Everything You Need to Everything You Need to Know AboutKnow About
The History of the CatThe History of the Cat• The first catlike animal appeared 35 million
years ago• Was called the Proailurus • 10 – 15 million years ago a descendant of
Proailurus, called Pseudailurus roamed in Eurasia
• From Pseudailurus, cats diversified and spread• Cats were amongst the most successful of
mammals in colonizing the earth• Only Australia and Antarctica don’t have
native cats
A Cat’s Importance A Cat’s Importance Throughout History In…Throughout History In…
EGYPT• In about 1500 BC, a Pharaoh had a huge
supply of grain• The Pharaoh announces that all cats are
demigods• New status of cats made sure that they were
worshipped and pampered• When a cat died there was a period of
mourning • The cat would be mummified• In an elaborate ceremony it was buried in
wooden or bronze casket in a cat cemetery
A Cat’s Importance A Cat’s Importance Throughout History In…Throughout History In…
Sea Voyages• Sailors needed to protect grain
and food supplies from mice and rats
• They began to take cats with them on voyages
• Domestic cats were then introduced to Asia and Europe
• As exploration and trade grew the cat spread around the New World
A Cat’s Importance A Cat’s Importance Throughout History In…Throughout History In…
Europe• In 14th century England cats were believed
to symbolize evil and were thought to be associated with witchcraft and devilry
• Hundreds of thousands of cats were burned• As cat population decreased rat population
grew• Cat’s value in control of rodents was
discovered again• The cat popularity returned
A Cat’s Importance A Cat’s Importance Throughout History In…Throughout History In…
Asia• Cats are highly respected in Asia• In some regions cats were used in
temples to protect manuscripts• They helped guard silkworm
cocoons• In Siam (present-day Thailand) cats
could only be owned by royalty
A Cat’s SkeletonA Cat’s Skeleton
1. Skull 7. Mandible 13. Sternum 19. Tarsals2. Cervical vertebrae 8. Hyoid 14. Phalanges 20. Caudal Vertebrae3. Scapula 9. Humerus 15. Metacarpals4. Thoracic vertebrae 10. Carpals 16. Ribs5. Pelvic bone 11. Phalanges 17. Xiphoid6. Femur 12. Ulna 18. Ribs
Simple Cat BiologySimple Cat BiologyTeeth
• 15 teeth on each side of the midline of an adult cat’s skull
• Teeth include: three upper and three lower incisors, one upper and one lower canine, three upper and two lower premolars, and one upper and one lower molar
Simple Cat Biology Simple Cat Biology (Continued)(Continued)
Tail• The cat’s tail shows its mood • Tail seems to also be used for balance• The tail may also help heavier, larger cats
like the cheetah keep balance
What I LearnedWhat I Learned• Though I knew some basic things
about cats, I wanted to learn even more, because I love cats
• I learned the history of the cat and how it came to be
• I learned the anatomy and biology of the cat and how it can keep its balance
CreditsWorks Cited
The Little Guides: Cats. San Francisco: Fog City Press, 2003
Slide show made by:Alicia Ding
CATS RULE!!!!
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