The New International Encyclopædia/Cat

by Ernest Ingersoll

CAT (AS. catt, Ger. Katze, Fr. chat, OF. cat, It. gatto, Sp., Portug. gato, Welsh cath, Corn. cath, Ir., Gael. cat, OChurch Slav. kotelǐ, O. Pruss. catto, cat, Lat. catus, cub; borrowed in Finn. katti, Turk, qadi, Ar. qitt, qutt, Hind. katās; of uncertain origin). The cats are typical æluroid carnivores, constituting the family Felidæ, and well represented by the ubiquitous house-cat, which is considered at length below.

SKULL OF CAT.
a, Tongue-bones of one side.

Cats in general, as a family, are distinguished among carnivores by their uniformity of structure, by the flexibility and strength of the spine, the small head, capable of being turned in any direction, the looseness of the skin, and the exceeding suppleness, quickness, and muscularity, the last especially exhibited in the jaws and in the wonderful arrangement of levers in the limbs. These are correlated with their predatory habits, and manner of procuring their prey, which is by lying in wait, or by stealthy approach, followed by a spring, a clutch of the claws, and a crushing bite. All the anatomy, therefore, represents agility and power in the highest degree; and all cats except two or three of the heaviest (lion, tiger) are arboreal to a greater or less degree. The skull is remarkable for the bony ridges which give attachment to the great jaw-muscles, the immense size of which causes a corresponding increase in the width of the zygomatic arches; and the facial portion, short in all carnivora as compared with herbivora, is here much shorter than in the dog or bear tribes, giving the characteristic roundness to the head. The lower jaw is strongly attached, and capable only of a simple hinge-like motion. The dentition consists of six small incisors in each jaw, large canines, and one permanent molar on each side, that in the upper jaw being small, the lower large and acting against the fully developed premolar in the upper. All are carnassial, for little ‘grinding’ of the food is called for; and the canines of some, as especially of the extinct sabre-toothed tiger, are formidable tusks. The tongue is rough; the intestinal canal very short, being in some species only three times the length of the body. The most striking and characteristic peculiarity of cat-structure, however (though imperfect in one genus—Cynælurus; see Cheeta), is the arrangement for the protrusion and retraction of the claws, by which they are made the principal instruments whereby these creatures get their living. Their plan, as has been said, is to get as near as possible to their animal prey, seize and hold it until they can overcome it by biting through the arteries of the neck (in the case of large quadrupeds) or otherwise put it to death; they cannot chase it down and worry it to death after the manner of dogs. This requires that their toes should be separated, flexible, and capable of a powerful grip, and their claws sharp and hooked. The acquirement of such tools has been accompanied by provision for keeping them out of the animal's way, in the ordinary use of its feet, and at the same time saving them from becoming blunted by contact with the ground, as happens to those of all other clawed animals, by a peculiar arrangement. In the cats, the last (third) phalanx, or tip-bone, of the toe, which carries the claw, does not touch the ground, but it is so modified as to turn up beneath a hood of skin over the end of the bone (second phalanx) next behind it; this it does naturally, when at rest, by virtue of the elasticity of a ligament which passes from it down to the second phalanx, and holds it in place without any conscious effort. From the lower (proximal) end of this claw-bone a powerful flexor tendon runs back beneath the bones of the toe to the leg-muscles, the contraction of which pulls the claw down with a circular motion which drives it and hooks it into the flesh, where it will tear loose before it will let go. Such is the mechanism of the action so familiar and effective in the cat when she is angry and ‘shows her claws.’ The cheeta (q.v.) lacks this power, and correspondingly its predatory habits partake of much that characterizes dogs.

DENTITION OF THE CAT.

Teeth of left side in both jaws; m m, molars; pm pm, pre-molars; c c, canines; i i, incisors.

MECHANISM OF CAT'S CLAWS.

a. Toe at rest (claw sheathed); b, toe in action (claw thrown forward). The illustration shows the elastic ligament which passes from above the root of the claw downward and backward to the distal part of the second phalanx; also the long flexor tendon (which by being pulled backward draws down the claw) passing through the ligamentous loop attached to the under surface of the middle phalanx. The sesamoid bone beneath the distal end of the metacarpal is also shown. (After Mivart.)

