Cats, also referred as Felis catus, house cats and domestic cats are small, cute carnivorous mammals. For cat lovers around the world, who wish to know more about these adorable pets, below is a physiology of cats. To start with, studies reveal that around 69 billion of cats are present in the U.S. homes.
They are the second most favored pets after dogs. They can be interbred and have to be registered as pedigree pets. Human beings value cats very much for their superior companionship and capabilities to hunt rodents.
Researchers suggest that association of cats with human dates back some 9500 years ago. They believed that ancient Egyptians were first to domesticate cats, as they considered cats as religious animals. However, recent study shows that, people in other continents also domesticated cats around the same time.
Cats are expert predators and can hunt more than 1000 types of species. However, cats are easily teachable to obey commands. Some cats learn without training such as they can bolt the lock and work on simple mechanisms.
Their vocalizations vary and they use different body languages to communicate. The common vocalizations include meowing, hissing, grunting and growling.
Size And Skeleton Of Cats:
An adult domestic cat weighs about 4.5 -6.8 kilograms. Female feline weighs anywhere between 6 - 10 pounds, about 2.7 - 4.8 kilograms. The height of the cat is about 8 to 10 inches, which means they are around 20-25 centimeters in height.
The length of cat from its nose tip to the tail base averages between 18- 20 inches (46-51 centimeters) long. The size of the cats also depends on their skeleton size. The skeleton of the cat is very prominent. Their spines (backbone) have more bones because it supports the tail.
Their vertebral columns are not rigid as in human being. However, they are extremely flexible. This peculiar feature of flexibility helps them to bend their backs, twist, and twirl their bodies, so that they can squeeze through minimum gaps.
Secondly, a cat does not possess collarbone (Clavicle). If it had a collarbone, then it may not have been able to slip away through the narrow spaces. The skeleton of the cat is symmetrical and starts from the head region to entire body. The general structure of the cat's skeleton includes of three subunits.
The first skeletal subunit includes appendicular skeleton, which contains bones of fore limbs and hind limbs. The second subunit includes axial skeleton, which contains cranium, ribs, spine, and sternum. Third skeletal subunit is the visceral skeleton, which constitutes parts of other bodily organs such as ossicles (middle ear) and paws.
Functions Of Cat's Skeleton:
Cat's skeleton mainly carries out four functions. First, it supports and shields the body. Secondly, the bones work as levers to execute the muscular action. The skeleton also functions as the storehouse for phosphorous, calcium and other vital elements.
Lastly, cat's skeleton also serves as storage space for RBC (red blood cell), WBC (white blood cells) and fats.
By: Martin Marks
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
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We Have A Litter Box , What More Does My Cat Need?
Cats have seen dramatic shifts in their status throughout history. The ancient Egyptians believed that cats could prevent people from dying, so cats were revered above all other animals. Today, the status of cats in American society has been elevated to new heights, and many people demonstrate this with their loyal devotion and significant investments in their feline friends. If you love your cat as a member of your family, you may be someone who wants to get your cat a little something extra for the house. If you like to spoil your cat with gifts and treats, you may be looking for the latest model in cat furniture to enhance your cat’s living space. If you are interested in more than just a toy and a food dish for your cat, you can show your pet your appreciation for him by getting him modern cat furniture that fits his lifestyle and yours.
There are lots of models and features for you to choose from, how do you know where to start?
Scratching Posts
All cats need to scratch. This is their normal, healthy way of exercising their claw muscles, stretching for muscle tone and removing their old, outer nail sheaths. A scratching post can be an ideal way to accomplish this. Something to call solely his, a scratching post is appealing to your cat and can be very helpful in protecting your other furniture while coming in a variety of designs. You can have your choice in design that is most needed for your cat. There is the traditional post that stands like a miniature Roman column, but there are other varieties as well. Is your cat prone to scratching the floor after a nice doze in the sun? Then also consider a flat scratching lounge, since cats like both vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces. With corrugated cardboard sides and bottom, your cat can nap and scratch all in one place. Are you more interested in protecting your couch, drapes, and other furniture from your cat’s claws? Try transparent adhesives on the legs of your furniture. The upholstery will be protected and your cat can continue to scratch where he chooses.
