Marla has a PhD in Special Education, has taught students at the elementary and middle school levels and currently teaches future teachers.
They are known for being cute and cuddly, but not all cats look alike. Cats come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. However, there are some similarities. All cats like have four legs with paws and sharp claws. Most cats have tails - some are short, and some are long. Most cats have fur. In fact, they have more than 100,000 hairs per square inch of their body compared to humans who have around 800 hairs per square inch.
There are some interesting facts about cats' bodies. For one thing, they have very flexible backs with up to 52 vertebrae (or parts of their backbone). Humans only have 33. Also, kittens, or baby cats, are born with temporary teeth that they lose before they become a full grown cat. Then, they get adult teeth, just like humans.
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There are thousands of different species of cats, each with their various personality and way that they react to certain situations. However, there are some ways that most cats act. Kittens tend to be super sleepy and are asleep between 16 and 18 hours a day. Kittens sleep so much because their bodies release a hormone that makes them grow when they are sleeping.
Have you ever seen a cat licking itself? Cats lick themselves to keep clean. In fact, if you look up close as a cat's tongue, it has little prickles on it, and it looks like a hairbrush. Just think of it as a primping time for the cat.
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You can tell a lot about a cat based on its body language, such as the way it positions its ears and tail. For example, if a cat's ears are pricked up, this means that the cat is alert and interested. If the ears are flattened and off to the side, this means that the cat is afraid. If a cat's tail is straight up, this means that he is in a good mood. If the tail is bristled or fluffy, this means that the cat is nervous and might become aggressive.
Let's talk about domestic cats or cats kept as pets. They are also known as indoor cats. Cats are the most popular pet in the United States, and more than 25% of households have at least one cat. There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with approximately 40 recognized breeds. Sometimes, domestic breed cats are not kept as pets and live in the wilderness. They are called feral cats and can survive on their own. Here are a few domestic cats:
• Siamese: With beautiful gray and black coats and piercing blue eyes, these cats are very loving and loyal to their owners.
• Sphynx: Hairless cats commonly used as therapy cats for people who need comfort.
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There are also larger cats that live in the wild. These cats should not be kept as pets and should remain in their natural habitat of the mountains or jungle. Here are a few examples:
• Siberian Tiger: This is the biggest wildcat in the world and can weigh up to 700 pounds!
• Cheetah: These are the fastest animals in the world and can run faster than a car on the highway!
From their young kitten years to adulthood, cats are pretty amazing creatures. Some are domestic and live as indoor pets, some are feral and survive on their own, and some are big wildcats, like the cheetah. If this lesson didn't help you learn more about cats, I'd say 'You've cat to be kitten me right meow' (see what I did there?)!
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