxford University Press. http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/what-do-you-call-a-group-of. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 20. ^ "Tom cat, tom-cat". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/203100#eid18281825. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 21. ^ "Gib, n.2". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/78103?rskey=Z7UU0G&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 22. ^ "Queen cat". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/156212?rskey=c2khr1&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid27437294. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 23. ^ "Sire". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/180366?rskey=YylU4E&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 24. ^ "Dam, n.2". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/46999?rskey=P7m3OJ&result=2&isAdvanced=false#eid. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 25. ^ "Catling". The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/28995?redirectedFrom=catling#eid. Retrieved 1 October 2012. 26. ^ Johnson, Warren; O'Brien, Stephen J. (1997). "Phylogenetic Reconstruction of the Felidae Using 16S rRNA and NADH-5 Mitochondrial Genes". Journal of Molecular Evolution 44 (0): S98–S116. doi:10.1007/PL00000060. . 27. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Felis". ITIS Online Database. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=180586. Retrieved 14 December 2011. 28. ^ Stefoff, Rebecca (2003–11). Cats. New York: Benchmark Books. p. 34. ISBN 0-7614-1577-7. 29. ^ Johnson, Warren E.; Eizirik, E.; Pecon-Slattery, J.; Murphy, W. J.; Antunes, A.; Teeling, E.; O'Brien, Stephen J. (2006). "The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic Assessment". Science 311 (5757): 73–77. Bibcode 2006Sci...311...73J. doi:10.1126/science.1122277. . 30. ^ a b c Mattern, Michelle Y.; McLennan, Deborah A. (2000). "Phylogeny and Speciation of Felids". Cladistics 16 (2): 232–253. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2000.tb00354.x. 31. ^ Masuda, R.; Lopez, J. V.; Slattery, J. P.; Yuhki, N.; O'Brien, Stephen J. (1996). "Molecular Phylogeny of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b and 12S rRNA Sequences in the Felidae: Ocelot and Domestic Cat Lineages". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 6 (3): 351–365. doi:10.1006/mpev.1996.0085. . 32. ^ a b Oliveira, R.; Godinho, R.; Randi, E.; Alves, P. C. (2008). "Hybridization Versus Conservation: Are Domestic Cats Threatening the Genetic Integrity of Wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) in Iberian Peninsula?". Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., B, Biol. Sci. 363 (1505): 295329861. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0052. PMC 2606743. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2606743/. 33. ^ a b c Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Species Felis silvestris". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 536–537. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000057. 34. ^ a b "Opinion 2027". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)) 60. 2003. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110609014212/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/iczn/BZNMar2003opinions.htm. 35. ^ a b c d e f g h i MacDonald, M. L.; Rogers, Q. R.; Morris, J. G. (1984). "Nutrition of the domestic cat, a mammalian carnivore". Annual Review of Nutrition 4: 521–562. doi:10.1146/annurev.nu.04.070184.002513. . 36. ^ a b Baron, Alan; Stewart, C. N.; Warren, J. M. (1 January 1957). "Patterns of Social Interaction in Cats (Felis domestica)". Behaviour 11 (1): 56–66. doi:10.1163/156853956X00084. JSTOR 4532869. 37. ^ Vella, Carolyn M.; Shelton, Lorraine M.; McGonagle, John J.; Stanglein, Terry W. (1999). Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians (4th ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 3. ISBN 0-7506-4069-3. 38. ^ a b Lipinski, Monika J.; Froenicke, Lutz; Baysac, Kathleen C.; Billings, Nicholas C.; Leutenegger, Christian M.; Levy, Alon M.; Longeri, Maria; Niini, Tirri; Ozpinar, Haydar (January 2008). "The Ascent of Cat Breeds: Genetic Evaluations of Breeds and Worldwide Random-bred Populations". Genomics 91 (1): 12–21. doi:10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009. PMC 2267438. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2267438/. 39. ^ a b c Cameron-Beaumont, Charlotte; Lowe, Sarah E.; Bradshaw, John W. S. (2002). "Evidence Suggesting Pre-adaptation to Domestication throughout the Small Felidae". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 75 (3): 361–366. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8312.2002.00028.x. http://www.neiu.edu/~jkasmer/Biol498R/Readings/essay1-06.pdf. Retrieved 29 September 2009. 40. ^ Fogle, Bruce (ed.) (1981). Interrelations Between People and Pets. Charles C. Thomas Publications. ISBN 0-398-04169-5. 41. ^ a b O'Connor, T. P. (2007). "Wild or Domestic? Biometric Variation in the Cat Felis silvestris". International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 17 (6): 581–595. doi:10.1002/oa.913. 42. ^ Nie, W.; Wang, J.; O'Brien, P. C. (2002). "The Genome Phylogeny of Domestic Cat, Red Panda and Five Mustelid Species Revealed by Comparative Chromosome Painting and G-banding". Chromosome Research 10 (3): 209–222. doi:10.1023/A:1015292005631. . 