Cat Family

The cat family, Felidae, order Carnivore, contains about 36 species that are usually grouped into two to four genera, depending on the classification system used. According to the common system, four genera exist; Panthera (Jaguar, Leopad, Lion, Tiger), Neofelis (closded leopard), Acinomys (Cheetah), and Felis (lynx, puma, and smaller cats such as the domestic cat, pailas's cat, and the wild cat). Cats are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica.

Cats have short, rounded heads, erect ears, and large eyes with vertical slit pupils. There are 28 to 30 teeth, depending on the species. The canines, or fangs, are large and strong and used for stabbing prey. The carnassials, a pair of teeth on each side of the jaw - the last upper premolar and the first lower for cutting meat. The tongue is covered with sharp, curved projections (papilae) used for rasping meat off bones, cleaning the fur, and drinking. The neck is thick and heavy to withstand the shocks of the violent action of the head and teeth.

Cats have five toes on each front foot and four toes on each hind foot and are known as digitigrade, that is, they walk on the anatomical equivalent of human fingertips and toetips, the fifth digit, or thumb (dewclaw), is carried high on the leg. All cats except the cheetah have large, curved, sharp claws that can be retracted into sheaths on the toes to prevent them from becoming blunted. The fastest four legged animal in short spurts, runs down its prey in an overland chase.

Cats range from 50 cm to 3.75 m (20 in to 12.3 ft) in combined head and body length, excluding the tail, and from 2.5 to 275 kg (5.5 to about 600 lb) in weight. Most cats have one or two litters a year, but some of the larger cats may breed only once in 2 or 3 years. Litters average one to six young, which are usually born blind but covered with hair. Cats may be solitary, live in pairs, or associate in family groups.