Cat is a favorite pet of people around the world. Cats are intelligent and have an independent nature. These small animals can also be playful and entertaining. Many are affectionate, loyal pets, providing companionship for people of all ages.
The word cat also refers to a family of meat eating animals that include tiger, lions, leopards, and panthers. This also includes domestic cats – that is, those that people keep as pets. Domestic cats and their wild relatives share many characteristics. All these animals have long, powerful bodies and somewhat rounded heads. They have short, strong jaws and 30 sharp teeth. Member of the cat family are skillful hunters. They are able to catch other animals by approaching them swiftly and quietly on padded feet. Or they may wait motionless until an animal comes close and they spring upon it suddenly.
This article deals with domestic cats. These animals have many special physical abilities. They see better in dim light than people do. They can climb trees, run at high speed, and leap long distances. Cats also have a keen sense of balance and can easily walk along the tops of narrow fences of along narrow ledges. When cats fall, they almost always land on their feet.
Cats vary in personality an in certain physical features, such as the length and colour of their coats. There are many breeds of cats. Special characteristics set each breed apart from all others. Among the favorite breeds are Siamese, Burmese and Persians
No one knows exactly when the first cats were tamed. But some authority believes cats were tamed about 5,000 years ago. Throughout history, people have valued cats for their skill at hunting and killing mice, rats, and snakes. Cats help keep farms, homes and businesses free of these pests. The ancient Egyptians considered cats scared. Today, people in many societies believe cats bring good fortune. But some people associate cats with bad luck and so fear them. Many people find cats mysterious because they move swiftly and silently and because their eyes seems to glow in the dark.
The grace and beauty of cats have made them favorites subjects of artists throughout history. Cats have also been featured in almost every type of literature. They appear in the mythology of ancient Greece and Rome. Hundreds of years ago, Oriental writers praise cats in their stories and poems. Cats are also commonly mentioned in the fairy tales, folklore, and legends of many countries. In modern times, books, comic strips, films, and television programmed have featured these popular animals.