43. ^ Pontius, J. U.; Mullikin, J. C.; Smith, D. R.; et. al (2007). "Initial Sequence and Comparative Analysis of the Cat Genome". Genome Research 17 (11): 1675–89. doi:10.1101/gr.6380007. PMC 2045150. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2045150/. 44. ^ O'Brien, Stephen J.; Johnson, W.; Driscoll, C.; Pontius, J.; Pecon-Slattery, J.; Menotti-Raymond, M. (2008). "State of Cat Genomics". Trends in Genetics 24 (6): 268–279. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2008.03.004. . 45. ^ Sewell, A. C.; Haskins, M. E.; Giger, U. (2007). "Inherited Metabolic Disease in Companion Animals: Searching for Nature's Mistakes". Veterinary Journal 174 (2): 252–259. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.08.017. PMC 3132193. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132193/. 46. ^ O'Brien, Stephen J.; Menotti-Raymond, M.; Murphy, W. J.; Yuhki, N. (2002). "The Feline Genome Project". Annual Review of Genetics 36: 657–686. doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.36.060602.145553. . 47. ^ Hartwell, Sarah (2002–2011 [copyright date]). "Dwarf, Midget and Miniature Cats (Including 'Tea-cup' Cats)". MessyBeast.com. self-published. http://www.messybeast.com/dwarfcats.html. Retrieved 6 March 2007.[self-published source] 48. ^ a b Wilson, Julia (2002–2008 [copyright date]). "Cat World Records". Cat-World.com.au. self-published. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080801204720/http://www.cat-world.com.au/CatRecords.htm. Retrieved 7 September 2012.[self-published source][self-published source] 49. ^ "Feline Veterinary care by The Boston Cat Hospital/Feline Fast Cats". The Boston Cat Hospital. http://www.thebostoncathospital.com/site/view/144926_felinefastfacts.pml. Retrieved 2013-01-10. 50. ^ "Domestic Cat". Animal Bytes. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. 2011. http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/Animal-Bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/carnivora/domestic-cat.htm. Retrieved 14 December 2011. This is a tertiary source that clearly includes information from other sources and names them, but does not cite them in detail. 51. ^ a b Walker, Warren F. (1982). Study of the Cat with Reference to Human Beings (4th Revised ed.). Thomson Learning. ISBN 0-03-057914-7. 52. ^ Gillis, Rick (ed.) (22 July 2002). "Cat Skeleton". Zoolab: A Website for Animal Biology. La Crosse, WI: University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061206105542/http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/zoolab/Table_of_Contents/Lab-9b/Cat_Skeleton_1/cat_skeleton_1.htm. Retrieved 7 September 2012. 53. ^ a b c d e *Case, Linda P. (2003). The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Pr. ISBN 0-8138-0331-4. 54. ^ a b Smith, Patricia; Tchernov, Eitan (1992). Structure, Function and Evolution of teeth. Freund Publishing House Ltd.. p. 217. ISBN 965-222-270-4. 55. ^ Lacquaniti, F.; Grasso, R.; Zago, M. (1 August 1999). "Motor Patterns in Walking". News Physiol. Sci. 14 (4): 168–174. . 56. ^ Christensen, Wendy (2004). Outwitting Cats. Globe Pequot. p. 23. ISBN 1-59228-240-7. http://books.google.com/?id=WmuQQXU6EtAC&pg=PA23. 57. ^ Russell, Anthony P.; Bryant, Harold N. (2001). "Claw Retraction and Protraction in the Carnivora: The Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) as an Atypical Felid". Journal of Zoology 254 (1): 67–76. doi:10.1017/S0952836901000565. 58. ^ Armes, Annetta F. (22 December 1900). "Outline of Cat Lessons". The School Journal (E. L. Kellogg & Co) LXI: 659. http://books.google.com/?id=-_gBAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 12 November 2007. 59. ^ a b Danforth, C. H. (1947). "Heredity of Polydactyly in the Cat". Journal of Heredity 38 (4): 107–112. . http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/4/107.full.pdf. 60. ^ Lettice, Laura A.; Hill, A. E.; Devenney, P. S.; Hill, R. E. (2008). "Point Mutations in a Distant Sonichedgehog Cis-regulator Generate a Variable Regulatory Output Responsible for Preaxial Polydactyly". Human Molecular Genetics 17 (7): 978–985. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddm370. . 61. ^ Kahn, Cynthia M.; Line, Scott (2007). Hollander, Joseph Lee. ed. The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health. Merck. ISBN 0-911910-99-9. 62. ^ Subcommittee on Dog and Cat Nutrition (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. p. 292. ISBN 0-309-08628-0. 63. ^ Adams, T.; Morgan, M. L.; Hunter, W. S.; Holmes, K. R. (1970). "Temperature Regulation of the Unanesthetized Cat During Mild Cold and Severe Heat Stress". Journal of Applied Physiology 29 (6): 852–858. . 64. ^ a b Committee on Animal Nutrition (1986). Nutrient Requirements of Cats (2nd ed.). National Academy Pr. http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=910#toc. 65. ^ Prentiss, Phoebe G. (1959). "Hydropenia in Cat and Dog: Ability of the Cat to Meet its Water Requirements Solely from a Diet of Fish or Meat". American Journal of Physiology 196 (3): 625–632. . 66. ^ Wolf, A. V. (1959). "Potability of Sea Water with Special Reference to the Cat". American Journal of Physiology 196 (3): 633–641. . 67. ^ Morris, J. G.; Rogers, Q. R. (1 December 1978). "Arginine: An Essential Amino Acid for the Cat". Journal of Nutrition 108 (12): 1944–1953. . 68. ^ a b Zoran, D. L. (2002). "The Carnivore Connection to Nutrition in Cats". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 221 (11): 1559–1567. doi:10.2460/javma.2002.221.1559. . http://www.rawessentials.co.nz/media/documents/website%20-zorans_article.pdf.