Cats are mainly nocturnal in their habits, and the pupils of their eyes, which, as a rule, are vertically linear, are capable of great expansion and contraction, according to the light about them; the lion, however, by virtue of his fearlessness and circumstances generally, is mainly diurnal and has round pupils. The eyesight is good, but at night is supplemented by the highly sensitive feelers (vibrissæ), long hairs projecting from the muzzle and above the eyes, each springing from a follicle from which a special nerve communicates with the brain. The sense of smell, though fairly developed, is inferior to that of dogs and various other animals. The hearing, however, is exceedingly sharp, the resonance of the sound being increased by the great size of the auditory bulla.

Cats are clothed in soft and usually rather long fur, longest in those, such as the ounce, which live in cold regions, and shortest in the desert species, especially the lion, which is further distinguished by a mane in the male sex. Little difference, as a rule, obtains between the sexes in size or appearance; but the kittens are often quite unlike their parents. Their pelts have never entered largely into the fur trade, however, except in the form of tiger-skin floor-rugs, etc. The colors are mainly dark, with a prevalence of reddish or yellowish, and there is a universal and strong tendency toward spottedness (of which striping is another form), the young showing it even where the adult is concolorous, as in the lion, puma, eyra, etc. Arguments have been freely adduced for the value of this coloration in making the cats unnoticeable, but when it is learned that species almost oppositely colored and marked live and hunt under identical circumstances with apparently equal success, the force of the speculation is seriously diminished.

Cats are not gregarious, or coöperative, but live and hunt alone, or in family parties; all are monogamous except the lion; and the reputation which some have for permanent mating is probably deserved only when an annual change of mate is impracticable because of scarcity or competition. They inhabit dens and lairs among rocks, in hollow trees, or dense thickets, without any special preparation, and the number of kittens does not usually exceed two in the large forms, but in the small species may be three, four, or five. These are usually born in the late spring of temperate latitudes or at the opening of the dry season in the tropics; and they remain under the guidance of the mother until nearly full-grown. Though many species are widely distributed, none are migratory, and few wander far, the tiger and leopard being the most inclined, perhaps, to wide ranging. The disposition of most eats is to remain near a settled lair, and through a limited area near by—a disposition recognizable in the attachment to the house and to a favorite corner that distinguishes our house-cats, and makes them loath to change their location and customs. A certain inflexibility seems to characterize their minds, and the secrecy, noiseless stealth, patience, and ruthlessness which belong to their methods of life in the forest have affected their temperaments. The needful savagery of their nature is ingrained and as a rule unyielding to gentler influences in changed conditions. Hence they are, as a class, untamable, the very few exceptions having become the stock of the domesticated races. Most species can be made friendly to man only when kittens, asserting their feral natures and becoming untrustworthy as soon as growth brings sense of power and predaceous instincts. Trainers have subjugated certain species, but they are kept in subjection by fear alone and make their performance unwillingly and without pride or joy in it. A few have been trained to hunt, but none to retrieve, and in general they approach sympathy with man and the attitude of companion and helper far less than dogs, which exceed them in certain directions of intelligence, as, for example, the understanding of mechanical appliances. A cat's expression of its emotions is mainly by ‘lashing’ of the tail or a trembling of its tip, when excited; by spitting, yowls, and screams when very angry, or sexually excited; by plaintive mewings when in trouble or desiring notice; and by a vibrating murmur deep in its throat (purring) when satisfied or contented. The position of the ears is very significant, as in most other animals; and the arching of the back, erection of the hair, and elevation of the tail, so familiar in our house-cats, which thus try to make themselves look as large and terrible as possible in the presence of an enemy, are characteristic of all the smaller forms, though little indulged by the greater kinds. The relation of the cats to mankind generally is one of enmity—they are neighbors dangerous to him or his domestic animals which must be got rid of wherever civilization is to prevail. Hence they have mostly disappeared from thickly settled regions. The lion and tiger were inhabitants of Europe within historic times, but neither is now to be found near the Mediterranean on either side; and even the wildcat is rare in Europe, except in wilder parts. The puma has been exterminated in the United States east of the Plains, and lynxes are uncommon, while the jaguar has quite disappeared north of Central Mexico. In certain long-settled parts, however, jungles and mountain ranges furnish harbors for these beasts, which sally out to destroy human life, as in India and Africa, or to prey upon flocks and herds as in America.

WILD CATS

1. JUNGLE CAT OR CHAUS (Felis chaus).		4. HUNTING CAT OR CHEETAH (Cynœlurus jubatus).
2. CAFFRE CAT (Felis caffra).		5. JAGUAR (Felis onca).
3. EYRA (Felis eyra).		6. OUNCE (Felis uncia).

