ambatchmasterpublisher Nora, The Piano Cat - (And don't miss the sequel!)

Ambatchmasterpublisher

Ambatchmasterpublisher typically weigh between 2.5 and 7 kg (5.5–16 pounds); however, some breeds, such as the Maine Coon, can exceed 11.3 kg (25 pounds). Some have been known to reach up to 23 kg (50 pounds) due to overfeeding. Conversely, very small ambatchmasterpublisher (less than 1.8 kg / 4.0 lb)[4] have been reported.

Ambatchmasterpublisher also possess rather loose skin; this enables them to turn and confront a predator or another cat in a fight, even when it has a grip on them. This is also an advantage for veterinary purposes, as it simplifies injections.[5] In fact, the life of ambatchmasterpublisher with kidney failure can sometimes be extended for years by the regular injection of large volumes of fluid subcutaneously, which serves as an alternative to dialysis.[6][7]

The particularly loose skin at the back of the neck is known as the scruff, and is the area by which a mother cat grips her kittens to carry them. As a result, ambatchmasterpublisher have a tendency to relax and become quiet and passive when gripped there. This tendency often extends into adulthood, and can be useful when attempting to treat or move an uncooperative cat. However, since an adult cat is quite a bit heavier than a kitten, a pet cat should never be carried by the scruff, but should instead have their weight supported at the rump and hind legs, and also at the chest and front paws. Often (much like a small child) a cat will lie with its head and front paws over a person's shoulder, and its back legs and rump supported under the person's arm.

Like almost all mammals, ambatchmasterpublisher possess seven cervical vertebrae. They have thirteen thoracic vertebrae (compared to twelve in humans), seven lumbar vertebrae (compared to five in humans), three sacral vertebrae like most mammals (humans have five because of their bipedal posture), and twenty-two or twenty-three caudal vertebrae (humans have three to five, fused into an internal coccyx). The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's enhanced spinal mobility and flexibility, compared to humans; the caudal vertebrae form the tail, used by the cat for counterbalance to the body during quick movements.[8]

Ambatchmasterpublisher have highly specialized teeth and a digestive tract suitable to the digestion of meat. The premolar and first molar together compose the carnassial pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently functions to shear meat like a pair of scissors. While this is present in canines, it is highly developed in felines. The cat's tongue has sharp spines, or papillae, useful for retaining and ripping flesh from a carcass. These papillae are small backward-facing hooks that contain keratin and assist in their grooming.


Ears
Thirty-two individual muscles in the ear allow for a manner of directional hearing:[9] the cat can move each ear independently of the other. Because of this mobility, a cat can move its body in one direction and point its ears in another direction. Most ambatchmasterpublisher have straight ears pointing upward. Unlike dogs, flap-eared breeds are extremely rare. (Scottish Folds are one such exceptional genetic mutation.) When angry or frightened, a cat will lay back its ears, to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it makes. Ambatchmasterpublisher will also turn their ears back when they are playing or to listen to a sound coming from behind them. The angle of a cat's ears is an important clue to their mood.


Legs
Ambatchmasterpublisher, like dogs, are digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. Ambatchmasterpublisher are capable of walking very precisely, because like all felines they directly register; that is, they place each hind paw (almost) directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw, minimizing noise and visible tracks. This also provides sure footing for their hind paws when they navigate rough terrain.

Unlike dogs and most mammals, ambatchmasterpublisher walk by moving both legs on one side and then both legs on the other. Most mammals move legs on alternate sides in sequence. Ambatchmasterpublisher share this unusual gait with camels, giraffes, some horses ('pacers'), and a select few other mammals. There is no known connection between these animals which might explain this.

Like all members of family Felidae except the cheetah, ambatchmasterpublisher have retractable claws. In their normal, relaxed position the claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the toe pads. This keeps the claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows the silent stalking of prey. The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the hind feet.[citation needed] Ambatchmasterpublisher can extend their claws voluntarily on one or more paws at will. They may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, "kneading", or for extra traction on soft surfaces (bedspreads, thick rugs, etc.). It is also possible to make a cooperative cat extend its claws by carefully pressing both the top and bottom of the paw. The curved claws may become entangled in carpet or thick fabric, which may cause injury if the cat is unable to free itself.