[dead link] 69. ^ Gray, C. M.; Sellon, R. K.; Freeman, L. M. (2004). "Nutritional Adequacy of Two Vegan Diets for Cats". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 225 (11): 1670–1675. doi:10.2460/javma.2004.225.1670. . 70. ^ a b Zaghini, G.; Biagi, G. (2005). "Nutritional Peculiarities and Diet Palatability in the Cat". Vet. Res. Commun. 29 (Supplement 2): 39–44. doi:10.1007/s11259-005-0009-1. . 71. ^ "Cat Health 101: Why Do Cats Eat Grass?". AnimalPlanet.com. op. cit. 16 November 2011. http://animal.discovery.com/healthy-pets/cat-health-101/why-do-cats-eat-grass.html. Retrieved 13 August 2012. 72. ^ Ollivier, F. J.; Samuelson, D. A.; Brooks, D. E.; Lewis, P. A.; Kallberg, M. E.; Komaromy, A. M. (2004). "Comparative Morphology of the Tapetum Lucidum (among Selected Species)". Veterinary Ophthalmology 7 (1): 11–22. doi:10.1111/j.1463-5224.2004.00318.x.. 73. ^ a b Malmström T, Kröger RH (2006). "Pupil shapes and lens optics in the eyes of terrestrial vertebrates". J. Exp. Biol. 209 (Pt 1): 18–25. doi:10.1242/jeb.01959. . 74. ^ Hammond, P.; Mouat, G. S. V. (1985). "The relationship between feline pupil size and luminance". Experimental Brain Research 59 (3): 485–490. doi:10.1007/BF00261338. 75. ^ Loop, M. S.; Bruce, L. L. (1978). "Cat Color Vision: The Effect of Stimulus Size". Science 199 (4334): 1221–1222. Bibcode 1978Sci...199.1221L. doi:10.1126/science.628838. . 76. ^ Schneider, H.; Beller, F. K. (1 April 1993). "The Spectral Sensitivity of Dark- and Light-adapted Cat Retinal Ganglion Cells". Journal of Neuroscience 13 (4): 1543–1550. . http://www.jneurosci.org/content/13/4/1543.full.pdf+html. 77. ^ a b Heffner, Rickye S. (2004–11). "Primate Hearing from a Mammalian Perspective". The Anatomical Record. Part A, Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology 281 (1): 1111–1122. doi:10.1002/ar.a.20117. . Archived from the original on 19 September 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060919003302/http://psychology.utoledo.edu/images/users/74/Primate+Hearing+from+a+Mammalian+Perspective.pdf. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 78. ^ Heffner, Henry E. (May 1998). "Auditory Awareness". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 57 (3–4): 259–268. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(98)00101-4. 79. ^ a b Sunquist, Melvin E.; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild Cats of the World. University of Chicago Press. p. 10. ISBN 0-226-77999-8. 80. ^ Blumberg, M. S. (1992). "Rodent ultrasonic short calls: locomotion, biomechanics, and communication". Journal of Comparative Psychology 106 (4): 360–365. doi:10.1037/0735-7036.106.4.360. . 81. ^ Heffner, Rickye S. (1985). "Hearing Range of the Domestic Cat". Hearing Research 19 (1): 85–88. doi:10.1016/0378-5955(85)90100-5. . http://psychology.utoledo.edu/images/users/74/Audiograms/HearingRangeOfTheDomesticCat_1985.pdf. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 82. ^ Moulton, David G. (1 August 1967). "Olfaction in Mammals". American Zoology 7 (3): 421–429. doi:10.1093/icb/7.3.421. 83. ^ Miyazaki, M.; Yamashita, T; Suzuki, Y.; Saito, Y.; Soeta, S.; Taira, H.; Suzuki, A. (2006). "A Major Urinary Protein of the Domestic Cat Regulates the Production of Felinine, a Putative Pheromone Precursor" (PDF). Chem. Biol. 13 (10): 1071–1079. doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2006.08.013. . 84. ^ a b c Sommerville, B. A. (1998). "Olfactory Awareness". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 57 (3–4): 269–286. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(98)00102-6. 85. ^ Grognet, Jeff (June 1990). "Catnip: Its Uses and Effects, Past and Present". The Canadian Veterinary Journal 31 (6): 455–456. PMC 1480656. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480656/. 86. ^ Tucker, Arthur; Tucker, Sharon (1988). "Catnip and the catnip response". Economic Botany 42 (2): 214–231. doi:10.1007/BF02858923. http://www.springerlink.com/content/f613756573257t02/. 87. ^ "Why Cats Can’t Taste Sweets". Petside. 2012-03-13. http://www.petside.com/article/why-cats-can-t-taste-sweets. Retrieved 2013-01-11. 88. ^ Bradshaw, John W. S. (1 July 2006). "The Evolutionary Basis for the Feeding Behavior of Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) and Cats (Felis catus)". Journal of Nutrition 136 (7): 1927S–1931. . 89. ^ Taylor, E. J.; Adams, C.; Neville, R. (1995). "Some Nutritional Aspects of Ageing in Dogs and Cats". Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 54 (3): 645–656. doi:10.1079/PNS19950064. . 90. ^ Poynter, Dan (2002). The Older Cat: Recognizing Decline and Extending Life (2nd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Para Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 1-56860-076-3. http://books.google.com/?id=Ulx0L3_nkCcC. Retrieved 26 April 2012. 91. ^ Example: "Me-wow! Texas Woman Says Cat is 30 Years Old – Although She Can't Hear or See Very Well, Caterack the Cat Is Still Purring". MSNBC.MSN.com. New York: Microsoft. 30 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20091002231250/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33094898/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals?GT1=43001. Retrieved 30 September 2009. 92. ^ Guinness World Records (reprint ed.). Bantam. 2010. