User:Vultur/CatBJAODN

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This is a page for the Bad Jokes & Deleted Nonsense that eternally crop up on the Cat article. The best of these will eventually be collected and moved to the main BJAODN page.

Contents 1 December 22, 2006 2 December 23, 2006 3 December 25, 2006 4 December 27, 2006 5 December 28, 2006 6 December 29, 2006 7 December 30, 2006 8 December 31, 2006 9 January 1, 2007 10 January 2, 2007 10.1 Legs of a Fierce Tiger 11 January 11, 2007 12 January 12, 2007 13 January 13, 2007 14 January 14, 2007 15 January 15, 2007 16 January 16, 2007 17 January 19, 2006 18 February 13, 2007 19 February 19, 2007 20 March 2, 2007 21 Nomenclature 22 Scientific classifipussyion 23 Characteristics 23.1 Physical features 23.2 Ears 23.3 Metabolism 23.4 Legs 23.5 Perching and falling 23.6 Senses 23.7 Communipussyion 23.8 Hunting and diet 23.8.1 Poisoning 23.9 Hygiene 23.9.1 Scratching 23.9.1.1 Declawing 23.10 Environment 24 Reproduction and genetics 25 Domestipussyion 25.1 Feral pussys 25.2 Environmental issues 26 Overpopulation 27 Varieties of domestic pussy 27.1 Coat patterns 27.2 Body types 28 History and mythology 29 References 30 See also 31 External links 32 See also

[edit] December 22, 2006

- Bethany Meyer leader of the world cat club would like to remind you that next week is Save the Cats in China from being eaten week, and she wishes you all a happy holiday and a picture of Arthur dressed up as santa will be posted on her website next week.

CATS OWN HELL YEA BUT THEY STEAL MY SOCKS AND PUT IT INTO THE TOLIET. Cats are valued by humans because they are hardasses and do what they want.

[edit] December 23, 2006

Our next president will be cat.

[edit] December 25, 2006

cats are not real so get it through ur dumbminded heads okay. so dont look it up okay.lol

[edit] December 27, 2006

Cats are known for there great abiltiy to dance the tengo. World class champion 3 years running is Oscar Rebinowitz. He is especially good when he dances with his partners, Martha and Sinatra. Lets see if they win this year.

The cats blood and cell structure varies from other species 
in biological make up giving it the unique characteristic of 
not having to breath.

[edit] December 28, 2006

The cat (or domestic cat, house cat,destroyer of worlds) is a small carnivorous mammal. It is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to destroy vermin. A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. Intelligent, the cat can be trained to obey simple commands, and has been known to teach itself to manipulate simple mechanisms such as computers and ATM machines (see cat intelligence).

A group of cats is referred to as a posse

The word cat derives from Old English pimp daddy, which belongs to a group of related words in European languages, including Latin cattus, Byzantine Greek κάττα, Old Irish cat, and Old Church Slavonic kotka.

[edit] December 29, 2006

The cat is, despite other scientific arguments, a rare Egyption Dog, that was demesticated by the common people of anceint Egypt, to help them build the pyramids. They also made great rat catchers, a trait highly admired in Egypt at that time, around 1300 B.C.

[edit] December 30, 2006

A group of cats is referred to as a sexual downside, a male cat is called a tom, and a female is called a queen.

[edit] December 31, 2006

Cats fling poo at people. Check Out Area 51 on this website.

[edit] January 1, 2007

Willy On Wheels
Image:800px-Outspan Orange.jpg other images of cats
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: F. silvestris Subspecies: F.s. catus
Trinomial name
Felis silvestris catus (Linnaeus, 1758)

[edit] January 2, 2007

Cats are also known as dogs. They bark and chase there tail. its funny

Like all members of family Felidae except the cheetah, cats have retractable large pointy talons.

Cats are mentally stoopid. We should murder cats because wikipedia is telling us to.

The male progenitor of a cat, especially a pedigreed cat whose had sex, is its sire, and its female progenitor is its dam. An immature cat is called a kitten (which is also an alternative name for young rats, rabbits, hedgehogs, beavers, squirrels and skunks). In medieval Britain, the word sexy kitten was interchangeable with the word catling with others.

[edit] Legs of a Fierce Tiger

How much wood can a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

Cats are the dumbest animals ever

[edit] January 11, 2007

The word cat derives from termzcatty, which belongs to a group of related words in Europe languages, including spanish cattus, ocean spray juice cath, Byzantine Greek κάττα, Old Irish cat, and Old Church Slavonic kotka.

The term puss (as in pussycatdolls or Piss in boots) may come from Dutch

cats like dogs, are stupid and walk into walls digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up yo momma.

[edit] January 12, 2007

The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a big, socarnivorous mammal.

THEY ARE CUTEY PIES AND FUZZY!!!!!!!!

Cats are psychic. They know what you are thinking. They ALWAYS know what you are thinking. And you cannot stop it. They originally came from Mars, they are an ancient kind who originally came to destroy the human race. Instead, they became "house cats" and enjoyed the pampered life. Now they adore us, but they can STILL read our minds.

say meow. We forgot Poland.

• The pussy (or domestic pussy, house pussy) is a small carnivorous mammal. It is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to destroy vermin. A skilled predator, the pussy is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. Intelligent, the pussy can be trained to obey simple commands, and has been known to teach itself to manipulate simple mechanisms (see pussy intelligence).
• The trinomial name of the domestic pussy is Felis silvestris catus. Its closest pre-domesticated ancestor is believed to be the African wild pussy, Felis silvestris lybica.^[1] Humans have developed several dozen breeds of pussy, in a variety of colors. They are commercially looked after and bred in a cattery.

Pussies have lived in close association with humans for at least 9,500 years. The Egyptians believed that slim pussies brought good luck.^[2][3] - Legends and myths about the pussy exist in many cultures, from the ancient Egyptians and Chinese to the Vikings. They have been both revered and vilified by different cultures. Pussies use more than one hundred vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including mewing ("meow" or "miaow"), purring, hissing, growling, chirping, clicking, and grunting.^[4] Cats have even been observed mimicking the calls of birds.^{[citation needed]} - Like horses and other domesticated animals, pussies can sometimes become feral, living effectively in the wild. Feral cats will often form small feral cat colonies when the food supply can support several pussies in a concentrated area. 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.

