Visit my World of Wild Cats

Welcome, one and all to your voyage with the family felidae, the cat. The relationship between cats and the human race goes back at least 4,000 years. This site will dwell mainly on the wild cat part of the family tree; however, there are times when comparisons will be presented. The wild cats encompass all the big cats that we know tigers, lions, etc., plus some smaller versions of these cats like the ocelot, African wild cat, and many more. The cat is a gorgeous creature whether wild (felidae) or domesticated (felis catus), with the little tame members of this family have all the basic ingredients that their wild relatives have. I'd personally prefer my small pet cat sitting on my knee than a tiger. Not only would the tiger out weigh me, but also can you imagine his tongue licking your hand. On his pint-sized relative the tongue is rough enough, visualize for a moment how much of your hand and arm a tiger's tongue could lick with one swipe. The abrasive tongue on all cats is practical for cleaning themselves, each other, and for licking remnants of flesh and blood from carcasses. The rasp you feel from the tongue is comprised of sharp projections called 'papillae,' which cover the upper tongue. So the next time your pet cat licks you, imagine that tongue in a larger size cleaning your hand or the bones of a carcass. The feel would compare to rubbing a rough piece of sand paper "lightly" over your hand. It's not quite as moist as a tongue but I believe you'll get the idea. The small wild cats and domestic cats purr but don't roar. The big cats do not purr, but they can roar. The only exceptions to this are the cheetah and puma that have been noted to purr while grooming each other or when the cubs are resting with the mother. You may be acquainted with your own pet's purrs, my three all purr for various reasons and are all slightly different. However, when I'm ill and can't sleep their purring soon allows me to rest. The big cats mainly vocalize with roars and screams. The body shape of all the cats is similar. There is basically one build for cats of any size. They are lithe, strong, and agile. Wild or tame, they are predators that hunt food. They will stalk their prey, wait for the right moment, and then pounce. When they pounce, they automatically go for the 'kill' points - the throat or the back of the neck.

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