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-553-59337-2. http://books.google.com/?id=hLYzvUvPL3MC&pg=PA320. "The oldest cat ever was Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967 and lived until August 6, 2005 – 38 years and 3 days in total." 93. ^ Kraft, W. (February 1998). "Geriatrics in Canine and Feline Internal Medicine". European Journal of Medical Research 3 (1–2): 31–41. ISSN 0949-2321. . 94. ^ "Cat Care: Spay–Neuter". ASPCA.org. New York: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 2011. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/spay-neuter.html. Retrieved 14 December 2011. This is a tertiary source that clearly includes information from other sources but does not name them. 95. ^ Levy, J. K.; Gale, D. W.; Gale, L. A. (2003). "Evaluation of the Effect of a Long-term Trap–Neuter–Return and Adoption Program on a Free-roaming Cat Population". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 222 (1): 42–46. doi:10.2460/javma.2003.222.42. . http://www.collierferalcatcoalition.org/tnr%20sources/javma.2003.222.pdf.[dead link] 96. ^ a b c d e f "Toxic to Cats". VetInfo.com. 2011. http://www.vetinfo.com/ctoxin.html. Retrieved 14 December 2011. This is a tertiary source that clearly includes information from other sources but does not name them. 97. ^ Williams, R. T. (1 February 1978). "Species Variations in the Pathways of Drug Metabolism". Environmental Health Perspectives 22: 133–138. doi:10.2307/3428562. JSTOR 3428562. PMC 1637137. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1637137/. 98. ^ Rowland, J. (1987). "Incidence of Ethylene Glycol Intoxication in Dogs and Cats Seen at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital". Vet Hum Toxicol 29 (1): 41–44. . 99. ^ Potera, C. (2007). "Chemical Exposures: Cats as Sentinel Species". Environmental Health Perspectives 115 (12): A580. doi:10.1289/ehp.115-a580a. PMC 2137107. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2137107/. 100. ^ Allen, A. L. (1 June 2003). "The Diagnosis of Acetaminophen Toxicosis in a Cat". Canadian Veterinary Journal 44 (6): 509–510. PMC 340185. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC340185/. 101. ^ a b Villar, D.; Buck, W. B.; Gonzalez, J. M. (1998). "Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Acetaminophen Toxicosis and Treatment in Dogs and Cats". Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 40 (3): 156–162. . 102. ^ DeClementi, Camille; Bailey, Keith L.; Goldstein, Spencer C.; Orser, Michael Scott (2004). "Suspected Toxicosis after Topical Administration of Minoxidil in Two Cats". Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 14 (4): 287–292. doi:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2004.04014.x. 103. ^ Bischoff, K.; Guale, F. (1 April 1998). "Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Oil Poisoning in Three Purebred Cats". J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 10 (2): 208–210. doi:10.1177/104063879801000223. . 104. ^ Rousseaux, C. G.; Smith, R. A.; Nicholson, S. (1986). "Acute Pine-Sol Toxicity in a Domestic Cat". Veterinary and Human Toxicology 28 (4): 316–317. . 105. ^ "Antifreeze Warning". Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). Archived from the original on 9 May 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070509041844/http://www.cfainc.org/articles/antifreeze.html. Retrieved 15 May 2007. 106. ^ "Death by Chocolate? Methylxanthine Toxicosis". Veterinary Technician. 2001. http://www.aspcapro.org/mydocuments/download.php?f=l-vettech_0301.pdf. Retrieved 25 August 2009. 107. ^ "Plants and Your Cat". Cat Fanciers' Association. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5mq1hjPbF. Retrieved 15 May 2007. 108. ^ Langston, Cathy E. (1 January 2002). "Acute Renal Failure Caused by Lily Ingestion in Six Cats". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 220 (1): 49–52, 36. doi:10.2460/javma.2002.220.49. . 109. ^ Germain, E.; Benhamou, S.; Poulle, M.-L. (2008). "Spatio-temporal Sharing between the European Wildcat, the Domestic Cat and their Hybrids". Journal of Zoology 276 (2): 195–203. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00479.x. 110. ^ a b Barratt, David G. (1 June 1997). "Home Range Size, Habitat Utilisation and Movement Patterns of Suburban and Farm Cats Felis catus". Ecography 20 (3): 271–280. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1997.tb00371.x. JSTOR 3682838. 111. ^ Randall, Walter; Johnson, R. F.; Randall, S.; Cunningham, J. T. (1985). "Circadian rhythms in food intake and activity in domestic cats". Behavioral Neuroscience 99 (6): 1162–1175. doi:10.1037/0735-7044.99.6.1162. . 112. ^ Jouvet, Michel (1979). "What Does a Cat Dream About?". Trends in Neurosciences 2: 280–282. doi:10.1016/0166-2236(79)90110-3. 113. ^ Pontier, Dominique; Eugenia Natoli (1996). "Male Reproductive Success in the Domestic Cat (Felis catus L.): A Case History". Behavioural Processes 37 (1): 85–88. doi:10.1016/0376-6357(95)00070-4. 114. ^ a b Crowell-Davis, S. L.; Curtis, T. M.; Knowles, R. J. (2004). "Social Organization in the Cat: A Modern Understanding". Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 6 (1): 19–28. doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.013. . http://zoopsy.free.fr/veille_biblio/social_organization_cat_2004.pdf. Retrieved 21 May 2008. 115. ^ a b c d e Bradshaw JW, Goodwin D, Legrand-Defrétin V, Nott HM, J.W. (1996). "Food selection by the domestic cat, an obligate carnivore". Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A Physiol. 