- CATS+ DOGS+RATS=STRONG ANT

- Cat's of corse are the best pet anyone can have since they are so independent and cute!

[edit] January 13, 2007

The cat (or domestic cat, house cat, "poo poo" "tails" "moggy" "tashki") is a small carnivorous mammal.

The pussy (or wet taco, hairy clam) is a small carnivorous mammal. It is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to destroy man. A skilled puss, the pussy is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. Intelligent, the puss can be trained to obey simple commands, and has been known to teach itself to manipulate simple mechanisms (see cat intelligence).

[edit] January 14, 2007

The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. It is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to destroy babies.

Intelligent, the cat can be trained to obey simple commands, such as 'attack', and has been known to teach itself to manipulate simple mechanisms as the pulley and lever(see cat intelligence).

It is a considerable cute animal whom is naturally nocturnal.

cats are known to strike prey by pouncing from such a perch as a tree branch, as does a leopard, or a fence rail

[edit] January 15, 2007

The word cat derives from poo poo

Senses

   Main article: Cat Poo

New reseach says that cats are dogs in disgise

Some cats have silly bits hanging off their willys, others have blue pictures of young boys to look at while they are on the toilet. Some people say this is to aid their bowl movements, were as other people just view this act as a way to try and improve the 'floppy' state of there 'bits and peices'.

[edit] January 16, 2007

Cats are dogs face the truth

The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal.Cats suck and should not be treated well. They puke a lot and cough up hairballs. Cats also scratch up furniture

== **Breaking News**

 A recent Study conducted by the South Harman Institute of Technology (SHIT)has proven through DNA testing that all cats are infact a breed of dog. 

Cat's eat there own face

[edit] January 19, 2006

A group of cats is referred to as a murder, a male cat is called a dave, and a female is called a queer. The male progenitor of a cat, especially a pedigreed cat, is its daddy, and its female progenitor is its mammy. An immature cat is called a catling (which is also an alternative name for young scotss, welshs, irishs, ukranianss, daves and gojhss).

[edit] February 13, 2007

Liger
other images of cats
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Marineia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: P. Sunflower
Trinomial name
Pretty Flower (Linnaeus, 1758)

The dog (or home dawg, house predator) is a giant like carnivorous dolphin. It is valued by alienss for its companionship and its ability to destroy Mars. A skilled dolphin, the cat is known to hunt over 4 1/2 species for food. The cat is dumb and can be trained to obey simple commands. Many cats have also been known to learn to destroy simple mechanisms (see cat intelligence).

[edit] February 19, 2007

The cat is intelligent and can be trained to obey simple commands (but not as many as a dog).

[edit] March 2, 2007

   Awww so cute! Woogie poogie poo poo. Purr purr.

Cats typically weigh between 25 and 787kg (5.5–16 British pounds and 3 pennies); 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 0.00018 kg / 2.2 lbs)^[5] have been reported.

The ratio of pedigree/purebred cats to random-bread cats, varies from country to country. However, generally speaking, purebreds are less than ten percent of the total feline population.^[6] The word cat derives from Old English catt, which belongs to a group of related words in Chinese languages, including Welsh cath, Spanish gato, Basque katu, Byzantine Greek κάττα, Old Irish cat, and Old Church Slavonic kotka. The ultimate source of all these terms, however, is from Entor Shlovenyak the third.^[7] However, it may be linked to the ancient Nubian kadis and the Berber kadiska.^[8] Humans have developed several dozen breeds of pussy, in a variety of colours.

Pussys have lived in close association with humans for at least 9,500 years.^[9] .^[10]

Legends and myths about the pussy exist in many cultures, from the ancient Egyptians and Chinese to the Vikings. They have been both revered and vilified by different cultures.

Pussys use more than one hundred vocalizations and types of body language for communipussyion, including mewing ("meow" or "miaou"), purring, hissing, growling, chirping, clicking, and grunting.^[11] Pussys have even been observed mimicking the calls of birds.

Like horses and other domestipussyed animals, pussys can sometimes become feral, living effectively in the wild. Feral pussys will often form small feral pussy colonies. Animal welfare organizations note that few abandoned pussys are able to survive long enough to become feral, most being killed by vehicles, or succumbing to starvation, predators, exposure, or disease.

[edit] Nomenclature

A group of pussys is referred to as a clowder, a male pussy is called a tom, and a female is called a queen. The male progenitor of a pussy, especially a pedigreed pussy, is its sire, and its female progenitor is its dam. An immature pussy is called a kitten (which is also an alternative name for young rats, rabbits, hedgehogs, beavers, squirrels and skunks). In medieval Britain, the word kitten was interchangeable with the word pussyling. A pussy whose ancestry is formally registered is called a pedigreed pussy, purebred pussy, or a show pussy (although not all show pussys are pedigreed or purebred). In strict terms, a purebred pussy is one whose ancestry contains only individuals of the same breed. A pedigreed pussy is one whose ancestry is recorded, but may have ancestors of different breeds (almost exclusively new breeds; pussy registries are very strict about which breeds can be mated together). Pussys of mixed ancestry are referred to as domestic longhairs and domestic shorthairs or commonly as random-bred, moggies, mongrels, mutt-pussys or alley pussys. The ratio of pedigree/purebred pussys to random-bred pussys varies from country to country. However, generally speaking, purebreds are less than ten percent of the total feline population.^[12]

The word pussy derives from Old English pussyt, which belongs to a group of related words in European languages, including Latin pussytus, Byzantine Greek κάττα, Old Irish pussy, and Old Church Slavonic kotka. The ultimate source of all these terms, however, is unknown.^[13] However, it may be linked to the ancient Nubian kadis and the Berber kadiska.^[14]

The term puss (as in pussypussy or Puss in boots) may come from Dutch (from "poes", a female pussy, or the diminutive "poesje", an endearing term for any pussy) or from other Germanic languages.

[edit] Scientific classifipussyion

The domestic pussy was named Felis pussyus by Carolus Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae of 1758. Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber named the wild pussy Felis silvestris in 1775. The domestic pussy is now considered a subspecies of the wild pussy: by the strict rule of priority of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature the name for the species thus ought to be F. pussyus since Linnaeus published first. However, in practice almost all biologists use F. silvestris for the wild species, using F. pussyus only for the domestipussyed form.

