Cats - everything you need to know about breeds, care, behavior

Domesticating Cats: A Historical Perspective

Views: 4 987. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Archaeological findings provide invaluable insights into the historical relationship between humans and cats, offering a glimpse into the process of cat domestication. The earliest evidence of human-feline interactions dates back to around 9500 years ago in Cyprus, where both wildcat remains and human artifacts were discovered together.

The Global Cat Population: Trends and Demographics

Views: 4 280. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Accurate estimation of the worldwide feline population relies on a combination of direct and indirect data sources. Household questionnaires collect owner‑reported numbers of pet cats, while veterinary clinic registries provide records of neutered, vaccinated, and treated animals.

The Anatomy of a Predator: Physical Characteristics of Big Cats

Views: 1 726. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

The jaw muscles of big cats, such as lions and tigers, are remarkably powerful and play a critical role in their predatory behavior. These muscles, primarily the masseter and temporalis, enable the cat to exert immense force when clamping down on prey.

Exploring the Diversity of Cat Breeds Worldwide

Views: 1 544. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

The origins of cat domestication can be traced back to ancient civilizations, providing a fascinating insight into the evolution of various feline breeds worldwide. Archaeological evidence suggests that cats were first domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East.

Understanding the Behavioral Differences Between Cats and Dogs

Views: 1 119. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

The behavioral differences between cats and dogs are profoundly shaped by their evolutionary histories, with cats exhibiting a more solitary nature while dogs display a pack mentality. This dichotomy is rooted in their distinct origins: whereas cats have descended from small, independent predators like the African wildcat, dogs have evolved from wolves, which are social creatures that thrive in groups.

The Impact of Cats on Modern Culture and Media

Views: 1 090. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Viral cat videos and memes dominate online traffic, generating billions of views across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Short-form clips featuring cats performing unexpected actions-jumping onto keyboards, reacting to laser pointers, or delivering comedic vocalizations-trigger high engagement rates, prompting algorithms to prioritize similar content.

Instruction: how to choose the perfect scratching post for a kitten.

Views: 91. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Choosing an appropriate scratching surface directly influences a kitten’s physical and mental well‑being. A well‑designed post supports musculoskeletal development, maintains claw integrity, and mitigates stress‑related behaviors. Muscle and joint health - Vertical or angled surfaces encourage natural stretching, strengthening forelimb muscles and promoting flexible spine movement.

Instruction: what the «loaf» position in cats means.

Views: 54. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

The “loaf” posture-where a cat sits with its paws tucked neatly under its body, resembling a loaf of bread-communicates a specific set of internal states and environmental assessments. Recognizing this position allows owners to interpret a cat’s comfort level, vigilance, and readiness for interaction.

Instruction: how to prepare a cat for a trip so that it doesn't turn into a disaster.

Views: 266. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Traveling with a cat introduces a set of physiological, behavioral, and logistical obstacles that differ markedly from those encountered with other pets. Cats are territorial by nature; displacement can trigger stress responses that manifest as aggression, urination outside the litter box, or refusal to eat.

Instruction: why a cat doesn't drink water next to its food.

Views: 58. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Domestic cats retain behavioral patterns inherited from their wild progenitors, the solitary hunters of arid environments. Those ancestors captured small prey that provided most of the moisture required for survival; consequently, they did not need to combine drinking with feeding.

Food for Sterilized Cats: Myth or Necessity?

Views: 77. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

Sterilization induces a marked decline in circulating estrogen and progesterone in female cats and a reduction in testosterone in males. The loss of gonadal hormones diminishes the metabolic rate by approximately 10‑15 %, leading to lower basal energy expenditure.

Instruction: why a cat purrs so loudly.

Views: 50. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02.

The laryngeal muscles and diaphragm form the core of the acoustic engine that generates a cat’s unusually loud purr. The intrinsic laryngeal muscles-particularly the cricothyroid, arytenoid, and vocalis-adjust tension on the vocal folds, creating rapid oscillations during both inhalation and exhalation.

Instruction: how to teach a cat to respond to its name if it ignores it.

Date of published: 2025-10-01.

Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59.

Cats often ignore their names because owners rely on inaccurate ideas about feline behavior. These misconceptions shape training methods and reduce effectiveness. Cats are indifferent to human speech and cannot learn name recognition. Ignoring a name signals deliberate defiance rather than lack of association.

Instruction: why cats love to knock things off tables and shelves so much.

Date of published: 2025-10-01.

Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59.

Cats exhibit a striking tendency to dislodge objects from tables and shelves, a behavior that has puzzled owners and researchers alike. The phenomenon stems from a combination of sensory, predatory, and environmental factors that trigger innate responses.

Instruction: how to tell if your cat is healthy by its whiskers.

Date of published: 2025-10-01.

Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59.

Understanding whiskers is essential for evaluating feline health. Each whisker, or vibrissa, is a highly innervated hair rooted deeply in the follicle. The follicle contains a blood supply and nerve endings that transmit tactile information about the environment.