All About Cats [antikvár]

The history of the catThere are millions of cats; more than four and a half million in Britain alone, ranging from those whose parents, and grandparents, are prize-winners, to the familiar tabby or ginger tom we see snoozing by the fireside.The cat evokes strong emotions. You love cats, or hate them, are allergic to their fur, and scared of their inscrutable stare; or offer them slavish devotion to which, after all, they are due; for in common with the Imperial Pekingese, our andent friend, the cat, has to come to terms with a less revered life in the western hemisphere.Cats, wild and tameThe history of the cat can be traced back millions of years, to a small weasel-like creature, the miacis, which was the forerunner of many animals, including dogs, hyenas, bears and civets. It was from the civets that the Felidae or felines (cat family) evolved.The cat still closely resembles, and shares many characteristics with the larger members of the feline race; the lions, tigers, leopards and cheetahs, which one sees in the zoo. It has the same rough tongue, and razor-sharp teeth and, because it walks on its toes, it is able to stalk its prey stealthily. In common with the big cats, it has retractable claws and a long, supple body; its paws are cushioned with pads for quiet stalking and, with the exclusion of the Manx cat variety, its long tail is an aid to balance.Little is known about the very first domestic or pet cats. It is thought that by living close to, and being fed by humans, the smaller wild cats, probably the Caffre-Kaffir of Africa gradually became tame. Possibly they mated with other smaller, wild cats, becoming the ancestors of the pet cats we have today. The Kaffir cat still looks very like one of the modern varieties, the Abyssinian.Man's friendFrom paintings on the walls of tombs, statues, and mummified cats found in little wooden coffins, we can be sure that cats were treasured by the Ancient Egyptians more than four thousand years ago. They became the guardians of the granaries by keeping downLeft: The appealing gaze of ttie kitten tieips to make tlie cat one of Britain's most popular pets.