From Wild To Mild

Cats are a mix of opposites—quiet purrs and cutting teeth, soft fur and razor claws. House cats have lived with humans for thousands of years, but in many ways they’re still tigers on the inside.

- Ellen R. Braaf

Dogs have been living with humans for about 12,000 years—about twice as long as cats have. In that time, dogs have changed a lot from their wolf ancestors. Like many domestic animals, adult dogs keep the look of youngsters, with big heads and round eyes. They have lost their killer instincts and learned to like human company. They are cute, social, and trusting. These changes help them fit into a life with humans.

But cats are, well, different. Although cats are happy to live in human houses and eat our food, they have stayed more like their wild relatives than have dogs, cattle, horses, or sheep. So how did these little tigers move into the living room?

It’s a Cat’s Life

Felids—as scientists call members of the cat family—are very adaptable. Some kind of cat lives in almost every environment on Earth. Lions rule the open grasslands. Tigers lurk in dense forests and jungles. Leopards hunt mainly at night and climb trees easily. Jaguars slosh through rivers, swamps, and streams. And cougars pad over rocky slopes and through deep snowdrifts.

All cats are hunters. They eat meat, and their bodies are built for power, speed, and stealth. They walk tiptoed on cushioned paws, with flexible spines and powerful jaws. Their longest teeth fit between the neck bones of prey like keys in a lock.

Most cats are natural loners, although lions live in groups called prides, and cheetahs and jaguars will sometimes roam in pairs. But unlike dogs, cats don’t care about getting along with a pack, following a leader, or learning social rules. Cats like to be their own bosses and often see other cats as intruders, not friends.