Cat

The domestic cat, also known as the house cat, is a small carnivorous mammal that belongs to the family Felidae ¹. It is the only domesticated species in this family ¹. The domestication of cats occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC ¹. The cat is commonly kept as a house pet and farm cat, but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact ¹. It is valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin ¹. Because of its retractable claws, it is adapted to killing small prey like mice and rats ¹. It has a strong flexible body, quick reflexes, sharp teeth, and its night vision and sense of smell are well developed ¹. It is a social species, but a solitary hunter and a crepuscular predator ¹. Cat communication includes vocalizations like meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting as well as cat body language ¹. Female domestic cats can have kittens from spring to late autumn in temperate zones and throughout the year in equatorial regions, with litter sizes often ranging from two to five kittens ¹. Domestic cats are bred and shown at events as registered pedigreed cats, a hobby known as cat fancy ¹. Animal population control of cats may be achieved by spaying and neutering, but their proliferation and the abandonment of pets has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, contributing to the extinction of bird, mammal and reptile species ¹..

Source: Conversation with Bing, 10/30/2023
(1) Cat - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat.
(2) Cat | Breeds & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/cat.
(3) cat - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help. https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/cat/352924.
(4) Domestic cat - National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/domestic-cat.