114 (3): 205–9. doi:10.1016/0300-9629(95)02133-7. . 116. ^ Jensen, Per (2009). The Ethology of Domestic Animals. "Modular Text" series. Wallingford, England: CABI. ISBN 1-84593-536-5. 117. ^ a b "Cat Behavior: Body Language". AnimalPlanet.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090224154137/http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/behavior/bodylanguageintro.html. Retrieved 7 September 2012. 118. ^ a b Cafazzo, S.; Natoli (2009). "The Social Function of Tail Up in the Domestic Cat (Felis silvestris catus)". Behav. Processes 80 (1): 60–66. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2008.09.008. . 119. ^ Levine, E.; Perry, P.; Scarlett, J.; Houpt, K. (2005). "Intercat Aggression in Households Following the Introduction of a New Cat". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 90 (90): 325–336. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2004.07.006. http://faculty.washington.edu/jcha/330_cats_introducing.pdf. Retrieved 8 April 2009. 120. ^ "The Cat Body: Adolescence and Sexual Maturity". AnimalPlanet.com (Animal.Discovery.com). Discovery Communications. 2007. "Cat Guide" section. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080630205100/http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/body/maturity.html. 121. ^ McComb, K.; Taylor, A. M.; Wilson, C.; Charlton, B. D. (2009). "The Cry Embedded within the Purr". Curr. Biol. 19 (13): R507–508. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.05.033. . 122. ^ a b Ewing, Tom (2006). "A Hairy Dilemma: When Hair Balls Aren't Harmless". Cat Watch. Feline Health Center, Cornell University. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/news/hair.htm. Retrieved 25 August 2009. 123. ^ Boshel, J.; Wilborn, W. H; Singh, B. B.; Peter, S.; Stur, M. (1982). "Filiform Papillae of Cat Tongue". Cells Tissues Organs 114 (2): 97–105. doi:10.1159/000145583. . 124. ^ Moon-Fanelli, Alice. "Feline Compulsive Behavior". Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. http://www.tufts.edu/vet/vet_common/pdf/petinfo/dvm/case_march2005.pdf. Retrieved 21 December 2011. 125. ^ a b Lindell, Ellen M. (December 1997). "Intercat Aggression: A Retrospective Study Examining Types of Aggression, Sexes of Fighting Pairs, and Effectiveness of Treatment". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 55 (1–2): 153–162. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00032-4. 126. ^ Akihiro Yamane; Teruo Doi; Yuiti Ono (1996). "Mating Behaviors, Courtship Rank and Mating Success of Male Feral Cat (Felis catus)". Journal of Ethology 14 (1): 35–44. doi:10.1007/BF02350090. 127. ^ "Aggression Between Family Cats.". The Humane Society of the United States. 2002. Archived from the original on 14 December 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20041214181209/http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/aggression_between_family_cats.html. 128. ^ Pedersen, N. C.; Yamamoto, J. K.; Ishida, T.; Hansen, H. (1989). "Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection". Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 21 (1): 111–29. doi:10.1016/0165-2427(89)90134-7. . 129. ^ a b c Woods M, McDonald RA, Harris S. (2003). "Predation of wildlife by domestic cats Felis catus in Great Britain". Mammal Review 23 (2): 174–188. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2907.2003.00017.x. 130. ^ Clones, Cats, And Chemicals: Thinking Scientifically About Controversial Issues - Page 9, Irwin L. Slesnick - 2004 131. ^ Pests of Crops in Warmer Climates and Their Control - Page 120, Dennis S. Hill - 2008 132. ^ a b Turner, Dennis C.; Bateson, Patrick (eds.) (2000). The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour (2nd ed.). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-63648-5. 133. ^ Nash, Holly. "Why Do Cats Like High Places?". PetEducation.com. Drs. Foster & Smith Inc.. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080102145008/http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1313&articleid=1125. 134. ^ "Falling Cats". Archived from the original on 26 October 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20051026122408/http://www.verrueckte-experimente.de/leseproben_e.html. Retrieved 24 October 2005. 135. ^ Nguyen, Huy D. (1998). "How Does a Cat Always Land on Its Feet?". Dynamics II (ME 3760) Course Materials. Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Medical Engineering. http://helix.gatech.edu/Classes/ME3760/1998Q3/Projects/Nguyen/. Retrieved 15 May 2007. This is a tertiary source that clearly includes information from other sources but does not name them. 136. ^ Leyhausen, Paul (1978). Cat Behavior: The Predatory and Social Behavior of Domestic and Wild Cats. New York: Garland STPM Pr. ISBN 978-0-8240-7017-5. 137. ^ Desmond, Morris (1986). Catwatching: Why Cats Purr and Everything Else You Ever Wanted to Know. Crown Publishing. 138. ^ Kienzle, E. (1994). "Blood Sugar Levels and Renal Sugar Excretion after the Intake of High Carbohydrate Diets in Cats". Journal of Nutrition 124 (12 Supplement): 2563S–2567S. . http://jn.nutrition.org/content/124/12_Suppl/2563S.full.pdf. 139. ^ Bradshaw, John W. S. (April 1997). "Factors affecting pica in the domestic cat". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52 (3–4): 373–379. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01136-7. 