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!!!!