Cat Trees
Weren’t tree houses always fun for you growing up? A secluded place where you could relax and have a bit of privacy is always a welcome spot. If your cat could talk, she would tell you that she would like to have the same thing, a quiet place to climb and relax. Trees and climbers provide cats with multiple levels they can climb and have the best seats in the house, not to mention scratch if need be. Cats with a bit more energy than others will especially enjoy these pieces of furniture because of its dual functionality: a place to climb and a place to perch. Curious cats can go on an adventure that doesn’t begin on the dining room table.
Cat Beds
Who doesn’t love to curl up in bed on a cold night after a long day? Cat beds are the perfect place for your cat to relax and cozy up with a soft piece of furniture. This is a welcome retreat for your cat that comes in funky colors and designs to best appeal to your personality or your cat’s. Cat beds come in an array of styles from simply a comfy pad or mat, to a bed with soft sides for your cat to sink into, or even an igloo. A cat igloo allows your cat to have a cocoon of warmth and pleasure to sleep in. Similar to a cat bed but includes a roof to enclose it, these models are often made of wool which has been suggested to help with arthritis in humans. If it helps us, then it can also be helpful for your older cat as well.
Cat Treats and Toys
Nothing makes you feel more relaxed than a good dinner and a tasty treat for in between meals. If you want your cat to have the same simple pleasures, and maybe get some extra nutrition into his diet, a tuna flavored cat treat supplement may be just the thing to show your cat how much you appreciate him.
Like a child with boxes and closets full of toys, cats have their favorite toys too that help pass the time throughout the day. Variety is the key for different moods on different days as well. Whether it is made to be filled with catnip or it squeaks to get your cat’s attention, cat toys are an essential part of a cat’s life. Interactive cat toys are the hottest cat toys on the market, and provide you and your cat with opportunities to bond. Everyone needs to carve out some time every day for play and recreation.
By: Kristin Kronstain
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
My Three Cats is a one stop shop for all your online cats needs and wants. You can enhance your living area with cat furniture to give him his own space in the house or allow your cat to play outside in a protected environment. There are furniture designs for the most active and most lazy cats. Whether you are interested in tools for cat grooming, cat dishes, or cat toys, My Three Cats has just what you need for your cat.
There are lots of models and features for you to choose from, how do you know where to start?
Scratching Posts
All cats need to scratch. This is their normal, healthy way of exercising their claw muscles, stretching for muscle tone and removing their old, outer nail sheaths. A scratching post can be an ideal way to accomplish this. Something to call solely his, a scratching post is appealing to your cat and can be very helpful in protecting your other furniture while coming in a variety of designs. You can have your choice in design that is most needed for your cat. There is the traditional post that stands like a miniature Roman column, but there are other varieties as well. Is your cat prone to scratching the floor after a nice doze in the sun? Then also consider a flat scratching lounge, since cats like both vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces. With corrugated cardboard sides and bottom, your cat can nap and scratch all in one place. Are you more interested in protecting your couch, drapes, and other furniture from your cat’s claws? Try transparent adhesives on the legs of your furniture. The upholstery will be protected and your cat can continue to scratch where he chooses.
Cat Trees
Weren’t tree houses always fun for you growing up? A secluded place where you could relax and have a bit of privacy is always a welcome spot. If your cat could talk, she would tell you that she would like to have the same thing, a quiet place to climb and relax. Trees and climbers provide cats with multiple levels they can climb and have the best seats in the house, not to mention scratch if need be. Cats with a bit more energy than others will especially enjoy these pieces of furniture because of its dual functionality: a place to climb and a place to perch. Curious cats can go on an adventure that doesn’t begin on the dining room table.