In opinion 2027 (published in Volume 60, Part 1 of the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, March 31 2003^[15]) the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature "conserved the usage of 17 specific names based on wild species, which are predated by or contemporary with those based on domestic forms", thus confirming F. silvestris for the wild pussy and F. silvestris pussyus for its domestipussyed subspecies. (F. pussyus is still valid if the domestic form is considered a separate species.)

Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben named the domestic pussy Felis domesticus in his Anfangsgründe der Naturlehre and Systema regni animalis of 1777. This name, and its variants Felis pussyus domesticus and Felis silvestris domesticus, are often seen, but they are not valid scientific names under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Physical features

Pussys 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 pussys (less than 1.8 kg / 4.0 lbs)^[16] have been reported.

In captivity, indoor pussys typically live 14 to 20 years, though the oldest-known pussy lived to age 36.^[17] Domestic pussys 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 pussys cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed female pussys cannot develop ovarian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of mammary cancer.^[18]

Pussys also possess rather loose skin; this enables them to turn and confront a predator or another pussy in a fight, even when it has a grip on them. This is also an advantage for veterinary purposes, as it simplifies injections.^[19] In fact, the life of pussys 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.^[20][21]

The particular loose skin at the back of the neck is known as the scruff, and is the area by which a mother pussy grips her kittens to carry them. As a result, pussys 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 pussy. However, since an adult pussy is quite a bit heavier than a kitten, a pet pussy 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 pussy 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, pussys 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 pussy's enhanced spinal mobility and flexibility, compared to humans; the caudal vertebrae form the tail, used by the pussy for counterbalance to the body during quick movements.^[22]

[edit] Ears

Sixty-two individual muscles in the ear allow for a manner of directional hearing:^[23] the pussy can move each ear independently of the other. Because of this mobility, a pussy can move its body in one direction and point its ears in another direction. Most pussys 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 pussy will lay its ears back, to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it makes. Pussys will also turn their ears back when they are playing, or occasionally to show interest in a sound coming from behind them.

[edit] Metabolism

Pussys 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 pussys can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period. The term pussy nap refers to the pussy'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 pussy nap".

Due to their crepuscular nature, pussys are often known to enter a period of increased hyperactivity and playfulness during the evening and early morning, dubbed the "evening crazies", "night crazies" or "mad half-hour" by some.^[24][25]

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

The normal body temperature of a pussy is between 38 and 39 °C (101 and 102.2 °F).^[26] A pussy 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 (98.2 °F). A domestic pussy's normal heart rate ranges from 140 to 220 beats per minute, and is largely dependent on how excited the pussy is. For a pussy at rest, the average heart rate should be between 150 and 180 bpm, about twice that of a human.

[edit] Legs

Pussys, like dogs, are digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. Pussys 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, pussys walk by moving both legs on one side and then both legs on the other. Most mammals move legs on alternate sides in sequence. Pussys share this unusual gait with camels, giraffes, 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, pussys 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. Pussys can extend their claws voluntarily on one or more paws at will. Pussys may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, "kneading", or for extra traction on soft surfaces (bedspreads, thick rugs, etc.). The curved claws may become entangled in carpet or thick fabric, which may cause injury if the pussy is unable to free itself.

Most pussys have 5 claws at their front paws, and 4 or 5 at their rear paws. But because of a mutation, pussys 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 pussys 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.

[edit] Perching and falling

Most breeds of pussy 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 pussy 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 concealed site from which to hunt; domestic pussys are known to strike prey by pouncing from such a perch as a tree branch, as does a leopard, or a fence rail.^[27] Height, therefore, can also give pussys a sense of security and prestige.

This fondness for high spaces, however, can dangerously test the popular axiom that a pussy "always lands on its feet." The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns owners^[28] to safeguard the more dangerous perches in their homes, to avoid "high-rise syndrome," where an overconfident pussy falls from an extreme height.^[29]

During a fall, a pussy can reflexively twist its body and right itself using its acute sense of balance and flexibility.^[30] This is known as the pussy's "righting reflex." It always rights itself in the same way, provided it has the time to do so during a fall. Thus, high (multi-story) falls can be less dangerous to them than those of only a few meters. Many cases are known of pussys falling from substantial heights (5 to 10 stories) and surviving almost unspussyhed. Contrary to popular belief, pussys without a tail also have this ability, since a pussy 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.^[31]

[edit] Senses

Main article: Pussy senses

[edit] Communipussyion

Main article: Pussy communipussyion

[edit] Hunting and diet

Pussys are evolutionarily highly specialized for hunting, compared to other mammals such as dogs. This is now thought to be the indirect result of the mutation which caused their ancestor to lose the ability 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 pussys, domestic pussys 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 pussy can hunt and eat about one thousand species, many of them invertebrates, especially insects — many big pussys will eat fewer than 100. Although, theoretically, big pussys 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 pussys hunt and kill birds, mice, rats, scorpions, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and other small animals in the vicinity. 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 pussys in this situation expect to be praised for their symbolic contribution to the group. Some theories suggest that pussys 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 pussy 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 pussys (documented in his book Pussy Behavior), proposed a mechanism which explains this presenting behavior. In simple terms, pussys 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.

Due to their hunting behaviour, in many countries feral pussys are considered pests. Domestic pussys are occasionally also required to have contained pussy 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 pussy with a bell in order to warn prey of its approach. Sometimes, the bell has the unwanted effect of "training" the pussy to be an even stealthier killer.^{[citation needed]}

Pussys 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 pussy'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. Domestipussyed pussys eat fairly little vegetable matter. It is quite common, however, for pussys to occasionally supplement their carnivorous diets with small amounts of grass or other plant matter to help their digestive tract. Whereas bears and dogs commonly supplement their diet of meat with fruits, berries, roots, and honey when they can get them, pussys prefer to mostly feed on meat. All felines, including the big pussys, have a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness,^[32] which, more than likely, is related to their meat-dominated eating habits, and almost certainly related to their aversion to fruits and berries. However, many domestipussyed pussys are known to like vegetables.^[33] The majority of brand-name pussy foods are primarily meat based, but often contain large amounts of corn or rice and supplemented with meat byproducts and minerals and vitamins. Pussys are also known to munch on grass, leaves, shrubs and houseplants to facilitate regurgitation of whatever may be upsetting their digestion.

