The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal and a subspecies of the wild cat. The cat is a skilled predator and intelligent animal, known to hunt over 1,000 species for food, and capable of being trained (and learning by itself) to obey simple commands and manipulate simple mechanisms (see cat intelligence). It has lived in close association with humans for 3,500 to 9,500 years, figuring prominently in the mythology and legends of several cultures. 

  Cats come in dozens of breeds and a variety of colours. Due to mutations, some are hairless and some are tailless. They use more than one hundred vocalizations and types of body language for communication,.including calling  ("meow" or "miaou") , purring, hissing, growling, chirping, clicking, and grunting. Like horses and other domesticated animals, cats can become feral, living effectively in the wild. Feral cats will often form small feral cat colonies. Animal welfare organizations note that few abandoned cats are able to survive long enough to become feral, most being killed by vehicles, or succumbing to starvation, predators, exposure, or disease.

 Legends and myths about the cat exist in many cultures, from the ancient Egyptians and Chinese to the Vikings. They have been both revered and vilified by different cultures. The trinomial name of the domestic cat is Felis silvestris catus; its closest pre-domesticated ancestor is believed to be the African wild cat, Felis silvestris lybica.

Cats 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 cats (less than 1.8 kg / 4.0 lbs)  have been reported.

In captivity, indoor cats typically live 14 to 20 years, though the oldest-known cat lived to age 36.  Domestic cats tend to live longer if they are not permitted to go outdoors (reducing the risk of injury from fights or accidents and exposure to diseases) and if they are spayed or neutered. Some such benefits are: neutered male cats cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed female cats cannot develop ovarian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of mammary cancer.

Cats 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 . In fact, the life of cats with kidney failure can be extended for years by the regular injection of large volumes of fluid subcutaneously, which serves as an alternative to dialysis.  The particular 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, cats have a tendency to relax and become quiet and passive when gripped there which often extends into adulthood, and can be useful when attempting to treat or move an uncooperative cat; since the adult cat is quite a bit heavier than a kitten, she should not be carried with her weight entirely hanging from the scruff, but should also have her weight supported at the abdomen and hind legs.  Some advise against "scruffing" an adult cat at all.

Sixty-two individual muscles in the ear allow for a manner of directional hearing: 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 cats 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 its ears back, to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it makes. Cats will also turn their ears back when they are playing, or occasionally to show interest in a sound coming from behind them.

Cats 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 cats 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".

The temperament of a cat can vary depending on the breed and socialization. Cats with "oriental" body types tend to be thinner and more active, while cats 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).[20] A cat is considered febrile (hypothermic) 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 (98.2 °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.

Cats, like dogs, are digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. Cats 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.

Most cats have 5 claws at their front paws, and 4 or 5 at their rear paws. But because of a mutation, cats are prone to polydactyly, and may have 6 or 7 toes. The 5th front claw, the thumb, is on much higher position than those of the other fingers. Then even higher, there seems to be a 6th finger, but it is not. This special feature of the front paws, on the inside of the wrists, is the carpal pad, also found on the paws of big cats and dogs. It has no function in normal walking but is thought to be an anti-skidding device during jumping. If present, the 5th claw at the rear legs, corresponding with the big toe, is called the dew-claw.

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