Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758

Body language and vocalizations are ways in which domestic cats communicate with conspecifics. Relaxed individuals often have their ears forward and whiskers relaxed. Adults display contentedness via purring. Kittens also purr and knead or prod when content and suckling their mother. Domestic cats also "meow", which changes meaning in relation to posture. If a cat is upset it will likely growl, hiss, or even spit at another cat or animal. In general , cats have advanced auditory perception. Their pinna can rotate 180° to either face frontward or be flattened back or any direction in between. With three inner ear cannals in each of the three dimensional planes, domestic cats have a great sense of balance. Their ears are sensitive enough to hear ten octaves, which is two more than a human can hear. Domestic cats can hear a broad range of frequencies, from 50 to 65 kilohertz, versus humans which can only hear sounds between 18 and 20 kilohertz. They have vabrissae on the muzzle, eyebrows, and elbows which function as haptic receptors. These touch receptors allow house cats to navigate their way around obstacles in low light conditions by sensing changes in air flow around an object as it approaches it.

Peripheral vision in domestic cats is very good but their eyes are also farsighted (an adaptation for hunting), which doesn't allow them to focus on objects within a 2 feet. A reflective membrane in the back of the eye, called the tapetum lucidum, reflects light from behind the eye's retina and intensifies it. Species possessing tapetum lucidum are able to see exceptionally well in low light. Cats cannot see most colors, although some researchers believe that they may be able to see red and blue. The third eyelid, or haw, is a semi-transparent protective lid which typically retracts into the inner corner of the eye.

With about 200 million olfactory cells, the domestic cat's nose is about thirty times more sensitive than that of humans. Jacobson's organ (i.e., the vomeronasal organ) is located immediately dorsal to the hard palate and is particularly exposed to scent molecules when an individual inhales via the mouth.

A domestic cat's tongue is covered in hundreds of papillae; hook-like structures, which face backwards and are used to comb and clean the fur. Domestic cats sometimes socially groom, but typically grooming is a singular task unless the cat is the individual's mother. Taste buds are located on the sides, tip, and back of the tongue and allow domestic cats to perceive bitter, acidic and salty flavors but not sweet.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Other Communication Modes: mimicry ; pheromones ; scent marks

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical

Feral house cats, Felis catus, are often overlooked in discussions of exotic nuisance animals due to their ubiquity and our familiarity with them as companion animals. They are, however, among the most ecologically damaging introduced animals worldwide.Domestic cats are characterized by a number of well-known physical characteristics. These include a flexible and compact body, keen eyesight and adaptations for visual acuity at night, retractable claws, sharp teeth and a reduction in numbers of teeth (e.g., the hind chewing teeth) reflecting adaptation as a carnivore, long vibrissae (whiskers), and a long and flexible tail important as an aid to balance (LaBruna 2001, ISSG).F. catus is among the smaller members of the felid family, but shares with other family members the trait of being an agile and efficient predator.

Colonias

Aunque pueden ser solitarios, se han encontrado grandes colonias con estructuras sociales complejas, de hasta 2000 individuos por Km2 (Izawa et al., 1982; Kerby &MacDonald, 1982).

Estructura social

Los grupos normalmente se componen de varias hembras emparentadas, sus crías de ambos sexos y un macho adulto, cuya zona de distribución usualmente incluye otros grupos de hembras. Las hembras generalmente se quedan en su grupo, mientras que los machos juveniles lo dejan cuando alcanzan la madurez sexual (Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, 2011).

Territorialidad

Los machos dominantes pueden tener territorios de hasta 8 km2, mientras que los territorios de las hembras son más pequeños y pueden ser reducidos a la mitad cuando están criando a sus crías. Las glándulas odoríferas están en la barbilla, en las esquinas de la boca y en la región anal. Los límites territoriales se marcan por medio del olor con las glándulas de las mejillas, arañando superficies visibles, orinando y dejando heces fecales expuestas (ISC 2011).

Refugio

Se refugian en árboles, troncos huecos, cuevas madrigueras abandonadas por otros animales o en vegetación densa (Álvarez, 2003).

Nocturno

Son generalmente nocturnos, pero pueden ser bastante activos durante el día (Álvarez, 2003).

Solitario

Este animal caza preferentemente de manera solitaria (Álvarez, 2003).

Temperatura

Felis catus es una especie muy adaptable, aunque su temperatura óptima va de los 17 a los 29°C. Como es el caso con otros mamíferos, los gatos ferales pueden modificar sus patrones de conducta en cuanto a actividades y búsqueda de comida en respuesta a los cambios de temperatura en el medio ambiente (ISC, 2011)

Huiskatten spelen in veel natuurgebieden een belangrijke rol als roofdier. En niet alleen verwilderde exemplaren. Ook katten die thuis dagelijks een bakje blikvoer krijgen en overdag opgerold op de vensterbank liggen, veranderen buiten in wilde roofdieren. De huiskat stamt waarschijnlijk af van de wilde kat uit Noord-Afrika. Het zijn oorspronkelijk bosbewoners en ze jagen op middelgrote prooidieren door ze te beloeren, besluipen en bespringen.