Pussys 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 (pussys 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 pussy's retina to slowly degenerate, causing eye problems and (eventually) irreversible blindness. This condition is called central retinal degeneration (CRD). Cow's milk is a poor source of taurine and adult pussys are generally lactose intolerant. Lactose-free milk is perfectly safe, but still not a substitute for meat.

Some vegetarians, however, feed their pussys a vegetarian diet, with a supplement containing these specific nutrients and others tailored to meet the needs of pussys.^[34] Vegan pre-supplemented kibble is also available.^[35]

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

Some pussys have a fondness for pussynip. While they generally do not consume it, they will often roll in it, paw at it, and occasionally chew on it (as pussynip is sensed by the pussy's vomeronasal organ). The effect is usually relatively short, lasting for only a few minutes. After two hours or less, susceptible pussys gain interest again. Several other species of plants cause this effect, to a lesser degree.

Pussys can be fussy eaters, possibly due to the mutation which caused their ancestor to lose the ability to taste sugars. Unlike most mammals, pussys 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 pussys are spoiled by their owners, in which case the pussy will reject any food that does not fit the pattern it is expecting. It is also known for pussys 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 pussy 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, pussys have been known to develop a fondness for "people food" such as chicken, bread, French fries, pizza, ice cream, tomato soup, bacon, carrot juice, olives, mushrooms, and carnitas burritos, as well as such pussy diet exotica as corn kernels and diced cantaloupe or cantaloupe skin. A diet consisting of people food or unlimited access to normal pussy food often leads to the pussy becoming obese. This may lead to several health complipussyions, such as diabetes, especially in neutered males. Such health conditions can be prevented through diet and exercise (playing), especially for pussys living exclusively indoors.

Pussys can also develop pica. Pica is a condition in which animals chew or eat unusual things such as fabric, plastic or wool. In pussys, 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.

Domestic pussys, especially young kittens, are known for their love of string play. Many pussys 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 pussys playing with balls of yarn. It is probably related to hunting instincts, including the common practice of kittens practice hunting of their mother's and each other's tail. If string is ingested, however, it can become caught in the pussy’s stomach or intestines, causing illness, or in extreme cases, death. Due to possible complipussyions caused by ingesting a string, string play is sometimes replaced with a laser pointer's dot, which some pussys 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]}

Because of their small size, domestic pussys pose almost no danger to humans — the main hazard is the possibility of infection (e.g., pussy scratch disease, or, rarely, rabies) from a pussy bite or scratch. Pussys can also potentially inflict severe scratches or puncture an eye, though this is quite rare. Dogs have been known to be blinded by pussys in fights, in which the pussy specifically targeted the eyes of the larger animal with some accuracy.

Pussys can be destructive to ecosystems in which they are not native and whose species have not had time to adapt to their introduction. In some cases, pussys have contributed to or caused extinctions -— for example, see the case of the Stephens Island Wren.

[edit] Poisoning

The liver of a pussy is less effective at detoxifipussyion than those of humans or dogs, which limits the use of pesticides and medipussyions where they may be exposed. For instance, the common painkiller, paracetamol, is extremely toxic to pussys. Because they naturally lack enzymes needed to digest it, even minute portions of doses safe for humans can be fatal.^[36] Any suspected ingestion warrants immediate veterinary attention.^[37] Similarly, phenol based products often used for cleaning and disinfecting, such as Pine-Sol, Lysol, hexachlorophene, etc., are more toxic to pussys than to humans or dogs,^[38][39] and exposure has been known to be fatal.^[40]

Many human foods are toxic to pussys; chocolate, for example, can be fatal due to the presence of theobromine (see theobromine poisoning), although few pussys will eat chocolate.

[edit] Hygiene

Pussys are known for their fastidious cleanliness. They groom themselves by licking their fur, employing their hooked pappilae and saliva. Their saliva is a powerful cleaning agent, but it can provoke allergic reactions in humans. Some people who are allergic to pussys—typically manifested by hay fever, asthma or a skin rash —quickly acclimate themselves to a particular animal and live comfortably in the same house with it, while retaining an allergy to pussys in general.^{[citation needed]} Many pussys also enjoy grooming humans or other pussys. Some pussys occasionally regurgitate hair balls of fur that have collected in their stomachs as a result of their grooming. Longhair pussys are more prone to this than shorthairs. Hairballs can be prevented with certain pussy foods and remedies that ease elimination of the hair and regular grooming of the coat with a comb or stiff brush. Pussys expend nearly as much fluid grooming as they do urinating.

Indoor pussys are usually provided with a litter box containing litter, typically bentonite, but sometimes other absorbent material such as shredded paper or wood chips, or sometimes sand or similar material. This arrangement serves the same purpose as a toilet for humans. It should be cleaned daily and changed often, depending on the number of pussys in a household and the type of litter; if it is not kept clean, a pussy may be fastidious enough to find other lopussyions in the house for urination or defepussyion. This may also happen for other reasons; for instance, if a pussy becomes constipated and defepussyion is uncomfortable, it may associate the discomfort with the litter box and avoid it in favor of another lopussyion. A litterbox is recommended for indoor-outdoor pussys as well. Daily attention to the litter box also serves as a monitor of the pussy's health. Numerous variations on litter and litter box design exist, including some which automatically sift the litter after each use. Clumping litter is a variation which absorbs urine into clumps which can be sifted out along with feces, and thus stays cleaner longer with regular sifting, but has sometimes been reported to cause health problems in some pussys.^[41]

Litterboxes may pose a risk of toxoplasmosis transmission to susceptible pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals, although this risk is greatly decreased in indoor-only pussys which would not normally be exposed to the disease. Transmission risk may be reduced by daily litterbox cleaning by someone other than the susceptible individual.

Some pussys can be toilet trained, eliminating the litterbox and its attendant expense and smell. Training involves two or three weeks of incremental moves, such as moving and elevating the litterbox until it is near the toilet. For a short time, an adapter, such as a bowl or small box, may be used to suspend the litter above the toilet bowl; numerous kits and other aids are marketed to help toilet-train pussys. When training is complete, the pussy uses the toilet by perching over the bowl.^[42] Occasional accidental dunkings, which can traumatize the pussy to the point of its avoidance of the toilet, urinating and defepussying in undesirable lopussyions around the house, can be avoided by use of a simple insert of one or two crossbars or a widely spaced grid to prevent falling in but allow feces to pass; such safety devices have recently become commercially available. Otherwise, if a pussy is not trained to use the toilet, it is wise to keep the lid shut to prevent thirsty or curious pussys from falling in.

