About The Cat: Our Most Mysterious Friends Yellow Magpie – About The Fascinating

About The Cat: Our Most Mysterious Friends

The domestic house cat is one of the most common of all animals. However, paradoxically, it is also one of the most mysterious creatures to grace the Earth.

Cats (Felis catus) generally average up to 30 cm (1 foot) in height and 50 cm (20 inches) in body length. They can weigh as little as 1.8 kg (3 lbs) right up to 11 kg (23 lbs). One obese cat appears in the Guinness Book of Records with a weight of 21 kg (45 lbs). Cats can live as long as 25 years. Household cats are members of the felid family and are found world-wide with the exception of the Polar Regions. Basically, where ever a human resides a cat is sure to be not far away.

Domestication

It is widely believed that the first cats were tamed by the Egyptians around 5,000 years go. However, more recently, evidence uncovered suggests that it was the Cypriots rather than the Egyptians that were the first to domesticate the cat. What is known is that all contemporary domesticated cats can be traced back to the African Wildcat (Felis lybica).

Grain was a staple diet in Egypt. Large amounts of it were harvested and stored in huge grain storage rooms or silos. However, rats were also attracted to the grain silos. As a consequence, large numbers of cats were attracted to these silos because of the presence of the rats. It is believed that people began to notice that the rodents were been killed by the cats. As a result, the Egyptians started offering food to the cats in the hope that they would stay around and kill more rats.

Soon the higher echelons of Egyptian society began to take note. As the Pharaoh also possessed vast stores of grain, it was in his interest to maintain a healthy relationship between people and cats. The Pharaoh declared the cat a demigod to serve his own agricultural interests. It is thought that if the Pharaoh overtly claimed the cat for his own purposes by claiming exclusive ownership. Some believe there would have been revolt if this action had not been taken. However, declaring the cat to be a half-god ensured that it would thrive as a species. It also allowed Egyptians to interact with them while remaining property of the Pharaoh. Killing a cat was punishable by death. Cats even had their own goddess, Bast.

Domesticated cats spread across to other parts of the world. This was mainly because sailors brought them aboard ships as they set out on voyages to far-distant lands.

Christianity

While the cat was worshipped and idolised during the reign of the Pharaoh, during the spread of Christianity it became a hate figure. The Christian Church and its followers claimed it to be the manifestation of the devil. Cats bore the brunt of this neurosis and were hunted, tortured and roasted alive. The cat population went into a rapid decline. In fact, the Bubonic Plague or ‘Black Death’ has been attributed to an increase in the rat population at the time. This increase was caused because there were not enough cats to reduce the rodent populations which had gotten out of hand.

Unique Animals

Cats actually have two layers of fur. The innermost layer provides insulation whilst the outer layer gives the cat’s coat its colour. Many are surprised by the small spaces that cats can squeeze into. However, a cats actual body is quite small. What you mostly see is just their very thick fur coat.

Another interesting fact about cats is their saliva. Cat’s saliva contains a natural disinfectant and deodourant. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually a protein in cat’s saliva, and not fur, which causes an allergic reaction in some people.

Cat owners should never give their pets milk. Apart from it being unnatural, milk gives cats diarrhoea as many cats are lactose intolerant. It is also believed that central heating causes some cats to moult constantly. This in of itself is not bad. However, they swallow their fur whilst moulting and this in turn reduces the efficiency of digestion.

Cats are highly intelligent animals as most cat owners will attest to. They possess excellent communication skills and have been known to use tools under scientific observation. What is also interesting is that cats display a wider range of personalities than other animal apart from humans.

Mind Altering Parasite

Cats are host to a parasite called Toxoplamosis gondii. Although the parasite is primarily found in cats, it affects all warm-blooded animals. The parasite is transferred by ingesting or imbibing infected cat faeces.

Toxoplasmosis gondii causes quite a serious disease called Toxoplasmosis. Besides physical changes in humans such as lymph swelling, toxoplasmosis causes behavioural changes. Some of the more serious conditions include slower reactions. Men have a tendency to become indifferent and less conscientious about their appearance and everyday habits including work practice. Toxoplasmosis is also linked with jealousy in men.

However, strangely it appears to affect both sexes differently. Women who suffer from the condition are more likely to be sexually permissive. They also display greater levels of conscientiousness than women who are disease-free. Toxoplasma gondii is also believed to be a contributory factor in the onset of schizophrenia.

It is estimated that somewhere between 25% to 40% of all domestic cats have Taxoplasma gondii antibodies present. This means that they have at some stage come into contact with the parasite. However, cat owners can easily prevent their pets from becoming infected by keeping them indoors. Wearing gloves whilst handling ‘kitty litter’ also prevents the transmission of the parasite.

Mystery

For many, the cat is the ultimate paradigm of efficiency. Of all the animals known to man, surely only one can claim to have human servants? Most cat owners have simply no idea what their pets get up to when they are not around. Unbeknownst to most owners is the fact that cats are serial beggars of food and attention. In fact, they spend much of their time scampering around begging other people for food.

They are probably still as mysterious to us today as they were to the ancient Egyptians. Perhaps cats are far cleverer than even they themselves imagine. How many animals have devoted human owners who write titles such as ‘Secrets to Keeping A Cat Happy’.