140. ^ "Pica: The Un-finicky Feline – Chewing or Eating Cords, Fabric, Houseplants, Etc.". University of California School of Veterinary Medicine. http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/feline_behavior/pica.html. Retrieved 6 September 2009. This is a tertiary source that clearly includes information from other sources but does not name them. 141. ^ Wade, Nicholas (11 November 2010). "For Cats, a Big Gulp With a Touch of the Tongue". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/science/12cats.html. Retrieved 12 November 2010. 142. ^ Poirier, F. E.; Hussey, L. K. (1 July 1982). "Nonhuman Primate Learning: The Importance of Learning from an Evolutionary Perspective". Anthropology and Education Quarterly 13 (2): 133–148. doi:10.1525/aeq.1982.13.2.05x1830j. JSTOR 3216627. 143. ^ Byers, John A.; Bekoff, Marc (1998). Animal Play: Evolutionary, Comparative, and Ecological Perspectives. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 135. ISBN 0-521-58656-9. 144. ^ Hall, Sarah L. (2002). "Object Play in Adult Domestic Cats: The Roles of Habituation and Disinhibition". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 79 (3): 263–271. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00153-3. 145. ^ Hall, Sarah L. (June 1998). "The Influence of Hunger on Object Play by Adult Domestic Cats". Applied Animal Behaviour Science 58 (1–2): 143–150. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00136-6. 146. ^ Norberg, S. T. (November 2002). "Gastrointestinal obstruction". Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 17 (4): 178–183. doi:10.1053/svms.2002.36606. PMC 2391006. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2391006/. 147. ^ "Fat Indoor Cats Need Exercise". Pocono Record. 10 December 2006. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061210/NEWS01/612100320/-1/NEWS. This is a tertiary source that clearly includes information from other sources but does not name them. 148. ^ "Eye Expert Challenges Laser Pen 'Danger'" BBC News, 24 November 1997 149. ^ a b c d e "Prolific Cats: The Estrous Cycle". Veterinary Learning Systems. http://vlsstore.com/Media/PublicationsArticle/PV_23_12_1049.pdf. Retrieved 19 June 2009.[dead link] 150. ^ Aronson, L. R.; Cooper, M. L. (1967). "Penile Spines of the Domestic Cat: Their Endocrine-behavior Relations". Anat. Rec. 157 (1): 71–78. doi:10.1002/ar.1091570111. . http://www.catcollection.org/files/PenileSpines.pdf. 151. ^ Wildt, D. E.; Seager, S. W.; Chakraborty, P. K. (1980). "Effect of Copulatory Stimuli on Incidence of Ovulation and on Serum Luteinizing Hormone in the Cat". Endocrinology 107 (4): 1212–7. doi:10.1210/endo-107-4-1212. . 152. ^ Tsutsui, T.; Stabenfeldt, G. H. (1993). "Biology of Ovarian Cycles, Pregnancy and {seudopregnancy in the Domestic Cat". J. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl. 47: 29–35. . 153. ^ Behrend, Katrin; Wegler, Monika; translated from German by Elizabeth D. Crawford. (1991). The Complete Book of Cat Care: How to Raise a Happy and Healthy Cat. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc.. p. 28. ISBN 0-8120-4613-7. 154. ^ Olson, P. N.; Kustritz, M. V.; Johnston, S. D. (2001). "Early-age Neutering of Dogs and Cats in the United States (A Review)". J. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl. 57: 223–232. . 155. ^ Root Kustritz, Margaret V. (2007). "Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats". Journal of American Veterinary Medicine 231 (11): 1665–1675. doi:10.2460/javma.231.11.1665. . http://www.imom.org/spay-neuter/pdf/kustritz.pdf. 156. ^ Chu, Karyen; Anderson, W. M.; Rieser, M. Y. (2009). "Population characteristics and neuter status of cats living in households in the United States". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234 (8): 1023–1030. doi:10.2460/javma.234.8.1023. . 157. ^ "Why and How Do Cats Purr?". Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/catspurr.html. Retrieved 10 April 2011. 158. ^ Overview of Felidae[dead link] 159. ^ Randerson, James (January 6, 2006). "From Lion to Moggie: How Cats Climbed their Family Tree". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). 160. ^ Say, Ludovic (2002). "Spatio-temporal variation in cat population density in a sub-Antarctic environment". Polar Biology 25 (2): 90–95. doi:10.1007/s003000100316. 161. ^ Frenot, Y.; Chown, Steven L.; Whinam, Jennie; Selkirk, Patricia M.; Convey, Peter; Skotnicki, Mary; Bergstrom, Dana M. (2005). "Biological Invasions in the Antarctic: Extent, Impacts and Implications". Biological Reviews 80 (1): 45–72. doi:10.1017/S1464793104006542. 162. ^ "Ecology of Felis catus". Global Invasive Species Database. Invasive Species Specialist Group. 2006. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=24&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN. Retrieved 31 August 2009. 163. ^ a b Nogales, M.; Martin, A.; Tershy, B. R.; Donlan, C. J.; Veitch, D.; Uerta, N.; Wood, B.; Alonso, J. (2004). "A Review of Feral Cat Eradication on Islands". Conservation Biology 18 (2): 310. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00442.x. 164. ^ "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species: A Selection from the Global Invasive Species Database". The Invasive Species Specialist Group. 2000. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927223530/http://www.issg.org/booklet.pdf. Retrieved 31 August 2009. 165. ^ Robertson, I. D. (1998). "Survey of Predation by Domestic Cats". Aust. Vet. J. 76 (8): 551–554. