The Domestic Cat lives alongside people across the United States, in homes or roaming outdoors. Coat colors and patterns vary widely, and cats are most active at dawn and dusk. Free-roaming cats hunt birds and small mammals.

Appearance

Appearance
Adults typically weigh about 9–11 lb (4–5 kg) and measure around 18 in (46 cm) from head to base of tail. Males are usually larger than females, and coat color and pattern vary widely.
Voice
They meow, purr, trill, hiss, and growl, and also use body language and scent marking.

Look-alikes

BobcatLynx rufus

A bobcat has a short, stubby tail and often small tufts on its ears. Most house cats have a longer tail, even when their coats are spotted.

Why they get mixed upA spotted house cat can look like a small wildcat.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Homes
  • Neighborhoods
  • Farms
  • Parks
  • Cities
Range
Found wherever people live, on every continent except Antarctica. In the US, cats live as indoor pets, outdoor pets, and free-roaming .
When it’s recorded

Recorded year-round, every year

20,458 observations in the US · 10 years · for reference

Behavior

Diet
Cats are built for a meat-based diet and need nutrients found in animal products. Complete and balanced cat foods are made to supply those needs.
Activity
Most active at dawn and dusk, and they typically sleep 12–16 hours a day.
Senses
Cats see well in dim light, hear high-pitched sounds far beyond human range, and have a keen sense of smell. They can't taste sweetness.

Life cycle

Gestation
About 63–65 days
Litter size
2–6 kittens
Time to maturity
Cats can breed from as young as about 4 months old, which is why spaying and neutering matter for controlling outdoor cat numbers.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife
In the US, free-roaming cats are estimated to kill 1.3–4.0 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals each year. These are broad national estimates, not counts of individual cats.
Parasites
  • Toxoplasma parasiteToxoplasma gondii

    This parasite completes part of its life cycle in cats, and infected cats may shed a microscopic egg-like stage in their feces.

Name and classification

About the name
The domestic cat has also been called Felis silvestris catus.
Varieties and forms
Domestic cats include many breeds, such as Maine Coons and Persians, as well as mixed-breed cats with varied coats.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
25 sources
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Domestic Cat (Felis catus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo