Cat SVMS 2068

Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: F. catus The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or housecat is a small, furry, domesticated, canivorous mammal. Cats have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years, and are currently the most popular pet in the world. Cats are now found almost everywhere in the world. Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felines with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. As nocturnal predators, cats use their acute hearing and ability to see in near darkness to locate prey. Not only can cats hear sounds too faint for human ears, they can also hear sounds higher in frequency than humans can perceive. This is because the usual prey of cats (particularly rodents such as mice) make high frequency noises, so the hearing of the cat has evolved to pinpoint these faint high-pitched sounds. Cats feed on small prey, primarily birds and rodents. Feral cats and house cats that are free-fed tend to consume many small meals in a single day, although the frequency and size of meals varies between individuals. Domestic cats select food based on its temperature, smell and texture, strongly disliking chilled foods and responding most strongly to moist foods rich in amino acids, which are similar to meat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat

Rostral view of the skull and mandible of the cat 1. 2. Rostral view of the skull and mandible of the cat 3. 10. 4. 5. 9. 6. Frontal bone Nasal bone Nasal septum Zygomatic arch Maxilla Vomer Premaxilla Mental foramen Osseous nasal opening Infraorbital foramen 7. 8.

1. 2. 4. Cat skull lateral view 3. 21. 6. 20. 13. 5. 7. 18. 10. 9. 19. 17. 14. 16. 15. 8. 12. 11. Lacrimal bone Frontal bone Temporal fossa Parietal bone External occipital protuberance Nuchal crest External auditory meatus Occipital condyle Jugular process Mastoid process with Stylomastoid foramen Typanic bulla Squamous temporal bone Coronoid process Angular process Masseteric fossa Zygomatic arch Maxilla Mental foramina in the body of mandible Infraorbital foramen Incisive bone Nasal bone

Cat Skull Posterior View 2. Cat Skull Posterior View 1. 3. 9. 4. 5. 6. 8. 7. Parietal Sagittal Crest Frontal bone Interparietal bone External occipital protuberance Supraoccipital bone Occipital condyle Nuchal tubercle Zygomatic arch

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 2. 3. Cat Skull Ventral View 9. 10. 1. 11. 12. 15. 19. 17. 13. 20. 18. 14. 16. Premaxilla Canine tooth Maxilla Major palatine foramen Minor Palatine foramina 6. Mandibular fossa 7. Retroarticular process External acoustic meatus Stylomastoid foramen Foramen magnum Occipital bone Jugular process Jugular foramen Tympanic bulla Foramen ovale 12. Caudal alar foramen Rostral alar foramen Basisphenoid bone Presphenoid bone Palatine

2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 6. Cat Skull Dorsal View 7. 14. 8. 13. 9. 12. 11. 10. Jugal Frontal process Zygomatic process of frontal bone Coronoid process of mandible Zygomatic process of temporal bone Temporal bone Pariental bone 8. Occipital bone 9. Interparietal bone 10. Sagital crest 11. Frontal Maxilla Nasal bone Incisive bone