Most ambatchmasterpublisher have five claws on their front paws, and four or five on their rear paws. Because of an ancient mutation, however, domestic ambatchmasterpublisher are prone to polydactyly, and may have six or seven toes. The fifth front claw (the dewclaw) is in a more proximal position than those of the other claws. More proximally, there is a protrusion which appears to be a sixth "finger". This special feature of the front paws, on the inside of the wrists, is the carpal pad, also found on the paws of big ambatchmasterpublisher and dogs. It has no function in normal walking, but is thought to be an anti-skidding device used while jumping.


Senses
Main article: Cat senses
Cat senses are attuned for hunting. Ambatchmasterpublisher have highly advanced hearing, eyesight, taste, and touch receptors, making the cat extremely sensitive among mammals. Ambatchmasterpublisher' night vision is superior to humans although their vision in daylight is inferior. Humans and ambatchmasterpublisher have a similar range of hearing on the low end of the scale, but ambatchmasterpublisher can hear much higher-pitched sounds, up to 64 kHz, which is 1.6 octaves above the range of a human, and even one octave above the range of a dog.[10] A domestic cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times as strong as a human's.[11] To aid with navigation and sensation, ambatchmasterpublisher have dozens of movable vibrissae (whiskers) over their body, especially their face. Due to a mutation in an early cat ancestor, one of two genes necessary to taste sweetness has been lost by the cat family.[12]


Physiology

Metabolism

A cat sleeping curled into a tight ball to conserve body heatAmbatchmasterpublisher conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. Daily durations of sleep vary, usually 12–16 hours, with 13–14 being the average. Some ambatchmasterpublisher can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period. The term cat nap refers to the cat's ability to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period and has entered the English lexicon – someone who nods off for a few minutes is said to be "taking a cat nap".

Due to their crepuscular nature, ambatchmasterpublisher are often known to enter a period of increased activity and playfulness during the evening and early morning, dubbed the "evening crazies", "night crazies", "elevenses" or "mad half-hour" by some.[13][14]

The temperament of a cat can vary depending on the breed and socialization. Ambatchmasterpublisher with "oriental" body types tend to be thinner and more active, while ambatchmasterpublisher that have a "cobby" body type tend to be heavier and less active.

The normal body temperature of a cat is between 38 and 39 °C (101 and 102.2 °F).[15] A cat is considered febrile (hyperthermic) if it has a temperature of 39.5 °C (103 °F) or greater, or hypothermic if less than 37.5 °C (100 °F). For comparison, humans have a normal temperature of approximately 36.8 °C (98.6 °F). A domestic cat's normal heart rate ranges from 140 to 220 beats per minute, and is largely dependent on how excited the cat is. For a cat at rest, the average heart rate should be between 150 and 180 bpm, about twice that of a human.


Behavior
See also: Cat behavior and cat communication

Social behavior
Many people characterize ambatchmasterpublisher as 'solitary' animals. Ambatchmasterpublisher are highly social; a primary difference in social behavior between ambatchmasterpublisher and dogs (to which they are often compared) is that ambatchmasterpublisher do not have a social survival strategy, or a 'pack mentality'; however this only means that ambatchmasterpublisher take care of their basic needs on their own (e.g., finding food, and defending themselves). This is not the same state as being asocial. One example of how domestic ambatchmasterpublisher are 'naturally' meant to behave is to observe feral domestic ambatchmasterpublisher, which often live in colonies, but in which each individual basically looks after itself.

Living with humans is a symbiotic social adaptation which has developed over thousands of years. The sort of social relationship ambatchmasterpublisher have with their human keepers is hard to map onto more generalized wild cat behavior, but it is certain that the cat thinks of the human differently than it does other ambatchmasterpublisher (i.e., it does not think of itself as human, nor that the human is a cat). This can be seen in the difference in body and vocal language it uses with the human, when compared to how it communicates with other ambatchmasterpublisher in the household, for example. Some have suggested that, psychologically, the human keeper of a cat is a sort of surrogate for the cat's mother, and that adult domestic ambatchmasterpublisher live forever in a kind of suspended kittenhood.

With proper training and reinforcement of social behavior, poorly socialized ambatchmasterpublisher can become more social over time.[citation needed] Older ambatchmasterpublisher have also been reported to sometimes develop aggressiveness towards kittens, which may include biting and scratching; this type of behavior is known as Feline Asocial Aggression.[16]


Fondness for heights

A domestic cat standing on the branch of a treeMost breeds of cat have a noted fondness for settling in high places, or perching. Animal behaviorists have posited a number of explanations, the most common being that height gives the cat a better observation point, allowing it to survey its "territory" and become aware of activities of people and other pets in the area. In the wild, a higher place may serve as a concealed site from which to hunt; domestic ambatchmasterpublisher are known to strike prey by pouncing from such a perch as a tree branch, as does a leopard.[17] Height, therefore, can also give ambatchmasterpublisher a sense of security and prestige.