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1998.tb10214.x.. 166. ^ Beckerman, A. P.; Boots, M.; Gaston, K. J. (2007). "Urban Bird Declines and the Fear of Cats". Animal Conservation 10 (3): 320–325. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00115.x. http://img2.tapuz.co.il/forums/1_102419784.pdf. 167. ^ Courchamp, F.; Chapuis, J. L.; Pascal, M. (2003). "Mammal Invaders on Islands: Impact, Control and Control Impact". Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 78 (3): 347–383. doi:10.1017/S1464793102006061. . 168. ^ Rayner, M. J.; Hauber, M. E.; Imber, M. J.; Stamp, R. K.; Clout, M. N. (2007). "Spatial Heterogeneity of Mesopredator Release within an Oceanic Island System". Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States 104 (52): 20862–20865. Bibcode 2007PNAS..10420862R. doi:10.1073/pnas.0707414105. PMC 2409232. . //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2409232/. 169. ^ Chris R. Dickman (1996). "Overview of the Impacts of Feral Cats on Australian Native Fauna". Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Archived from the original on 13 September 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070913172757/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cat-impacts/pubs/impacts-feral-cats.pdf. Retrieved 28 August 2009. 170. ^ James H, Acharya AB, Taylor JA, Freak MJ (2002). "A case of bitten Bettongs". J Forensic Odontostomatol 20 (1): 10–2. . 171. ^ Glen AS, Dickman CR (2005). "Complex interactions among mammalian carnivores in Australia, and their implications for wildlife management". Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 80 (3): 387–401. doi:10.1017/S1464793105006718. . 172. ^ May, R. (1988). "Control of Feline Delinquency". Nature 332 (6163): 392–393. Bibcode 1988Natur.332..392M. doi:10.1038/332392a0. 173. ^ Liberg, O. (1982). "Food Habits and Prey Impact by Feral and House-based Domestic Cats in a Rural Area in Southern Sweden". Journal of Mammalogy 65 (3): 424–432. doi:10.2307/1381089. JSTOR 1381089. 174. ^ Chucher, P. B.; Lawton, J. H. (1987). "Predation by Domestic Cats in an English village". Journal of Zoology, London 212 (3): 439–455. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1987.tb02915.x. 175. ^ a b Mead, C. J. (1982). "Ringed birds killed by cats". Mammal Review 12 (4): 183–186. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.1982.tb00014.x. 176. ^ Crooks, Kevin R.; Soul, Michael E. (1999). "Mesopredator Release and Avifaunal Extinctions in a Fragmented System". Nature 400 (6744): 563–566. Bibcode 1999Natur.400..563C. doi:10.1038/23028. http://www38.homepage.villanova.edu/jameson.chace/Urban%20Ecology/Crooks&Soule_Mesopredator_release.pdf. 177. ^ Fiztgerald, M. B.; Turner, Dennis C.. Turner & Bateson, op. cit.. ed. Hunting Behaviour of Domestic Cats and Their Impact on Prey Populations. pp. 151–175. 178. ^ Courchamp, F.; Langlais, M. and Sugihara, G. (1999). "Cats protecting birds: modelling the mesopredator release effect". Journal of Animal Ecology 68 (2): 282–292. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2656.1999.00285.x. 179. ^ Stattersfield, A.J.; Crosby, M.J., Long, A.J. and Wege, D.C. (1998). Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. "BirdLife Conservation Series" No. 7. Cambridge, England: Burlington Press. ISBN 0-946888-33-7. 180. ^ Williams, A.J. (1984). Status and Conservation of Seabirds at some Islands in the African Sector of the Southern Ocean. In: Status and Conservation of the World’s Seabirds, ed Croxall, J.P., Evans, P.G.H. & Schreiber, R.W. International Council for Bird Preservation.. Cambridge.. pp. 627–635. 181. ^ Falla, R. A. (1955). New Zealand Bird Life Past and Present. Stiles. 182. ^ Galbreath, R.; Brown, D. (2004). "The Tale of the Lighthouse-keeper's Cat: Discovery and Extinction of the Stephens Island Wren (Traversia lyalli)". Notornis 51: 193–200. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_51-2004/Notornis_51_4_193.pdf. Retrieved 14 December 2011. 183. ^ a b Dowding, J.E.; Murphy, E.C. (2001). "The Impact of Predation be Introduced Mammals on Endemic Shorebirds in New Zealand: A Conservation Perspective". Biological Conservation 99: 47–64. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00187-7. 184. ^ Whiting, M.F.; Bradler, S. and Maxwell, T. (2003). "Loss and Recovery of Wings in Stick Insects". Nature 421 (6920): 264–267. doi:10.1038/nature01313. . 185. ^ WCMC, .; McComb, J., Groombridge, B., Byford, E., Allan, C., Howland, J., Magin, C., Smith, H., Greenwood, V. and Simpson, L. (1992). World Conservation Monitoring Centre.. Chapman and Hall.. ISBN 2-8317-0156-2. 186. ^ Steadman, D.W.; Martin, P.S. (2003). "The Late Quaternary Extinction and Future Resurrection of Birds on Pacific Islands". Earth Science Reviews 61: 133–147. Bibcode 2003ESRv...61..133S. doi:10.1016/S0012-8252(02)00116-2. 187. ^ Abby Ellin (5 October 2008). "More Men Are Unabashedly Embracing Their Love of Cats". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/fashion/05cats.html. Retrieved 30 August 2009. 188. ^ Jones, Jeffrey M. (30 November 2007). "Companionship and Love of Animals Drive Pet Ownership". Gallup, Inc. http://www.gallup.com/poll/102952/companionship-love-animals-drive-pet-ownership.aspx. Retrieved 30 August 2009. 189. ^ "What Is That They're Wearing?". Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on 1 December 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061201153853/http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/What-is-that-they-re-wearing_FurBooklet.pdf. Retrieved 22 October 2009. 