cat
a kind of animal – mammal – four-legged, flesh-eating; with soft hair (fur/coat); sharp teeth and claws; live by hunting other animals; about 40 species (?) kinds found all over the world
There are three categories of cats:
(a)
a common domestic cat
domestic or house cat (family) – small, harmless, feeds on small rodents, such as mice, rats, etc., birds and their eggs, and insects; there are numerous kinds of domestic cats (24 breeds are well known) with differences in colour, size, weight, etc.; live for 14 to 20 years; found all over the world
female ~~ tabby cat, queen
baby ~~ kitten
group ~~ clutter, clowder (adult); kindle (kitten); litter (new born, very young, born to one mother in one delivery)
voice (calls) ~~ miaow, mew, purr, meow (in American English); hiss (when angry)
home ~~ cattery (man-made – a place where cats are looked after when their owners are away on business or holiday)
‘Maine coon cat’, also know as ‘Maine coon, coon cat, Maine cat or the gentle cat’ is the state cat of Maine, USA; Calico Cat, also called ‘tortie’, is the state cat of Maryland, USA; and tabby cat is the state cat of Massachusetts, USA. Cats are supposed to be the second most popular pet in the world. Domestic cats have been known to people for 10,000 years. In ancient times, cats were worshipped in Egypt and some other parts of the old world. In ancient Egypt, if a person killed a cat, he would be killed immediately! Cats are famous for keeping themselves clean, and so have become pets in millions of homes world-wide. The hobby of breeding or keeping pedigree cats is known as ‘cat fancy’. Cats also help people by killing pests and vermin – rats, insects, lizards, etc. The ‘CC or copycat’ is a real cat which is the first cloned domestic cat! (b) medium-sized wild cat (family) – [This category is for our convenience; it is not official. The cats in this category are like a link between the ‘big cats or great cats’ and the ‘domestic or house cats’.]
They are very useful in keeping the number of small animals, such as rats, lizards, insects, etc. under control in an area. They are hunted for sport and for their beautiful skin. Fine and expensive coats, caps, mittens, etc. are made from their skins. These days hunting them without permit or permission is an offense. In addition, animal lovers protest against hunting and/or capture of these animals, and demand the government to ban using the products made from these animals. (c) big cats or great cats – large, ferocious (dangerous); about 30 species (kinds) Some common names under this category are: lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, (puma, mountain lion), snow leopard, (panther), etc.
As they hunt and kill large animals such as wild buffalo, deer, antelope, zebra, etc., they are very useful in keeping the numbers of grass-eating animals under control. They are hunted for their skin, claws and teeth. Their skins are used in decorating big mansions and palaces. They were hunted for sport in olden days, but now hunting them is banned, and if anybody is caught hunting or having any of their body parts in their possession, they are subjected to serious punishment, including prison sentence. They are the national animals of many countries, and used in emblems of many organisations. BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language.
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The ‘Persian cat’ is the national animal of Iran.
C C or Copy Cat, the first cloned domestic cat with its caretaker
a medium sized (wild cat)
Some common names under this category are: bob cat, caracal, lynx, serval, sand cat, black footed cat, wild cat, (cougar or mountain lion), etc.
large (wild) cat
The Siberian tiger is the largest of them all.
About the Author:BC Kumar