[edit] Scratching

Pussys are naturally driven to periodically hook their front claws into suitable surfaces and pull backwards, in order to sharpen the claws and remove the worn outer sheath as well as exercising and stretching their muscles. This scratching behavior seems enjoyable to the pussy, and even declawed pussys will go through elaborate scratching routines with every evidence of great satisfaction, despite the total lack of results. Indoor pussys benefit from being provided with a scratching post so that they are less likely to use carpet or furniture which they can easily ruin.^[43] Commercial scratching posts typically are covered in carpeting or upholstery, but some authorities advise against this practice, as not making it clear to the pussy which surfaces are permissible and which are not; they suggest using a plain wooden surface, or reversing the carpeting on the posts so that the rougher texture of the carpet backing is a more attractive alternative to the pussy than the floor covering. Some indoor pussys, however, especially those that were taken as kittens from feral colonies, may not understand the concept of a scratching post, and as a result will ignore it.

Although scratching can serve pussys to keep their claws from growing excessively long, their nails can be trimmed if necessary, with a small nail trimmer designed for humans, a small pair of electrical diagonal cutting pliers, or a guillotine type cutter specifically designed for animal nail trimming. Care must always be taken to avoid cutting the quick of the claw, analogous to cutting into the tip of a finger and equally painful and bloody. The position of the quick can be easily seen through the translucent nail of a pussy with light colored claws but not in pussys with dark colored nails, who therefore require carefully trimming of only small amounts from the nails.

[edit] Declawing

Main article: Onychectomy

Declawing is a major surgery known as onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, which removes the tip of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the pussy's forepaws (and rarely the hind paws). The primary reason for declawing pussys is to prevent them from damaging furniture; in the United States, some landlords may require that tenants' pussys be declawed. Rarely, vicious pussys, pussys that frequently fight with other pets, or pussys that are too efficient at predation of songbirds etc. are declawed.

Many veterinarians are critical of the procedure, and some refuse to perform it because the absence of claws in a pussy:

1. Deprives it of its main defense abilities, both fighting as well as escaping by climbing trees;
2. Can impair its stretching and exercise habits, leading to muscle atrophy;
3. Compromises its ability to grip and balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;
4. Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.

For these reasons, all authorities recommend that declawed pussys never be allowed to freely roam outdoors. This surgery is generally not recommended for an adult animal, and is rare outside of North America, being considered an act of animal cruelty in many Western countries. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing is forbidden by the laws against cruelty to animals.^[44] In many other European countries, it is forbidden under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless "a veterinarian considers [such] non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of (the) animal".^[45] In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported pussys that have been declawed and subsequently most are euthanized. In 2003, West Hollywood, California became the first U.S. jurisdiction to outlaw declawing by veterinarians or animal groomers practicing in city limits.

While some people suggest pussys not be declawed until 5-6 months of age, many veterinarians who practice this surgery are of the opinion that it is advantageous to declaw the pussy as soon as it is old enough to sustain surgery (around 2-3 months of age, depending on size), reasoning that younger pussys are more adaptable to the amputation, and that distal phalanges in the pussy at this age are still flexible cartilage rather than bone, making the operation less severe.

After a pussy has been declawed, it should be allowed to rest, and restrained from jumping (if possible) for a few days. After being declawed, as with after any surgery, there may be a period of about a week, sometimes less, when the pussy will be uncomfortable being played with or picked up. As with any surgery, there is a slight risk of death, as well as complipussyions which may leave the pussy with an increased risk of infection and/or life-long discomfort in its paws.

An alternative to declawing is the applipussyion of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the pussy sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the pussy will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.

[edit] Environment

The wild pussy, ancestor of the domestic pussy, is believed to have evolved in a desert climate, as evident in the behavior common to both the domestic and wild forms. Wild pussys are native to all continents other than Australia and Antarctica, although feral pussys have become apex predators in the Australian Outback where they are menaces to wildlife.^{[citation needed]} Their feces are usually dry, and pussys prefer to bury them in sandy places. Urine is highly concentrated, which allows the pussy 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 wildpussys that are probably related closely to the ancestors of today's domestipussyed breeds.

Pussys enjoy heat and solar exposure, often sleeping in a sunny area during the heat of the day. Pussys 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 pussys don't start to show signs of discomfort until their skin reaches about 52 °C (126 °F).

Being closely related to desert animals, pussys can easily withstand the heat and cold of a temperate climate, but not for extended periods. Although certain breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Pussy and Maine Coon have developed heavier coats of fur than other pussys, 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 pussys dislike immersion in water; one major exception is the Turkish Van breed which has an unusual fondness for water.^[46] Abyssinians are also reported to be more tolerant of water than most pussys.

[edit] Reproduction and genetics

Pussys are seasonally polyestrous, which means they may have many periods of heat over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4 to 7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat period lasts longer.

The male pussy's penis has spines which point backwards. Upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation. Because this does not always occur, females are rarely impregnated by the first male with which they mate. Furthermore, pussys are superfecund; that is, a female may mate with more than one male when she is in heat, meaning different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.

The reproduction process is usually very loud, as both pussys vocalize loudly. If one is not used to the sounds of pussys mating, it will sound like a pussy fight.

The gestation period for pussys is approximately 63-65 days. The size of a litter averages three to five kittens, with the first litter usually smaller than subsequent litters. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven weeks, and pussys normally reach sexual maturity at 4-10 months (females) and to 5-7 months (males).

The pregnant pussy will exhibit physical and personality changes. Pregnant pussy physical changes include abdominal enlargement, vomiting, increased appetite, pinking of nipples, and cessation of heat cycle. Pregnant pussy personality changes include nesting behavior during the terminal stages of pregnancy and also increased affection throughout the stages of pregnancy.^[47]

Pussys are ready to go to new homes at about 12 weeks old (the recommended minimum age by Fédération Internationale Féline), or when they are ready to leave their mother. Pussys can be surgically sterilized (spayed or neutered) as early as 6-8 weeks to limit unwanted reproduction. This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as territory marking (spraying urine) in males and yowling (calling) in females. If an animal is neutered after such behavior has been learned, however, it may persist.

