Also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felines and felids, is a small carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to hunt vermin and household pests. It has been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years and is currently the most popular pet in the world.
A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. It can be trainded to obey simple mechanisms, such as doorknobs and toilet handles. Cat use a variety of vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, "trilling", hissing, growlling,squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting, They are also bred and shown as registered pedigree pets. This hobby is known as "cat fancy".
Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal. However, in 2004, the earliest know location of cat domestication was discovered to be acient Cyprus, and a subsequent study in 2007 found that the lines of descent of all house cats probabley run though as few as five self-domesticting African Wildcats (Felis Slivestris lybica) circa 8000 BC, in the Near East.