Send This Page to a Friend

Identifying Members of The Cat Family


What distinguishing characteristics make a cat a cat?


Members of the cat family are quite easy to identify. They differ
widely in size, color, and markings, but all look catlike. They
have long, rather slender but powerfully built bodies.

The head seems quite large and the legs short when compared with
the body size. All parts of the body fit together smoothly to
give overall balance and structural smoothness.

Some animals called cats are not. The polecat is a member of the
weasel family, and in the United States the name polecat is also
used for the skunk. The bashful cat of Asia is really a
loris--one of the primates. The tiger cat of Australia is a
marsupial, and its proper name is dasyure.

Although the members of the cat family are reasonably easy to
identify by outward appearance, they share much more than this
apparent likeness. They may live in vastly different
surroundings: open grassy plains, dense jungles, thick
swamplands, or dry deserts. Most seem to like warm climates, but
some live in the Far North and others in the severe cold of
Central Asia. Wherever they are found, however, they have basic
characteristics in common that mark them as cats.

All cats move in the same way. They walk on the tips of their
toes, not on the soles of their feet as do humans and many other
kinds of animals. At a medium speed they trot, much as a horse
does. But when they are trying to hunt down prey or escape a
human hunter, they really want speed, and so they move in great,
bounding leaps that cover ground rapidly. The cheetah is the
fastest of all land mammals and has been clocked at speeds of up
to 70 miles per hour. But all cats, even the domestic cat, are
capable of very rapid acceleration from a standing start.

All cats can swim, and many are excellent fishermen. The ancient
Egyptians used cats not only as hunters of mice but as catchers
of fish as well. Some cats can and do swim for pleasure, and
some--especially the tiger--can swim for long distances. Many
cats, however, avoid water and will take to it only as a last
resort when there is no other means of escape from a threatening
enemy.

All cats except the tiger and cheetah can climb. Lions climb
poorly, but they often like to climb out on the low limbs of
trees to stretch out with feet dangling. On this perch they can
sun themselves, catnap, and survey a small part of their
territory. All cats have extremely acute and accurate vision, and
their senses of hearing and smell are exceptionally keen.

Members of the cat family, including the domestic cat, are among
the most highly specialized of all the meat-eating animals for
hunting game. Cats are solitary animals and usually hunt alone. A
notable exception is the lion, which lives in a group called a
pride and may cooperate with others while hunting. A cat pursues
its game with noiseless stealth, moving across the ground on
padded feet that make no sound. It is a superb stalker and can
wait absolutely motionless for long periods until the moment
comes to strike. When that moment comes, it gathers all its
forces for the spring to attack. These forces are, of course, its
muscles, which have enormous power and bulk in proportion to the
animal's size. They are attached to the skeleton, in which each
bone is adjusted to others in such a way that they form an
extraordinary system of springs and levers that can propel the
body in the final spring. At the attack, the claws--which are
sharper and more strongly curved than those of any other
mammal--are unsheathed, and the great canines and scissorslike
carnassials are bared. In the face of the swiftness, fury, and
power of such an attack, the surprised prey has little chance for
escape or for survival. Every cat works in this same way, whether
it is a domestic cat attacking a mouse or a wild cat attacking a
deer.

The furs of cats have long been prized for their beauty and
warmth. Coats may be striped, spotted, barred, or solid. Many
solid-color cats may be born with markings that fade as they
mature. Extensive hunting of exotic striped and spotted cats has
caused them to become rare. In recent years laws to protect them
from extinction have been enacted.

Does your kitty just play with it's food?


If so, then perhaps you should consider providing your
Precious feline companion with a Dining Experience they
will Never Forget!


Your Kitty Deserves the Ultimate in Feline Cuisine


     Check out Alfred's Favorite Feline Dining Experience Here




We Care So Much About Your Life's Companion.....

That, if for any reason you are not satisfied....
with your purchase, and don't see a big difference in your feline friend.....

We offer you a 30 day, no questions asked Money
Back Guarantee! Send back an empty bag or bottle and get your money back!

You have nothing to lose by trying our Daily Nutritional System
for One month.....except maybe:


    Fewer and less vet bills

    A Healthier kitty

    A kitty with a Shinier coat

    A kitty with More Energy and get up and go

    Knowing that you are giving your friend the best chance
        possible at living the longest and healthiest life


"My Cat Tigger hates healthy foods! 
Iams, Hills Science, every one I try. My cat loves your
food! It's just amazing how she goes for it. Thanks."

Tami Wilkinson 


"I had to write and tell you that Mooka is eating the Lifes
Abundance dry food all by itself. She usually turns her nose up at
dry food, even the best "brand names." So needless to say I am
sold, and am going to order More of the REALLY GOOD STUFF,
Life's Abundance. You can quote me." 

Marelin Thornton

See Also:

Back to All Cat Care & Kitty Fun Stuff

Find Really Cool Pet Info - Search This Site

Custom Search