1. Cat SVMS 2068

2. 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.

4. Rostral view of the skull and mandible of the cat1. 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.

7. 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

9. Cat Skull Posterior View2.
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

11. 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

13. 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