What are cats?
Cats belong to the same family as lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs. Unlike these big cats, house cats do not roar. Instead, they purr and growl.
House or domestic cats are small mammals that have lived among people for thousands of years. Mammals are warm-blooded animals. This means they must maintain a constant body temperature, regardless of how warm or cold their environment may be.
Cats belong to the same family as lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs. Unlike these big cats, house cats do not roar. Instead, they purr and growl.
House or domestic cats are small mammals that have lived among people for thousands of years. Mammals are warm-blooded animals. This means they must maintain a constant body temperature, regardless of how warm or cold their environment may be.
What do they look like?
Cats differ in appearance. They can be big or small. They are covered with fur. They can have short or long fur and one breed even has no hair. Their fur comes in different colours including orange, brown, grey, white, and black. Some cats have coats with stripes or spots.
Cats differ in appearance. They can be big or small. They are covered with fur. They can have short or long fur and one breed even has no hair. Their fur comes in different colours including orange, brown, grey, white, and black. Some cats have coats with stripes or spots.
The cats’ head includes the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and whiskers. The eyes are used for seeing objects. Cats are able to see well even in dim light. Their eyes are open wide when they are interested and alert. The black center of their eye is called the pupil. It narrows to a diamond shaped slit when there is a lot of light.
The ears are funnel shaped. They draw sound into the inner ear so that the cats can judge where the sound is coming from. The ears are sensitive cats can hear even the softest sounds.
The nose has no fur covering, it is a sensitive organ used to smell and recognise objects.
Below the nose is the mouth. Inside the mouth are pointed teeth that grind food and a rough tongue often used for drinking and grooming.
Below the nose is the mouth. Inside the mouth are pointed teeth that grind food and a rough tongue often used for drinking and grooming.
Cats have special hairs called whiskers on their cheeks. The whiskers are long, stiff hairs with sensitive nerve endings at the roots. Cats use their whiskers to feel objects around them in the dark. Cats use the length of their whiskers to tell them if they can get through tight spaces. They also use them for sensing temperature.
Where do cats live?
Cats can be found all around the world, except in Antarctica. Domestic cats live in your homes in the city or in country areas. Most cats like to hunt outside in the garden and sleep inside the house. Many cats are beginning to live indoors all the time to protect native animals.
Cats can be found all around the world, except in Antarctica. Domestic cats live in your homes in the city or in country areas. Most cats like to hunt outside in the garden and sleep inside the house. Many cats are beginning to live indoors all the time to protect native animals.
How long do cats live?
Cats can live for a long time, especially if they live indoors. On the average, they live for about 12 to 16 years. As they get older, they may sleep more and need extra care.
What do they eat?
Cats are carnivores. They eat meat. In the wild they feed on small rodents, fish, and birds. They have strong jaws that can grab and hold onto their prey. They also have dagger-like teeth that can shear and slice meat.
House cats do not usually need to hunt food. They are often fed with cat food that can be bought in pet stores. Barn or farm cats usually have a job of hunting and eating mice. Perhaps that is why people first kept cats.
Cats are carnivores. They eat meat. In the wild they feed on small rodents, fish, and birds. They have strong jaws that can grab and hold onto their prey. They also have dagger-like teeth that can shear and slice meat.
House cats do not usually need to hunt food. They are often fed with cat food that can be bought in pet stores. Barn or farm cats usually have a job of hunting and eating mice. Perhaps that is why people first kept cats.
What do they do?
Cats run.
When they run, they push off with both back legs at the same time but place the front paws down separately.
Cats leap.
They leap by flexing their leg muscles and balancing with their tails.
How do cats grow?
Young cats are born live. Young cats are called kittens. Kittens are born blind and helpless. Their mother feeds them milk and keeps them clean. They start to open their eyes when they are 5 to 10 days old. At 2 weeks they get their baby teeth.
Young cats are born live. Young cats are called kittens. Kittens are born blind and helpless. Their mother feeds them milk and keeps them clean. They start to open their eyes when they are 5 to 10 days old. At 2 weeks they get their baby teeth.
After 4 to 6 weeks, the kittens become less dependent on their mother. They have their adult teeth and start to eat solid food. Kittens can leave their mother, and they are ready to be placed in new homes.
They grow up quickly. After one year, they are considered adults.
They grow up quickly. After one year, they are considered adults.
What are the different breeds of cat?