Fossil Cats.—The Felidæ seem to have been derived from somewhat primitive Miocene carnivores, the sabre-toothed tigers (q.v.) constituting the highly interesting family Nimravidæ, which were themselves evolved from some earlier Eocene creodonts, perhaps Palæonictis and Patriofelis (q.v.).

The true felines appear first in the Lower Miocene of France, where they are represented by Proalurus, and in the Middle Miocene by Pseudoælurus. The genus Felis appears first in the Middle and Upper Miocene of Europe and North America, and later in the Pliocene and Pleistocene of both these continents and also of Asia. As with several other races of animals, the Pliocene and Pleistocene members appear to have been of much larger size and to have inhabited more northerly countries than their modern descendants. The cave lion (Felis spelæa), whose remains are found in the cave deposits of Europe and England, was larger than the modern lion of Asia and Africa, of which species it seems to have been but a variety. Equally large species are known from the American Pleistocene deposits. Fossil remains of many of the existing species of felines are found in the Pleistocene deposits of Europe and southern Asia.

Cats inhabit all parts of the world except Australia, New Zealand, southeast Malaysia, the Polynesian Islands, and Madagascar, the greater number being inhabitants of southern Asia. There are from 40 to 50 species (according to various views of specific rank in certain cases), divided by conservative zoölogists into only three genera—Felis, with 35 to 40 species; Lyncus, the short-tailed cats, 6 species; and Cynœlurus, 1 or perhaps 2 species. Most of these will be found described elsewhere under their names, as Leopard, Lion, Lynx, Ounce, Tiger, etc., or under Wildcat.

Bibliography. Strauss-Durckheim, Anatomie descriptive et comparative du chat (Paris, 1845; anatomical monograph, folio, illustrated); D. G. Elliott, Monograph of the Felidæ (London, 1878-83); Mivart, The Cat (New York, 1892; anatomical and descriptive; illustrations of bones, muscles, etc., and of nearly all the species); Wilder and Gage, Anatomical Technology, as Applied to the Domestic Cat (New York, 1882); Richard and Jennings, Anatomy of the Cat (New York, 1901). See also, bibliography at the end of this article.

The Domestic Cat.—A cat, or cats, formed a part of the domestic circle in various parts of the world before the beginning of human record, and the question of the origin of the varied domestic races known within historic times may only be guessed at. Naturalists have attempted by a study of semi-fossil remains, mummies from ancient Egyptian tombs, a comparison of modern examples with wild forms of similar size, and a study of the reversionary tendencies exhibited by house-cats that return to a feral life, to determine the origin of the race, but have learned nothing definite. The best opinion seems to be that stated by J. E. Harting, F.L.S.: “Several wild species of Egyptian and Indian origin having been ages ago reclaimed, the inter-breeding of their offspring and crossing with other wild species in the countries to which they have been at various times exported has resulted in the gradual production of the many varieties, so different in shape and color, with which we are now familiar.”

CATS

1. EGYPTIAN OR CAFFRE CAT.		3. TORTOISE SHELL CAT.
2. MANX CAT.		4. BROWN TABBY CAT.
5. LONG-HAIRED, SILVER-HAIRED, OR ANGORA CAT.

Domesticated cats seem to have been common in Egypt before the time of the earliest records, for their mummies are coeval with the most ancient human remains and they are depicted on the oldest monuments. The same may, perhaps, be said of India, where they are mentioned in Sanskrit manuscripts at least 2000 years before Christ; and from India they were taken to China, where, however, they seem not to have been generally known until about A.D. 500. It was in Egypt, however, that the animal, which is considered to have been there, at least, the local gloved or Caffre cat (Felis caffra) domesticated, reached its highest importance, both as a mouser in that ‘granary of the world,’ and as an object of affection and veneration. It was naturally connected with the cat-headed moon-goddess Pasht, both by its habits and by the fanciful resemblance of the gradual expansion of its pupil, as darkness came on, to the growth of the moon; was protected by priestly decrees and superstitions of great popular force, and was entombed in elaborate mummy-cases. It is believed that the domestic cats of Europe, whence America received its stock, were derived from Egypt at a comparatively late day. It does not appear that they were known as domestic animals among the Assyrians or early Hebrews, and the mousers in the homes of the early classic Greeks were probably martens (Martes foina). Cats were possessed by the central Europeans of the Bronze Age, and probably came to have more or less admixture with the European wildcats, but the basis of the stock from which our present varieties have descended is, no doubt, the Egyptian domesticated race. The Indian and Chinese may have originated quite separately from Asiatic species.

