CAT, DOMESTIC

also called house cat, (species Felis catus), domesticated member of the family Felidae, order Carnivora. Like all felids, domestic cats, the smallest members of the family, are characterized by supple, low-slung bodies, finely molded heads, long tails that aid in balance, and specialized teeth and claws that adapt them admirably to a life of active hunting. Domestic cats possess other features of their wild relatives in being basically carnivorous, remarkably agile and powerful, and finely coordinated in movement. It is noteworthy that the ancestors of the other common household pet, the dog, were social animals that lived together in packs in which there was subordination to a leader, and the dog has readily transferred its allegiance from pack leader to human master. The cat, however, has not yielded as readily to subjugation. Consequently, the house cat is able to revert to complete self-reliance more quickly and more successfully than most domesticated dogs. For an account of the relationship of the family of cats to other carnivores, see carnivore. Additional reading Patricia Dale-Green, Cult of the Cat (1963, reissued as The Archetypal Cat, 1983), is a historical study of humankind's long relationship with felines. Cat behaviour is discussed in Michael W. Fox, Understanding Your Cat (1974), a book for the layperson; Dennis C. Turner and Patrick Bateson (eds.), The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behavior (1988), a collection of research studies on various aspects of cat behaviour, for readers with some scientific knowledge; Bonnie Beaver, Veterinary Aspects of Feline Behavior (1980), a detailed review of behaviour problems and their interpretation and treatment; Paul Leyhausen, Cat Behavior: The Predatory and Social Behavior of Domestic and Wild Cats (1979; originally published in German, 1956), an academic treatise on wild and domestic cat behaviour; and Desmond Morris, Catwatching (1986; also published as Cat Watching, 1987), an informative and entertaining book. Books on cats as pets include Muriel Beadle, The Cat (1977); Gino Pugnetti, Simon and Schuster's Guide to Cats, trans. from Italian, ed. by Mordecai Siegal (1983), a useful handbook for cat owners; William J. Kay and Elizabeth Randolph, The Complete Book of Cat Health (1985); Terri McGinnis, The Well Cat Book (1975), a layperson's guide to cat care; and David Taylor, You & Your Cat (1986), which provides excellent advice on cat health maintenance and on recognition of health problems. More technical health-care books include Lon D. Lewis, Mark L. Morris, and Michael S. Hand, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 3rd ed. (1987), a review of cat and dog nutritional requirements and diet-related health problems; and Robert C. McClure, Mark J. Dallman, and Phillip D. Garrett, Cat Anatomy (1973), one of the standard veterinary textbooks. Detailed descriptions of various cat breeds and information about cat clubs and shows in various countries may be found in Grace Pond (ed.), The Complete Cat Encyclopedia (1972). George MacBeth and Martin Booth, The Book of Cats (1976), is an anthology of art, prose, and poetry that focuses on cats; while Fernand Mry, The Life, History, and Magic of the Cat (1967; originally published in French, 1966), is a comprehensive review of the cat in history, art, myth, and society. Michael W. Fox