There are more than 40 different kinds or breeds of cats. They come in different shapes and sizes. Some have a long coat while others have short fur. There are also many different coat shades and colours. Some coats also have patches or spots.
Here are some examples of cat breeds.
There are more than 40 different kinds or breeds of cats. They come in different shapes and sizes. Some have a long coat while others have short fur. There are also many different coat shades and colours. Some coats also have patches or spots.
Here are some examples of cat breeds.
What do I do next?
Click on the picture, 'Cats' to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the text about "Cats" to complete your note-taking. Click on the 'About Cats' picture to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the text about "Cats" to help you write the missing words. |
Click on the 'Finding the Evidence' picture to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the text about "Cats" to answer the 3 questions. Click on the 'Vocabulary' picture to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the text about "Cats" to help you find the missing words. |
Click on the picture, 'Cat Notes' to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the text about "Cats" to complete your note-taking. Click on the 'Why do cats knead?' picture to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the website below, 'PETMD' to find your information. It is a video clip. Now write a short paragraph answering the question. |
Click on the 'Finding the Evidence' picture to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the text about "Cats" to answer the 6 questions. Click on the 'About Cats' picture to download.
Print the page to the Library printer. Use the audio about 'About Cats' to help you write the missing words. Listen to and stop it as you need. |
Photograph Credits
In order of appearance.
My photograph 'Allie' a moggy rescue cat
My photograph 'Charlie' a moggy rescue cat
My photograph 'Lucy' a Ragdoll cat
https://www.facebook.com/woolandthegang/posts/waiting-for-your-yarn-delivery-the-second-you-placed-the-order-like-httpsgooglxg/10155798043108938/
https://www.pbs.org/video/cat-tales-lhavhy/
https://wallhere.com/en/wallpaper/659675
https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-grooming/cats-meticulous-nature/
https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-cat-whiskers
https://www.care.com/c/stories/6554/are-indoor-cats-happy/
https://me.me/i/did-you-know-on-average-cats-spend-2-3-of-every-1182002
http://veterinary-tips.ucoz.com/blog/does_the_size_of_your_cat_39_s_kibble_matter/2016-02-01-1910
https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/954797/why-do-cats-purr/
https://altaonline.com/the-happiest-cats-on-earth/
https://katzenworld.co.uk/2014/09/10/mews-the-amazing-cat-world-records/
https://www.animalfriends.co.uk/blog/why-does-my-cat-lick-me/
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/320388960965298617/
https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/cats/cat-breeds/siamese/
https://perfectpets.com.au/pets/cats/cat-breeds/cat-breeders/persian
https://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/15554-ginger-british-shorthair-male-cat
https://perfectpets.com.au/pets/cats/cat-breeds/cat-breeders/scottish-fold
https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/cats/cat-breeds/sphynx-pet-insurance/
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/bengal-cat.htm
https://www.australianmistcats.co.uk/pages/mists.html
In order of appearance.
My photograph 'Allie' a moggy rescue cat
My photograph 'Charlie' a moggy rescue cat
My photograph 'Lucy' a Ragdoll cat
https://www.facebook.com/woolandthegang/posts/waiting-for-your-yarn-delivery-the-second-you-placed-the-order-like-httpsgooglxg/10155798043108938/
https://www.pbs.org/video/cat-tales-lhavhy/
https://wallhere.com/en/wallpaper/659675
https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-grooming/cats-meticulous-nature/
https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-cat-whiskers
https://www.care.com/c/stories/6554/are-indoor-cats-happy/
https://me.me/i/did-you-know-on-average-cats-spend-2-3-of-every-1182002
http://veterinary-tips.ucoz.com/blog/does_the_size_of_your_cat_39_s_kibble_matter/2016-02-01-1910
https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/954797/why-do-cats-purr/
https://altaonline.com/the-happiest-cats-on-earth/
https://katzenworld.co.uk/2014/09/10/mews-the-amazing-cat-world-records/
https://www.animalfriends.co.uk/blog/why-does-my-cat-lick-me/
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/320388960965298617/
https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/cats/cat-breeds/siamese/
https://perfectpets.com.au/pets/cats/cat-breeds/cat-breeders/persian
https://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/15554-ginger-british-shorthair-male-cat
https://perfectpets.com.au/pets/cats/cat-breeds/cat-breeders/scottish-fold
https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/cats/cat-breeds/sphynx-pet-insurance/
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/bengal-cat.htm
https://www.australianmistcats.co.uk/pages/mists.html