Domestic eats are now divided by the character and color of the coat, comparative length of tail, etc., into certain varieties recognized by fanciers, according to rules formulated by the societies which hold annual competitive exhibitions in New York, London, and other cities. The principal divisions are two—long-haired, or Asiatic, and short-haired, or European cats. The long-haired varieties are two, the Angora and Persian.

The Angora cat came originally from Angora, and has a small head and rather large tufted ears; the long silky hair should hang in tufts and clusters, shortening toward the end of the tail. The colors are varied, but black and dark-slate colored ones with orange eyes, or blues and whites with light eyes, are most valued.

The Persian is also long-haired, hut is larger in body and the fur is coarser, and increases toward the end of the long tail; the color may be almost any, but deep black with orange eyes is preferred; blue is the next best color.

The short-haired cats are mainly distinguished by their colors, as tortoise-shell, tabby, white, blue (or Maltese), etc. The hair may differ somewhat in length and texture, but in this respect the diversities are too slight and inconstant to count much. Tortoise-shell cats are rather small, long-bodied, and graceful; in color, black, red, and yellow, rich and deep, and disposed in sharply defined patches upon short, close, silky hair. Eyes, bright amber to orange-yellow. The presence of white sets the animal aside into a variety known as Tortoise-shell and White, where the white should be in a distinct blaze on the face and on the breast and legs. All these cats are good mousers, but less affectionate than some others.

Tabby is the name given to banded or brindled cats, in allusion to the wavy pattern of their coats, like the old-fashioned ‘watered’ fabrics from the East once known in commerce as ‘atabi’ and more lately as ‘taffety.’ Four varieties are recognized by fanciers—brown, spotted. blue (or silver), and red tabbies. Good examples of these types must conform to their standard; anything else is simply an unclassed ‘tabby-cat.’ “The brown tabby,” says Huidekoper, “has a ground color of a rich reddish dark brown, with no white, and even, regular bars and bands of solid shining black over every part of the body; these bands must be perfectly distinct, and there must be no spots.” The Spotted Tabby may be of any base color, and is uniformly and equally spotted all over with black spots set in lines. The eyes of both these varieties should be orange. The Blue or Silver Tabby is a rather small, very slender, graceful, close-haired cat, bright blue or else silvery in color, setting off the jet-black narrow bands with great sharpness; cushion of the feet black; long tail, ringed; eyes orange for the blue, yellow for the silver race. The Red Tabby varies from reddish brown to red in base color, having well-defined bands of darker red, and no white whatever; eyes, orange or yellow. This cat is an important factor in breeding tortoise-shells; in fact, 99 per cent. of male tortoise-shell kittens are red tabbies, the females only, as a rule, being proper tortoise-shells. They are good-natured domestic cats, great mousers and hunters for birds; they are also expert fishers. White and short-haired cats form a special class, characterized by eyes of turquoise or clear sky-blue; or, if yellow, there must be no greenish tinge. These are quiet, affectionate cats. very often deaf. Self-Colored cats include those which are of some one solid color, and their eyes should be orange-yellow for the blue (or Maltese, as it is known in America), orange for the black, yellow for the gray, and gold for the red cat. The more uniform the color the better. Black cats and Black-and-White cats are classed separately, and in the latter case the white should be only on the face, muzzle, breast, and claws; the eyes vary from orange-yellow to ‘sea-green.’ The royal cat of Siam reverses this somewhat, being dun, or fawn-color, with black face, ears, tail, and feet. The Manx cat differs from others not only in being tailless (as a rule), but also, like the Siamese variety, has the hindquarters decidedly elevated. A white Manx cat is almost unknown, and black ones are exceedingly rare.

Bibliography. Champfleury, Les Chats (Paris, 1870; anecdotal, illustrated); Hehn, Kulturpflanzen und Hausthiere (Berlin, 1894); G. Rolleston, “On Domestic Cats,” in Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, Vol. II. (London, 1868); H. Weir, Our Cats . . . Varieties, Habits, and Management (New York, 1889); J. Jennings, Domestic and Fancy Cats (London, 1868); G. Stables, Cats: Handbook to Their Classification and Diseases [and] Training (London, 1897); R. H. Huidekoper, The Cat (New York, 1895; standards of form, treatment, etc.); Helen W. Winslow, Concerning Cats (Boston, 1900; discursive); Agnes Repplier, The Fireside Sphinx (New York, 1901; historical and literary).