190. ^ "EU proposes cat and dog fur ban". BBC News. 20 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6165786.stm. Retrieved 22 October 2009. 191. ^ Ikuma, Carly (27 June 2007). "EU Announces Strict Ban on Dog and Cat Fur Imports and Exports". HSUS.org. Humane Society International. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090217153420/http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/hsi_europe/dog_cat_fur/. Retrieved 14 December 2011. 192. ^ Paterson, Tony (25 April 2008). "Switzerland Finds a Way to Skin a Cat for the Fur Trade and High Fashion". The Independent (London, England). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/switzerland-finds-a-way-to-skin-a-cat-for-the-fur-trade-and-high-fashion-815426.html. Retrieved 23 October 2009. 193. ^ Humane Society of the United States 194. ^ Stray Pet Advocacy 195. ^ European Pet Food Industry Federation 196. ^ U.S. Department of Agriculture "Pet Food Update" (2007) 197. ^ Wildlife Extra 198. ^ New South Wales Game Council 199. ^ U.S. Department of Agriculture "Consumer Trends: Pet Food in Russia" (2009) 200. ^ ExportAmerica 201. ^ BBC News 202. ^ RSPCA 203. ^ a b IFAH 204. ^ Japan Pet Food Association, 2009 (cited in JapanVisitor) 205. ^ 2007 Ipsos-Reid survey cited in BC Nature 206. ^ Nova Scotia SPCA - this number may include ferals) 207. ^ Dundon et al. (2010), "Serologic Evidence of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Infection in Dogs, Italy" 208. ^ Maps of the World (the latter number may include ferals) 209. ^ Maps of the World 210. ^ U.S. Department of Agriculture Pet Food Update (2007) 211. ^ (figure extrapolated using a combination of Dr. Sands' cat-to-human ratios from Cats:500 Questions Answered and CIA population statistics) 212. ^ B.B. Chomel (2010), "Zoonosis in the Bedroom," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 213. ^ (figure extrapolated using a combination of Dr. Sands' cat-to-human ratios and CIA population statistics) 214. ^ Ian Traynor, "Belgium Plans to Neuter Most Cats as the Feline Population Explodes," The Guardian (3 September 2010) 215. ^ Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development Trends in the U.S. Pet Industry (2003) 216. ^ New Zealand Government Department of Conservation 217. ^ Merial 218. ^ Jennifer Copley. [http "How many cats are there?"]. http. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 219. ^ "Representing the European Animal Health Industry". IFAH-Europe. http://www.ifaheurope.org. Retrieved 2013-01-11. 220. ^ "Humane society launches national cat census". http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/07/17/nb-cat-census-1000.html. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 221. ^ "Cats Be". http://www.catsbe.com. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 222. ^ "The Supreme Cat Census". http://www.supremecatcensus.co.za/. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 223. ^ a b "What is the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat?". Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20080501093143/http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/feral_cats/feral_cats_frequently_asked_questions.html#1_What_is_a_feral_cat. 224. ^ "Torre Argentina cat shelter.". http://www.romancats.com/index_eng.php. Retrieved 17 June 2009. 225. ^ Rowan, Andrew N.; Deborah J. Salem (2003–11). "4". The State of the Animals II: 2003. Humane Society Press. ISBN 0-9658942-7-4. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061110230426/http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/hsp/SOA_3-2005_Chap4.pdf. 226. ^ Muir, Hazel (8 April 2004). "Ancient Remains Could Be Oldest Pet Cat". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4867.html. Retrieved 23 November 2007. 227. ^ Walton, Marsha (9 April 2004). "Ancient Burial Looks Like Human and Pet Cat". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/04/08/cats.cyprus/index.html. Retrieved 23 November 2007. 228. ^ a b c Mason, I. L. (1984). Evolution of Domesticated Animals. Prentice Hall Press. ISBN 0-582-46046-8. 229. ^ Veyne, Paul (2002) [1987]. ""The Household and Its Freed Slaves"". The Roman Empire. Arthur Goldhammer (Trans.) (3rd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard College. p. 81. ISBN 0-674-77771-9. http://books.google.com/?id=JmpOH8AVV4EC. 230. ^ Geyer, Georgie Anne (2004). When Cats Reigned Like Kings: On the Trail of the Sacred Cats. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel. ISBN 0-7407-4697-9. 231. ^ Minou Reeves (2000). Muhammad in Europe. New York University (NYU) Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-8147-7533-0. 232. ^ Nora Sugobono (7 March 2010). "Las vidas del gato" (in Spanish). El Comercio. http://elcomercio.pe/impresa/notas/vidas-gato/20100307/423959. Retrieved 19 March 2010. 233. ^ Tim Dowling (19 March 2010). "Tall tails: Pet myths busted". The Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2010/mar/18/guide-to-pets-pet-myths?picture=360591960. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 234. ^ Wachtmeister, Rosina (2008). "Cat Myths, Misinformation and Untruths". Best-Cat-Art.com. self-published. http://www.best-cat-art.com/cat-myths.html. Retrieved 22 November 2008.[self-published source] 235. ^ ASPCA (30 June 2005). "The ASPCA Warns About High-Rise Falls by Cats". New York: About.com. http://cats.about.com/od/catsafety/a/highrisefalls.htm. Retrieved 26 April 2012.