Environment
The wild cat, 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 cats are native to
all continents other than Australasia and
Antarctica. Their feces are usually dry, and cats
prefer to bury them in sandy places. They are able
to remain motionless for long periods, especially
when observing prey and preparing to pounce. In
North Africa there are still small wildcats that
are probably related closely to the ancestors of
today's domesticated breeds.
Cats enjoy heat and solar exposure, often sleeping
in a warm area during the heat of the day. Cats
like to be a lot warmer than humans do. People
start to feel uncomfortable when their skins'
temperature gets higher than about 44.5 °C (112
°F), but cats don't start to show signs of
discomfort until their skin reaches about 52 °C
(126 °F).
Being closely related to desert animals, cats can
withstand the heat and cold of a temperate
climate, but not for long periods. They have
little resistance against fog, rain and
snow—although certain breeds such as the Norwegian
Forest Cat and Maine Coon have developed more
protection than others—and struggle to maintain
their 39 °C (102 °F) body temperature when wet.
Most cats dislike immersion in water, but one
exception is the Turkish Van cat. If a cat is
continually exposed to water from a very young
age, often it will develop a fondness for it;
however, this rarely if ever occurs naturally. |
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