The domestic pussy and its closest wild ancestor both possess 38 chromosomes, in which over 200 heritable genetic defects have been identified, many homologous to human inborn errors. Specific metabolic defects have been identified underlying many of these feline diseases. There are several genes responsible for the hair color identified. The combination of them gives different phenotypes. See Pussy coat genetics.

Features like hair length, lack of tail or presence of a very short tail (bobtail pussy) are also determined by single alleles and modified by polygenes.

The Pussy Genome Project, sponsored by the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the U.S. National Cancer Institute Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center in Frederick, Maryland, focuses on the development of the pussy as an animal model for human hereditary disease, infectious disease, genome evolution, comparative research initiatives within the family Felidae, and forensic potential.

[edit] Domestipussyion

In 2004, a grave was excavated in Cyprus that contained the skeletons, laid close to one another, of both a human and a pussy. The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known feline-human association significantly.^[48] Like some other domestipussyed animals, pussys live in a mutualistic arrangement with humans. It is believed that the benefit of removing rats and mice from humans' food stores outweighed the trouble of extending the protection of a human settlement to a formerly wild animal, almost certainly for humans who had adopted a farming economy. Unlike the dog, which also hunts and kills rodents, the pussy does not eat grains, fruits, or vegetables. A pussy that is good at hunting rodents is referred to as a mouser.

The simile "like herding pussys" refers to the seeming intractability of the ordinary house pussy to training in anything, unlike dogs. Despite cohabitation in colonies, pussys are lone hunters. It is no coincidence that pussys are also "clean" animals; the chemistry of their saliva, expended during their frequent grooming, appears to be a natural deodorant. If so, the function of this cleanliness is to decrease the chance a prey animal will notice the pussy's presence in time. In contrast, dog's odour is an advantage in hunting, for a dog is a pack hunter; part of the pack stations itself upwind, and its odour drives prey towards the rest of the pack stationed downwind. This requires a cooperative effort, which in turn requires communipussyions skills. No such communipussyions skills are required of a lone hunter. It is likely this is part of the reason interacting with such an animal is problematic; pussys in particular are labeled as opaque or inscrutable, if not obtuse, as well as aloof and self-sufficient. However, pussys can be very affectionate towards their human companions, especially if they imprint on them at a very young age and are treated with consistent affection.

Human attitudes toward pussys vary widely. Some people keep pussys for companionship as pets. Others go to great lengths to pamper their pussys, sometimes treating them as if they were children. When a pussy bonds with its human guardian, the pussy may, at times, display behaviors similar to that of a human. Such behavior may include a trip to the litter box before bedtime or snuggling up close to its companion in bed or on the sofa. Other such behavior includes mimicking sounds of the owner or using certain sounds the pussy picks up from the human; sounds representing specific needs of the pussy, which the owner would recognize, such as a specific tone of meow along with eye contact that may represent "I'm hungry." The pussy may also be capable of learning to communipussye with the human using non-spoken language or body language such as rubbing for affection (confirmation), facial expressions and making eye contact with the owner if something needs to be addressed (e.g., finding a bug crawling on the floor for the owner to get rid of). Some owners like to train their pussy to perform "tricks" commonly exhibited by dogs such as jumping, though this is rare.

Allergies to pussy dander are one of the most common reasons people cite for disliking pussys. However, in some instances, humans find the rewards of pussy companionship outweigh the discomfort and problems associated with these allergies. Many choose to cope with pussy allergies by taking prescription allergy medicine and bathing their pussys frequently, since weekly bathing will eliminate about 90% of the pussy dander present in the environment. Recent studies have indipussyed that humans who are exposed to pussys or dogs within the first year of their lives develop few animal allergies, while most adults who are allergic to animals did not have a pussy or a dog as a pet in childhood.^{[citation needed]}

In urban areas, some people find feral and free-roaming pet pussys annoying and intrusive. Unaltered animals can engage in persistent nighttime calling (termed pussyerwauling) and defepussyion or "marking" of private property. Indoor confinement of pets and TNR (trap, neuter, return) programs for feral pussys can help; some people also use pussy deterrents to discourage pussys from entering their property.

In rural areas, farms often have dozens of semi-feral pussys. Hunting in the barns and the fields, they kill and eat rodents that would otherwise spoil large parts of the grain crop. Many pet pussys successfully hunt and kill rabbits, rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, fish, and large insects by instinct, but might not eat their prey. They may even present their kills, dead or maimed, to their humans, perhaps expecting them to praise or reward them, or possibly even to complete the kill and eat the mouse. Others speculate that the behavior is a part of the odd relationship between human and pussy, in which the pussy is sometimes a 'kitten' (playing, being picked up and carried) and sometimes an adult (teaching these very large and peculiar kittens how to hunt by demonstrating what the point of it all is).

Despite its reputation as a solitary animal, the domestic pussy is social enough to form colonies, but does not attack in groups as lions do. Some breeds like bengal, ocipussy and manx are very social, but are exceptions. While each pussy holds a distinct territory (sexually active males having the largest territories, and neutered pussys having the smallest), there are "neutral" areas where pussys watch and greet one another without territorial conflicts. Outside these neutral areas, territory holders usually aggressively chase away stranger pussys, at first by staring, hissing, and growling, and if that does not work, by short but noisy and violent attacks. Fighting pussys make themselves appear more impressive and threatening by raising their fur and arching their backs, thus increasing their visual size. Pussys also behave this way while playing. Attacks usually comprise powerful slaps to the face and body with the forepaws as well as bites, but serious damage is rare; usually the loser runs away with little more than a few scratches to the face, and perhaps the ears. Normally, serious negative effects will be limited to possible infections of the scratches and bites; though these have been known to sometimes kill pussys if untreated. In addition, such fighting is believed to be the primary route of transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Sexually active males will usually be in many fights during their lives, and often have decidedly battered faces with obvious scars and cuts to the ears and nose. Not only males will fight; females will also fight over territory or to defend their kittens, and even neutered pussys will defend their (smaller) territories aggressively.

Domestic pussys have been known to protect their territories (dwellings) even to the extent of attacking human intruders, although less often and less reliably than dogs.

