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Cats. Pages: |
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Cats Cool - Page 1
Cat, a family of the Carnivora, which of course comprises the king of the beasts ... lions, as well as tigers, leopards, and many smaller species. They are
found in the temperate and tropical countries of both hemispheres, except Austral Asia and Madagascar.
Generally, however, the name is used for the various domestic breeds, and believed, to be descended from two
closely allied species, one inhabiting Europe, the other N. Africa. The latter was tamed by the ancient Egyptians,
and was probably imported to Europe, where it mixed with the native wild cat, which is not un-common in some
parts of the Continent, and still survives in Scotland.
Both these species are marked with vertical black stripes, and this pattern may be seen on one of the
commonest breeds, the striped or "mackerel tabby". Equally common in Europe is the marbled or "blotched
tabby", in which the pattern is bolder and differently arranged.
All the known breeds are traceable to one or the other of these two types, although selective breeding
has eliminated the pattern in many cases. The breeds differ principally in colour, length of coat and
length of tail. The chief colour variations are black, reddish yellow, gray, silver, and white, or a
combination of these colours.
There is more, saunter this way ... »
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