CAT The ENCYCLOPEDIA for KIDS by Joanne Mattern Capstone Young Readers a capstone imprint
Introduction People and cats go way back Judging by the paintings sculptures and even mummies left behind we know that ancient Egyptian people were fond of cats But some archaeologists have found evidence dating back 9500 years indicating cats may have become domesticated in Cyprus long before There are some scientists who believe that this human cat relationship may have an even longer history These scientists did genetic testing that indicated domestication of cats might have begun closer to 12000 years ago Scientists and historians have different theories about how cats became domesticated A popular theory is that people captured cats to help control rodent populations in their homes and on their farms The warmth food and shelter they were given in return encouraged cats to stick around The history of breeding is also complex Humans probably bred these rodent killing cats to be tamer than cats in the wild People also might have begun breeding cats to produce new species with clear physical and behavioral traits This kind of cat breeding is thought to date back as far as 4000 years in ancient Egypt
Today there are 42 distinct cat breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association CFA These cat breeds each have a breed standard defined by the organization which indicates the physical features of each breed that a judge looks for in a cat show The CFA which was founded in 1906 is currently the largest registry of pedigreed cats Get ready to discover twelve of the most popular cat breeds including Abyssinian American Shorthair Birman Exotic Maine Coon Manx Ocicat Oriental Persian Ragdoll Siamese and Sphynx Discover each breed's size and appearance personality and behaviors breed history and care tips You'll learn which cat might be best suited for you and your family and you'll be equipped with everything you need to know to become a successful cat owner
