Page 19 - World of Animals - Issue #30
P. 19
The cat’s closest relatives
Wildcat
The wildcat is native to Africa, Europe,
India, and China, making it the most
widespread of the wild felids. The
future of the species is uncertain due
to breeding with domestic cats, which
has diluted their gene pool.
Sand cat
This cat is the only species found in
the dry deserts of North Africa and
Asia. It makes itself comfortable in
disused burrows to escape the heat
and uses its highly sensitive ears to
detect prey in the sand.
Jungle cat
Tearing through the undergrowth
aer prey, the jungle cat spends its
days chasing rodents, hares, wild
pigs and even birds. One of the more
cunning cats, it will take a dip in the
river to disguise its scent.
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Preference for heights
P r e f e r e n c e f o r h e i g h t s Head-butting Kneading forepaws
n
e
K
Have you ever wondered why your cat Marking you with the family scent Comforting behaviour for when they’re
loves climbing? Cats can often be seen head-butting each other, feeling kneady
All cats usually feel safer off the ground than on objects around the home, or you. This is known No one is completely sure why cats do this. It
it, which is probably why they love to clamber as scent-marking and is when they release their is seen in the wild with young cubs that paw
up on your cupboards and sleep perched on scent through glands in their face. In doing this at their mother for comfort or while nursing,
the sofa. Wild cats also have a preference for they are establishing a ‘family scent’, marking but it’s not seen in wild cats after adolescence.
heights as it gives them a good vantage point you as one of their own. Wild cats also do this It has been argued that perhaps years of
of their surroundings, and may help them to to welcome each other back from a hunt or to domestication have encouraged cats to retain
pinpoint their prey. mark their cubs. their kitten-like behaviour.
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