Cat Beds
Who doesn’t love to curl up in bed on a cold night after a long day? Cat beds are the perfect place for your cat to relax and cozy up with a soft piece of furniture. This is a welcome retreat for your cat that comes in funky colors and designs to best appeal to your personality or your cat’s. Cat beds come in an array of styles from simply a comfy pad or mat, to a bed with soft sides for your cat to sink into, or even an igloo. A cat igloo allows your cat to have a cocoon of warmth and pleasure to sleep in. Similar to a cat bed but includes a roof to enclose it, these models are often made of wool which has been suggested to help with arthritis in humans. If it helps us, then it can also be helpful for your older cat as well.
Cat Treats and Toys
Nothing makes you feel more relaxed than a good dinner and a tasty treat for in between meals. If you want your cat to have the same simple pleasures, and maybe get some extra nutrition into his diet, a tuna flavored cat treat supplement may be just the thing to show your cat how much you appreciate him.
Like a child with boxes and closets full of toys, cats have their favorite toys too that help pass the time throughout the day. Variety is the key for different moods on different days as well. Whether it is made to be filled with catnip or it squeaks to get your cat’s attention, cat toys are an essential part of a cat’s life. Interactive cat toys are the hottest cat toys on the market, and provide you and your cat with opportunities to bond. Everyone needs to carve out some time every day for play and recreation.
By: Kristin Kronstain
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
My Three Cats is a one stop shop for all your online cats needs and wants. You can enhance your living area with cat furniture to give him his own space in the house or allow your cat to play outside in a protected environment. There are furniture designs for the most active and most lazy cats. Whether you are interested in tools for cat grooming, cat dishes, or cat toys, My Three Cats has just what you need for your cat.
House Cats - Should You Keep Your Pet Indoors?
By : Rebecca Prescott
Whether our feline pets should be house cats or allowed to wander outside is a subject people usually have a pre-formed opinion on. For some people, cats are allowed free reign, and can go outside night and day. For others, they are kept strictly indoors all the time. Still other pet owners let them out during the day or under supervision, and keep them in at night.
The question is, who is right? And what's in the best interests of your cat? To answer this, it's a good idea to distinguish between our domestic pets and their wild ancestors. Whilst wild cats lived and hunted outside, cats have been domesticated since ancient times. Not only that, many have been bred to create certain characteristics of color and style. Consequently, they are very different animals. Our domestication and interaction with them, as loving owners who feed, look after, cuddle, and pet them, has had an impact on their psychology, personality, and behaviour. Add to this mix the fact that the outside environment natural to them is now gone. In its' place is a world with automobiles, pet thieves, toxic chemicals, dense population, and other dangers.
In short, not only are our cats different, but the world we share with them is. As a result, it is generally recommended that cats be kept indoors at all times. House cats tend to live longer, they are less susceptible to catching diseases which could be deadly to them, and they avoid the dangers of getting into fights with neighboring felines over territory.
However, because cats often want to go out, many owners think they are depriving their cats of adventure. And perhaps they are, though cats that are provided with a lot of toys and cat trees, can still live happy lives. Many owners also get a second kitten as companionship, so their pets have someone to chase and play with, and so they aren't alone all day when their humans are at work. Ultimately, it comes down to weighing up the dangers with the benefits.
This is a topic that is hard to generalize, as we each live in such unique locations. Some will be in high rise apartments, or near busy roads, or simply in dangerous neighborhoods. In these situations, the choice becomes very clear - keep your cat in the house at all times. And play games with your cat when you get home. They love chasing hands under the doona, or pieces of string attached to a stick (to keep your own hands safe)! And if your house or apartment has some great windows, house cats can still bask in the sun and enjoy fresh air.
If you are fortunate enough to have a backyard, you could consider setting up an enclosed run or pen so your cat can go outside but still be safe. Some people have even erected them on the perimeters of buildings or through gardens so that they can really explore the world outside but not escape.
