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Cat Characteristics |
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Written by Admin
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Monday, 05 December 2005 |
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Page 1 of 7 Physical
Cats typically weigh between 2.5 and 7 kg (5.5–16 lb); however, some breeds,
such as the Maine Coon can exceed 11.3 kg (25 pounds). Some have been known to
reach up to 23 kg (50 lb), due to overfeeding. This is very unhealthy for the
cat, and should be prevented through exercise (playing) and diet, especially for
cats living exclusively indoors.
In captivity, cats typically live 15 to 20 years, though the oldest-known cat
lived to age 36.[2] Domestic cats tend to live longer if they are not permitted
to go outdoors (reducing the risk of injury from fights or accidents) and if
they are spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering a cat also decreases the risk
of testicular and ovarian cancer, and female cats spayed before their first heat
or litter benefit from reduced risk of mammary cancer.[3] Feral cats living in
modern urban environments often live only two years, or less. Feral cats in
maintained colonies can live much longer; the British Cat Action Trust reported
a 19-year-old feral female. The oldest feral cat was Mark who was maintained by
the British charity Cats Protection and who reached 26 years of age.
Thirty-two individual muscles in the ear allow for a manner of directional
hearing; [4] the cat can move each ear independently of the other. Thus a cat
can move its body in one direction and point its ears in quite another direction
(such as pointing backward toward its owner). Most cats have straight ears
pointing upward. Unlike dogs, flap-eared breeds are extremely rare. (Scottish
Folds are one such exceptional genetic mutation.) When angry or frightened, a
cat will lay its ears back, to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it
makes. Cats conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as
they grow older. Daily durations of sleep are various, usually 12–16 hours, with
13–14 being the average. Some cats can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour
period. The term cat nap refers to the cat's ability to fall asleep for a brief
period; someone who nods off for a few minutes is said to be "taking a cat nap".
A cat's temperament can vary depending on the breed and socialization. Shorter
haired cats tend to be skinnier and more active, while cats with longer hair
tend to be heavier and less active.
The normal body temperature of a cat is between 38 and 39 °C (101 and 102.2
°F).[5] A cat is considered febrile if it has a temperature of 103 °F or
greater, or hypothermic if less than 100 °F. Comparatively, humans have a normal
temperature of approximately 37 °C (97 to 100 °F). A domestic cat's normal heart
rate ranges from 140 to 220 beats per minute, and is largely dependent on how
excited the cat is. For a cat at rest, the average heart rate should be between
150 and 180 bpm, depending upon level of activity.
A popular belief holds that cats always land on their feet. They do usually, but
not always. During a fall, a cat can reflexively twist its body and right itself
using its acute sense of balance and flexibility. [6] It always rights itself in
the same way, provided it has the time to do so during a fall. Certain breeds
that don't have a tail are a notable exception, since a cat moves its tail and
relies on conservation of angular momentum to set up for landing.
Cats, like dogs, are digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones
of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. They are capable of
walking very precisely, placing each hind paw directly in the print of the
corresponding forepaw, minimising noise and visible tracks.
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About Cats