CONTENTS Your cat from head to tail Cat breeds Choosing your cat Cozy kitty Settling in Catering for kitty Day-to-day care Health and safety Cat behavior Communication Training Fun and games Cat quiz Quiz answers Learning more Glossary Index 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 31 32
YOUR CAT FROM HEAD TO TAIL Cats have lived with humans since the Ancient Egyptians Cats were first welcomed into homes to keep snakes away and protect grain stores from rats and mice Cats are predators so they need to eat meat Their bodies have evolved into expert hunting machines Tail The tail is used for balance and communication and it also has scent glands Two cats may curl their tails together to transfer their scents Spine Their flexible spine allows them to twist when they fall and land on their feet Back legs Powerful back legs act like springs allowing cats to jump up to nine times their height Claws Claws are used for hunting climbing and self-defense A cat’s claws can retract which allows it to silently sneak up on its prey 4
Ears Each ear has about 30 muscles which allow cats to move their ears in many directions They can hear exactly where a sound comes from and easily find their prey Eyes Cats have a layer in their eyes that reflects light so they can hunt in near-darkness This is why cats eyes glow at night Shoulders Their tiny collarbones are attached to the shoulder blades by muscle not bone This allows cats to squeeze through spaces no larger than their head Whiskers Whiskers help cats find their way in low light They warn of anything blocking the cat’s path and help it know Tongue A cat’s tongue has tiny backward-facing spikes to scrape meat from bones and also to help with grooming Nose A cat’s sense of smell is if it will fit through a gap far stronger than ours It has an extra pair of scent organs in the roof of its mouth CAT FACTS If a cat curls its lips and opens its mouth it is using its scent organs to get information about an interesting smell Pet cats usually live for about 15 years but an American cat named Creme Puff died just after her 38th birthday 5
