What class of animal is a cat according to biology? - briefly
A cat belongs to the class Mammalia, characterized by the presence of hair and the ability to nurse their young with milk.
What class of animal is a cat according to biology? - in detail
In biological classification, a cat belongs to the class Mammalia, which is characterized by several distinct features shared by all mammals. Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates that possess hair or fur at some stage of their development. They have mammary glands, which in females produce milk to nourish their young. Cats, like all mammals, have a four-chambered heart, a diaphragm separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and a highly developed brain, particularly in areas related to sensory perception and coordination. Additionally, mammals have three middle ear bones—the malleus, incus, and stapes—which are crucial for hearing. Cats are further classified within the order Carnivora, which includes animals primarily adapted for a meat-based diet, and the family Felidae, encompassing all species of cats, both wild and domestic. The domestic cat, scientifically known as Felis catus, exhibits typical mammalian traits such as giving birth to live young (viviparity), nurturing their offspring, and maintaining a constant body temperature through endothermy. This classification places cats firmly within the broader framework of mammalian biology, highlighting their evolutionary relationships and physiological characteristics.