1. Deseases

2. Habitats

3. Origin of the term

4. Fighting

5. Poisoning

6. Genetics

7. Necessary activities

8. Behaviour

A. The English word 'cat' (Old English catt) is introduced to many languages of Europe from Latin cattus and Byzantine Greek катта, including Portuguese and Spanish gato, French chat, German Katze, Lithuanian kate and Old Church Slavonic kotka, among others. The ultimate source of the word is Af- roasiatic, presumably from Late Egyptian caute, the feminine of caus "wildcat". The word was introduced, together with the domestic animal itself, to the Roman Republic by the first century BC.

B. The domesticated cat and its closest wild ancestor are both organisms that possess 38 chromosomes and roughly 20,000 genes. About 250 heritable genetic disorders have been identified in cats, many similar to human inborn errors. The high level of similarity allows many of these diseases to be diagnosed using genetic tests that were originally developed for use in humans.

C. Cats as well as humans can experience some illnesses. Cats can suffer from a wide range of health problems, including infectious diseases, parasites, injuries, and chronic disease. Vaccinations are available for many of these diseases, and domestic cats are regularly given treatments to eliminate parasites such as worms and fleas.

D. In addition to obvious dangers, cats may be poisoned by many chemicals usually considered safe by their human guardians, because their livers are less effective at some forms of detoxification than those of many other animals, including humans and dogs. Cats may be particularly sensitive to environmental pollutants. When a cat has a sudden or prolonged serious illness without any obvious cause, it has possibly been exposed to a toxin.

E. Domestic cats use many vocalizations for communication, including purring, trilling, hissing, growling or snarling, grunting, and several different forms of meowing. By contrast, feral cats are generally silent. Their types of body language, including position of ears and tail, relaxation of whole body, and kneading of paws, are all indicators of mood. The tail and ears are particularly important social signal mechanisms.

F. Among domestic cats, males are more likely to fight than females. Among feral cats, the most common reason for cat fighting is competition between two males. In such cases, most fights are won by the heavier male. Another common reason for fighting in domestic cats is the difficulty of establishing territories within a small home. Female cats also fight over territory or to defend their kittens.

G. Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of play. This behavior mimics hunting and is important in helping kittens learn to stalk, capture, and kill prey. Cats also engage in play fighting, with each other and with humans. This behavior may be a way for cats to practice the skills needed for real combat, and might also reduce any fear they associate with launching attacks on other animals.