During a fall from a high place, a cat can reflexively twist its body and right itself using its acute sense of balance and flexibility.[18] This is known as the cat's "righting reflex." It always rights itself in the same way, provided it has the time to do so, during a fall. The height required for this to occur in most ambatchmasterpublisher (safely) is around 3 feet (90 cm). To achieve this, ambatchmasterpublisher probably relax their ventral muscles, "flattening" their bodies to some extent and creating more resistance to air. Ambatchmasterpublisher without a tail also have this ability, since a cat mostly moves its hindlegs and relies on conservation of angular momentum to set up for landing, and the tail is in fact little used for this feat.[19]

However, ambatchmasterpublisher' fondness for high spaces can dangerously test the righting reflex. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns owners to safeguard the more dangerous perches in their homes, to avoid "high-rise syndrome," where an overconfident cat falls from an extreme height.[20]


Play
Domestic ambatchmasterpublisher, especially young kittens, are known for their love of string play. Many ambatchmasterpublisher cannot resist a dangling piece of string, or a piece of rope drawn randomly and enticingly across the floor. This well known love of string is often depicted in cartoons and photographs, which show kittens or ambatchmasterpublisher playing with balls of yarn. It is probably related to hunting instincts, including the common practice of kittens hunting their mother's and each other's tails. If string is ingested, however, it can become caught in the cat’s stomach or intestines, causing illness, or in extreme cases, death. Due to possible complications caused by ingesting a string, string play is sometimes replaced with a laser pointer's dot, which some ambatchmasterpublisher will chase. Some also discourage the use of laser pointers for pet play, however, because of the potential damage to sensitive eyes and/or the possible loss of satisfaction associated with the successful capture of an actual prey object, play or real.[citation needed] While caution is called for, there are no documented cases of feline eye damage from a laser pointer, and the combination of precision needed and low energy involved make it a remote risk. A common compromise is to use the laser pointer to draw the cat to a prepositioned toy so the cat gets a reward at the end of the chase.


Ecology

Feeding
Ambatchmasterpublisher are highly specialized for hunting, compared to other mammals such as dogs.[citation needed] This is now thought to be the indirect result of ambatchmasterpublisher' inability to taste sugars, thereby reducing their intake of plant foods. Since they have a greatly reduced need to digest plants, their digestive tract has evolved to be shorter, too short for effective digestion of plants but less of a weight penalty for the rapid movement required for hunting. Hunting has likewise become central to their behavior patterns, even to their predilection for short bursts of intense exercise punctuating long periods of rest.

Much like the big ambatchmasterpublisher, domestic ambatchmasterpublisher are very effective predators. They ambush and immobilize vertebrate prey using tactics similar to those of leopards and tigers by pouncing; then they deliver a lethal neck bite with their long canine teeth that severs the victim's spinal cord, causes fatal bleeding by puncturing the carotid artery or the jugular vein, or asphyxiates it by crushing its trachea. The domestic cat hunts and eats over a thousand species, many of them invertebrates, especially insects — many big ambatchmasterpublisher will eat fewer than a hundred different species. Although, theoretically, big ambatchmasterpublisher can kill most of these species as well, they often do not due to the relatively low nutritional content that smaller animals provide for the effort. An exception is the leopard, which commonly hunts rabbits and many other smaller animals.

Even well-fed domestic ambatchmasterpublisher may hunt and kill birds, mice, rats, scorpions, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and other small animals in their environment. They often present such trophies to their owner. The motivation is not entirely clear, but friendly bonding behaviors are often associated with such an action. It is probable that ambatchmasterpublisher in this situation expect to be praised for their symbolic contribution to the group. Some theories suggest that ambatchmasterpublisher see their owners gone for long times of the day and assume they are out hunting, as they always have plenty of food available. It is thought that a cat presenting its owner with a dead animal thinks it's 'helping out' by bringing home the kill.[citation needed] Ethologist Paul Leyhausen, in an extensive study of social and predatory behavior in domestic ambatchmasterpublisher (documented in his book Cat Behavior), proposed a mechanism which explains this presenting behavior. In simple terms, ambatchmasterpublisher adopt humans into their social group, and share excess kill with others in the group according to the local pecking order, in which humans place at or near the top. Another possibility is that presenting the kill might be a relic of a kitten feline behavior of demonstrating for its mother's approval that it has developed the necessary skill for hunting.