Some breeds are said to be better suited to being indoor cats. For example, tonkinese are considered to have poor road sense. Having said that, I let my tonkinese cat, as well as my 3 mixed breeds, out to play when I am at home during the day. I don't live on a busy street however, and I don't let them out the front. Plus, I keep an ear out for any sounds of fighting. They always come in before it gets dark, too. I think because they have each other to play with there, they are less likely to look for trouble out of boredom.
Whether your pet is a house-only cat is a matter of individual choice. The benefits to their health and lifespan have to be weighed against possible disadvantages like disease. Plus, your own individual circumstances should be factored in. One thing to keep in mind is that cats do roam at night. This is when a lot of fights happen, and is one of the reasons it is recommended they stay indoors then. One thing is for certain though - with a loving owner who makes sure their pets' needs for affection and play are still met, a house cat is still a happy cat.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Magazines are a great source of qualified information on our feline pets. We review cat fancy magazine here.
Whether our feline pets should be house cats or allowed to wander outside is a subject people usually have a pre-formed opinion on. For some people, cats are allowed free reign, and can go outside night and day. For others, they are kept strictly indoors all the time. Still other pet owners let them out during the day or under supervision, and keep them in at night.
The question is, who is right? And what's in the best interests of your cat? To answer this, it's a good idea to distinguish between our domestic pets and their wild ancestors. Whilst wild cats lived and hunted outside, cats have been domesticated since ancient times. Not only that, many have been bred to create certain characteristics of color and style. Consequently, they are very different animals. Our domestication and interaction with them, as loving owners who feed, look after, cuddle, and pet them, has had an impact on their psychology, personality, and behaviour. Add to this mix the fact that the outside environment natural to them is now gone. In its' place is a world with automobiles, pet thieves, toxic chemicals, dense population, and other dangers.
In short, not only are our cats different, but the world we share with them is. As a result, it is generally recommended that cats be kept indoors at all times. House cats tend to live longer, they are less susceptible to catching diseases which could be deadly to them, and they avoid the dangers of getting into fights with neighboring felines over territory.
However, because cats often want to go out, many owners think they are depriving their cats of adventure. And perhaps they are, though cats that are provided with a lot of toys and cat trees, can still live happy lives. Many owners also get a second kitten as companionship, so their pets have someone to chase and play with, and so they aren't alone all day when their humans are at work. Ultimately, it comes down to weighing up the dangers with the benefits.
This is a topic that is hard to generalize, as we each live in such unique locations. Some will be in high rise apartments, or near busy roads, or simply in dangerous neighborhoods. In these situations, the choice becomes very clear - keep your cat in the house at all times. And play games with your cat when you get home. They love chasing hands under the doona, or pieces of string attached to a stick (to keep your own hands safe)! And if your house or apartment has some great windows, house cats can still bask in the sun and enjoy fresh air.
If you are fortunate enough to have a backyard, you could consider setting up an enclosed run or pen so your cat can go outside but still be safe. Some people have even erected them on the perimeters of buildings or through gardens so that they can really explore the world outside but not escape.
Some breeds are said to be better suited to being indoor cats. For example, tonkinese are considered to have poor road sense. Having said that, I let my tonkinese cat, as well as my 3 mixed breeds, out to play when I am at home during the day. I don't live on a busy street however, and I don't let them out the front. Plus, I keep an ear out for any sounds of fighting. They always come in before it gets dark, too. I think because they have each other to play with there, they are less likely to look for trouble out of boredom.
Whether your pet is a house-only cat is a matter of individual choice. The benefits to their health and lifespan have to be weighed against possible disadvantages like disease. Plus, your own individual circumstances should be factored in. One thing to keep in mind is that cats do roam at night. This is when a lot of fights happen, and is one of the reasons it is recommended they stay indoors then. One thing is for certain though - with a loving owner who makes sure their pets' needs for affection and play are still met, a house cat is still a happy cat.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Magazines are a great source of qualified information on our feline pets. We review cat fancy magazine here.