Domestic Cat Facts, History, Health and More! Why Cats Have Been Domesticated for 9,500 Years

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Small Breed Domestic

Is The Domestic Cat Good For You?

  • 1 Domestic cats serve as wonderful indoor pets that bond well with their owners and are easily adaptable.
  • 2 These famous โ€œlap warmersโ€ have a great memory and love to learn through observation and experience.
  • 3 A Domestic cat tends to be very clever, and love to play tricks and games.

HISTORY

A favored family pet for around 9,500 years, the Domestic Cat (Felis silvestris catus) was originally used by farmers to help keep rodents away from their crops and other livestock. Some believe todayโ€™s Domestic Cat to be a descendant of the North African Felis lybica, while others think they were their own subspecies from the Ancytharian Sea that was domesticated by people later on. While the jury is still out on all of that, we do know that these lovable pets have been with us for a long, long time.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Small, Medium

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    Lifespan

    12 - 15 years

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    Hair Length

    Short, Medium

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    Litter Size

    3 - 4 kittens

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    Male Weight

    An average of 8 pounds

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    Female Weight

    An average of 7 pounds

Personality

The Domestic Cat has a much larger aptitude for learning and memory than they let on. It may seem like they are just napping the day away, but they are carefully observing everything. With careful training, they can be taught to respond to their name, as well as play some simple games, but what is more likely is that the culmination of all their careful observation is their learning how to train you. Domestic cats are also natural hunters, making a great way to keep your home free of mice and other vermin. They are also very loving, and make wonderful lap warmers. .

Color

Domestic Cats can come in any color and any pattern.

Health Concerns

Domestic Cats are generally healthy with an average life span of about 15 years.

Appearance

As far as appearance is concerned, the Domestic Cat comes in as many different shapes and sizes as are possible. There are cats as tiny as 4 pounds, and others tipping the scales at a whopping 20. Some are long haired, others have nothing but skin. Fur can be wavy, straight, curly, coarse, thick, thin, and everything else in between. Their bodies are all extremely muscular and nimble, their eyes are designed to see well in the dark, and their paws all have retractable claws, making them an almost perfect predator.

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