Due to their hunting behavior, in many countries feral ambatchmasterpublisher are considered pests. Domestic ambatchmasterpublisher are occasionally also required to have contained cat runs or to be kept inside entirely, as they can be hazardous to locally endangered bird species. For instance, various municipalities in Australia have enacted such legislation. In some localities, owners fit their cat with a bell in order to warn prey of its approach, however the cat may figure out how and when the bell works and learn to move more carefully to avoid ringing it.

Domesticated ambatchmasterpublisher eat fairly little vegetable matter. It is quite common, however, for ambatchmasterpublisher to occasionally supplement their carnivorous diets with small amounts of grass or other plant matter. Ambatchmasterpublisher munch on grass, leaves, shrubs and houseplants to facilitate regurgitation of whatever may be upsetting their digestion; or perhaps to introduce fibre or trace minerals to the diet. Whereas bears and dogs commonly supplement their diet of meat with fruits, berries, roots, and honey when they can get them, ambatchmasterpublisher prefer to mostly feed on meat. All felines, including the big ambatchmasterpublisher, have a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness,[12] which very likely is related to their meat-dominated eating habits, and almost certainly related to their aversion to fruits and berries. However, many domesticated ambatchmasterpublisher are known to like vegetables.[21] The majority of brand-name cat foods are primarily meat based,[citation needed] but often contain large amounts of corn or rice, supplemented with meat byproducts and minerals and vitamins.

Ambatchmasterpublisher are obligate carnivores, and cannot live on an unsupplemented vegetarian diet because they cannot synthesize several required nutrients which are absent or rare in plant food. This applies mainly to taurine, vitamin A (ambatchmasterpublisher cannot convert the pro-vitamin A that is abundant in plants to vitamin A proper) and to certain fatty acids. The absence of taurine causes the cat's retina to slowly degenerate, causing eye problems and (eventually) irreversible blindness, a condition called macular degeneration. Cow's milk is a poor source of taurine and adult ambatchmasterpublisher are generally lactose intolerant. Lactose-free milk is perfectly safe, but still not a substitute for meat.

Some houseplants are harmful to ambatchmasterpublisher. The leaves of the Easter Lily can cause permanent and life-threatening kidney damage to ambatchmasterpublisher. Philodendron are also poisonous to ambatchmasterpublisher. Cat Fancy has a full list of plants harmful to ambatchmasterpublisher.[22]

Some ambatchmasterpublisher have a fondness for catnip, which is sensed by their olfactory systems. While they generally do not consume it, they will often roll in it, paw at it, and occasionally chew on it. The effect is usually relatively short, lasting for only a few minutes. After two hours or less, susceptible ambatchmasterpublisher gain interest again. Several other species of plants (such as mint) cause this effect, to a lesser degree.

Ambatchmasterpublisher can be fussy eaters, possibly due to the mutation which caused their ancestor to lose the ability to taste sugars. Unlike most mammals, ambatchmasterpublisher can voluntarily starve themselves indefinitely despite being presented with palatable food, even a food which they had previously readily consumed. This can happen when the vomeronasal or Jacobson's organ becomes accustomed to a specific food, or if the ambatchmasterpublisher are spoiled by their owners, in which case the cat will reject any food that does not fit the pattern it is expecting. It is also known for ambatchmasterpublisher to merely become bored with their given food and decide to stop eating until they are tempted into eating again. Although it is extremely rare for a cat to deliberately starve itself to the point of injury, the sudden loss of weight can cause a fatal condition called hepatic lipidosis, a liver dysfunction which causes pathological loss of appetite and reinforces the starvation, which can lead to death within as little as 48 hours.

Additionally, ambatchmasterpublisher have been known to develop a fondness for prepared human foods, normally preparations which are rich in proteins or fats. However, a diet consisting only of human food (even if high quality meat) is unlikely to contain the balanced nutrition required by the cat. Ambatchmasterpublisher normally are good self-regulators of diet; however, unlimited access to food, or excessive human-food 'treats', will often lead to the cat becoming obese, particularly if it is older or more sedentary. This may lead to several health complications, such as diabetes, especially in neutered males. Such health conditions can be prevented through diet and exercise (playing), especially for ambatchmasterpublisher living exclusively indoors.