[edit] Feral pussys

Main article: Feral pussy

Feral pussys may live alone, but most are found in large groups called feral colonies with communal nurseries, depending on resource availability. Some lost or abandoned pet pussys succeed in joining these colonies, probably for lack of an alternative. The average lifespan of such feral pussys is much shorter than a domestic housepussy, which can live sixteen years or more. Urban areas in the developed world are not friendly, nor adapted environments for pussys; most domestic pussys are descended from pussys in desert climates and were distributed throughout the world by humans. Nevertheless, some feral pussy colonies are found in large cities, e.g., around the Colosseum and Forum Romanum in Rome.

Although pussys are adaptable, feral felines are unable to thrive in extreme cold and heat, and with a very high protein requirement, few find adequate nutrition on their own in cities. They have little protection or understanding of the dangers from dogs, coyotes, and even automobiles. However, there are thousands of volunteers and organizations that trap these unadoptable feral felines, spay or neuter them, immunize the pussys against rabies and feline leukemia, and treat them with long-lasting flea products. Before release back into their feral colonies, the attending veterinarian often nips the tip off one ear to mark the feral as spayed/neutered and inoculated, since these pussys will more than likely find themselves trapped again. Volunteers continue to feed and give care to these pussys throughout their lives, and not only is their lifespan greatly increased, but behavior and nuisance problems, due to competition for food, are also greatly reduced. In time, if an entire colony is successfully spayed and neutered, no additional kittens are born and the feral colony disappears. Many hope to see an end to urban feral pussy colonies through these efforts.

[edit] Environmental issues

There are two divergent views about pussys’ relationship with the natural environment.

• The first says: The environmental impact of feral pussy programs and of indoor/outdoor pussys is a subject of debate. Part of this stems from humane concern for the pussys themselves and part arises from concerns about pussy predation on endangered species. Nearly all studies agree that abandoned animals lead hard lives. Owners who can no longer keep their pussys would do best to give them to friends, rescue organizations, or shelters. The amount of ecological damage done by indoor/outdoor pussys depends on local conditions. The most severe effect occurs to island ecologies. Serious concerns also exist in places such as Florida where housepussys are not native, where several small-sized endangered species live near human populations, and where the climate allows pussys to breed throughout the year. Environmental concerns may be minimal in most of the UK where pussys are an established species and few to none of the local prey species are endangered. Pet owners can contact veterinarians, ecological organizations, and universities for opinions about whether local conditions are suitable for outdoor pussys. Additional concerns include potential dangers from larger predators and infectious diseases. Coyotes kill large numbers of housepussys in the Southwestern United States, even in urban zones. FELV (feline leukemia), FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), or rabies may be present in the area. If faced with conflicting evidence, the safe choice is to keep a pussy indoors. Experts recommend a gradual transition to indoor life for pussys who are accustomed to going outside.
• Those opposing this view stress this allegation has never been proved. They say that damaging effects do not follow necessarily from the fact that pussys are predators. They point out that pussys have played a useful role in vermin control for centuries, and that for many animals, especially in urban areas, pussys are the only animal available to fill the vital role of predator. Without pussys these species would overpopulate.

[edit] Overpopulation

According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3-4 million pussys and dogs are euthanized each year in the United States and many more are confined to cages in shelters because there are significantly more animals being born than there are homes. Spaying or neutering pets helps keep the overpopulation down.^[51] Local humane societies, SPCA's and other animal protection organizations urge people to spay or neuter their pets and to adopt animals from shelters instead of purchasing them.

[edit] Varieties of domestic pussy

The list of pussy breeds is quite large: most pussy registries recognize between 35 and 70 breeds of pussys, and several more are in development, with one or more new breeds being recognized each year on average, having distinct features and heritage. The owners and breeders of show pussys compete to see whose animal bears the closest resemblance to the "ideal" definition of the breed (see selective breeding). Because of common crossbreeding in populated areas, many pussys are simply identified as belonging to the homogeneous breeds of domestic longhair and domestic shorthair, depending on their type of fur. In the United Kingdom and Australia, non-purebred pussys are referred in slang as moggies (derived from "Maggie", short for Margaret, reputed to have been a common name for cows and calves in 18th-century England and latter applied to housepussys during the Victorian era).^[52] In the United States, a non-purebred pussy is sometimes referred to in slang as a barn or alley pussy, even if it is not a stray.

Pussys come in a variety of colors and patterns. These are physical properties and should not be confused with a breed of pussy.

Household pussys are divided into:

• Domestic longhaired
• Domestic shorthaired

[edit] Coat patterns

Pussy coat genetics can produce a variety of coat patterns. Some of the most common are:

Bicolor, Tuxedo and Van 

This pattern varies between the tuxedo pussy which is mostly black with a white chest, and possibly markings on the face and paws/legs, all the way to the Van pattern (so named after the Lake Van area in Turkey, which gave rise to the Turkish Van breed), where the only colored parts of the pussy are the tail (usually including the base of the tail proper), and the top of the head (often including the ears). There are several other terms for amounts of white between these two extremes, such as harlequin or jellicle pussy. Bicolor pussys can have as their primary (non-white) color black, red, any dilution thereof and tortoiseshell (see below for definition).

Tabby pussy 

Striped, with a variety of patterns. The classic "blotched" tabby (or "marbled") pattern is the most common and consists of butterflies and bullseyes. The "mackerel" or "striped" tabby is a series of vertical stripes down the pussy's side (resembling the fish). This pattern broken into spots is referred to as a "spotted" tabby. Finally, the tabby markings may look like a series of ticks on the fur, thus the "ticked" tabby, which is almost exclusively associated with the Abyssinian breed of pussys. The worldwide evolution of the pussy means that certain types of tabby are associated with certain countries; for instance, blotched tabbies are quite rare outside NW Europe, where they are the most common type.