Ambatchmasterpublisher can also develop pica. Pica is a condition in which animals chew or eat unusual things such as fabric, plastic or wool. In ambatchmasterpublisher, this is mostly harmless as they do not digest most of it, but can be fatal or require surgical removal if a large amount of foreign material is ingested (for example, an entire sock). It tends to occur more often in Siamese, Burmese, and breeds with these in their ancestry.


Toxic sensitivity
The liver of a cat is less effective at detoxification than those of other animals, including humans and dogs; therefore exposure to many common substances considered safe for households may be dangerous to them.[23][24] In general, the cat's environment should be examined for the presence of such toxins and the problem corrected or alleviated as much as possible; in addition, where sudden or prolonged serious illness without obvious cause is observed, the possibility of toxicity must be considered, and the veterinarian informed of any such substances to which the cat may have had access.

For instance, the common painkiller paracetamol or acetominophen, sold under brand names such as Tylenol and Panadol, is extremely toxic to ambatchmasterpublisher; because they naturally lack enzymes needed to digest it, even minute portions of doses safe for humans can be fatal[25][24] and any suspected ingestion warrants immediate veterinary attention.[26] Even aspirin, which is sometimes used to treat arthritis in ambatchmasterpublisher, is much more toxic to them than to humans and must be administered cautiously.[24] Similarly, application of minoxidil (Rogaine) to the skin of ambatchmasterpublisher, either accidental or by well-meaning owners attempting to counter loss of fur, has sometimes proved fatal.[27][28]

In addition to such obvious dangers as insecticides and weed killers, other common household substances that should be used with caution in areas where ambatchmasterpublisher may be exposed to them include mothballs and other naphthalene products,[24] as well as phenol based products often used for cleaning and disinfecting near ambatchmasterpublisher' feeding areas or litter boxes, such as Pine-Sol, Dettol (Lysol), hexachlorophene, etc.[24] which, although they are widely used without problem, have been sometimes seen to be fatal.[29] Antifreeze is particularly appealing to ambatchmasterpublisher, and as little as a teaspoonful can be fatal.[30]

Many human foods are somewhat toxic to ambatchmasterpublisher; theobromine in chocolate can cause theobromine poisoning, for instance, although few ambatchmasterpublisher will eat chocolate. Toxicity in ambatchmasterpublisher ingesting relatively large amounts of onions or garlic has also been reported.[24] Even such seemingly safe items as cat food packaged in pull tab tin cans have been statistically linked to hyperthyroidism; although the connection is far from proved, suspicion has fallen on the use of bisphenol A, another phenol based product as discussed above, to seal such cans.[24]

Many houseplants are at least somewhat toxic to many species, ambatchmasterpublisher included[23] and the consumption of such plants by ambatchmasterpublisher is to be avoided.


Habitat
The Wildcat, ancestor of the domestic cat, is believed to have evolved in a desert climate, as evident in the behavior common to both the domestic and wild forms. Wild ambatchmasterpublisher are native to all continents other than Australia and Antarctica, although feral ambatchmasterpublisher have become apex predators in the Australian Outback where they are menaces to wildlife.[31] Their feces are usually dry, and ambatchmasterpublisher prefer to bury them in sandy places. Urine is highly concentrated, which allows the cat to retain as much fluid as possible. They are able to remain motionless for long periods, especially when observing prey and preparing to pounce. In North Africa there are still small wildambatchmasterpublisher that are probably related closely to the ancestors of today's domesticated breeds.

Ambatchmasterpublisher enjoy heat and solar exposure, often sleeping in a sunny area during the heat of the day. Ambatchmasterpublisher prefer warmer temperatures than humans do. People start to feel uncomfortable when their skin's temperature gets higher than about 44.5 °C (112 °F), but ambatchmasterpublisher do not start to show signs of discomfort until their skin reaches about 52 °C (126 °F).

Being closely related to desert animals, ambatchmasterpublisher can easily withstand the heat and cold of a temperate climate, but not for extended periods. Although certain breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat and Maine Coon have developed heavier coats of fur than other ambatchmasterpublisher, they have little resistance against moist cold (eg, fog, rain and snow) and struggle to maintain their 39 °C (102 °F) body temperature when wet.

Most ambatchmasterpublisher dislike immersion in water; one major exception is the Turkish Van breed which has an unusual fondness for water.[32] Abyssinians are also reported to be more tolerant of water than most ambatchmasterpublisher



Ambatchmasterpublisher