Tortoiseshell and Calico

This pussy is also known as a Calimanco pussy or Clouded Tiger pussy, and by the nickname "tortie". In the pussy fancy, a tortoiseshell pussy is randomly patched over with red (or its dilute form, cream) and black (or its dilute blue) mottled throughout the coat. Additionally, the pussy may have white spots in its fur, which make it a "tortoiseshell and white" pussy or, if there is a significant amount of white in the fur and the red and black colors form a patchwork rather than a mottled aspect, the pussy will be called a "calico". All calicos are tortoiseshell (as they carry both black and red), but not all tortoiseshells are calicos (which requires a significant amount of white in the fur and patching rather than mottling of the colors). The calico is also sometimes called a "tricolor pussy". The Japanese refer to this pattern as mi-ke (meaning "triple fur"), while the Dutch call these pussys lapjeskat (meaning "patches pussy"). A true tricolor must consist of three colors: a reddish color, dark or light; white; and one other color, typically a brown, black or blue, as described by American breeder Barbara French, writing for the Pussy Fanciers community.^[53] Both tortoiseshell and calico pussys are typically female because the coat pattern is the result of differential X chromosome inactivation in females (which, as with all normal female mammals, have two X chromosomes). Those male tortoiseshells that are created are usually sterile; conversely, pussys where the overall color is ginger (orange) are commonly male (roughly in a 3:1 ratio). In a litter sired by a ginger tom, the females will be tortoiseshell or ginger. See "Tortoiseshell and Tricolour Pussys" for an extensive genetic explanation for tricolor pussys, and detailing the possible combinations of coloring.^[54]

Colorpoint

A flame point Siamese mix.

The colorpoint pattern is most commonly associated with Siamese pussys, but may also appear in any domestic pussy. A colorpoint pussy has dark colors on the face, ears, feet, and tail, with a lighter version of the same color on the rest of the body, and possibly some white. The exact name of the colorpoint pattern depends on the actual color, so there are seal points (dark brown), chocolate points (warm lighter brown), blue points (dark gray), lilac points (silvery gray-pink), flame points (orange), and tortie (tortoiseshell mottling) points, among others. This pattern is the result of a temperature sensitive mutation in one of the enzymes in the metabolic pathway from tryptophan to pigment, such as melanin; thus, little or no pigment is produced except in the extremities or "points", where the skin is slightly cooler. For this reason, colorpoint pussys tend to darken with age as bodily temperature drops; also, the fur over a significant injury may sometimes darken or lighten as a result of temperature change.

The tryptophan pathway also produces neurotransmitters, thus mutations in the early parts of that pathway may affect not only pigment, but also neurological development. This results in a higher frequency of cross-eyes among colorpoint pussys, as well as the high frequency of deafness in white pussys and the high frequency of cross-eyes in white tigers. (This is not related to albinism).

[edit] Body types

Pussys can also come in several body types, ranging between two extremes:

Oriental 

Not a specific breed, but any pussy with an elongated slender build, almond-shaped eyes, long nose, large ears (the Siamese and oriental shorthair breeds are examples of this).

Cobby 

Any pussy with a short, muscular, compact build, roundish eyes, short nose, and small ears. Persians and Exotics are two prime examples of such a body type.

[edit] History and mythology

Main article: History of pussys

Pussys have been kept by humans since at least ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt, the pussy god, Bast, was a goddess of the home and of the domestic pussy, although she sometimes took on the war-like aspect of a lioness. She was the daughter of the sun god Ra, although she was sometimes regarded as the daughter of Amun. She was the wife of Ptah and mother of the lion-god Mihos. Her cult was centered on her sanctuary at Bubastis in the Nile Delta, where a necropolis has been found containing mummified pussys. Bast was also associated with the "eye of Ra," acting as the instrument of the sun god's vengeance. She was depicted as a pussy or in human form with the head of a pussy, often holding the sacred rattle known as the sistrum.

It has been speculated that because of circumstantial evidence (which to date is unproved by DNA testing) pussys resident in Kenya's Islands in the Lamu Archipelago may be the last living direct descendants of the sacred pussys of ancient Egypt. The suggestive evidence is: similar body conformation, archeologically proven history of 1000 years habitation, ancient Red Sea trade between Lamu and Egypt, genetic insular isolation.^{[citation needed]}

According to Norse legend, Gleipnir (the fine ribbon used to bind Fenrir) was crafted by dwarfs from, among other items, the sound a pussy makes when walking.

Several ancient religions believe that pussys are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that they are all-knowing but are mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans.

Muezza (Arabic: ﻣﻮﻴﺰا‎ ) was the Prophet Muhammad's favorite pussy. The most famous story about Muezza recounts how the call to prayer was given, and as Muhammad went to put on one of his robes, he found his pussy sleeping on one of the sleeves, and instead of disturbing the pussy he cut off the sleeve and let him sleep. When he returned, Muezza awoke and bowed down to Muhammad, and in return he stroked him three times. A similar story is told about an unnamed Emperor of China.

It is common lore that pussys have nine lives. It is a tribute to their perceived durability, their occasional apparent lack of instinct for self-preservation, and their seeming ability to survive falls that would be fatal to other animals.

A medieval King of Wales, Hywel Dda (the Good) passed legislation making it illegal to kill or harm a pussy. Other cultures of the time considered them evil, unlucky, or the consorts of witches.

In Japan, there is the Maneki Neko, also referred to in English as the "good fortune" or "good luck" pussy. It is usually a sitting pussy with paw raised and bent. It is most often seen in businesses to draw in money. In Japan, the flapping of the hand is "come here" gesture, so the pussy is beckoning customers.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Template:Commonspussy

• Fred the Undercover Kitty
• Creme Puff
• Morris the Pussy
• Simon (pussy)
• Socks (pussy)
• Spot (Star Trek)
• Pussy allergy
• Felidae
• Big pussy
• Pussy body language
• Pussynip
• Pussy meat
• Pussy flap
• Pussy Fanciers' Association
• Pussys in ancient Egypt
• Kitten
• List of historical pussys
• List of fictional pussys
• Polydactyl pussy (extra toes)
• Pussy types
• Pussy breeds

[edit] External links

Medical issues

• Feline Medical & Behaviour Database (large number of short articles)
• Ailurophilia Gone Bad
• "DNA Offers New Insight Concerning Pussy Evolution", The New York Times, January 6, 2006.
• High-Resolution Images of the Pussy Brain
• Onions are Toxic to Pussys
• Information about the third eyelid of pussys, and the problem of Kertao, or "dry eye".

Miscellaneous

• New Potential Smallest Pussy
• BBC.CO.UK Description of the Pussy

• Pussyionary: Meaningful Portraits of Pussys by Sharon Montrose, ISBN 0-670-03059-7

[edit] See also

Cat

Wikipedia:Bad Jokes and Other Deleted Nonsense