Cats
Nocturnal predator and solitary explorer domesticated 10,000 years ago
The domestication of the cat (Felis catus) is one of the most recent and most singular in animal history. Unlike the dog, the cat was not deliberately domesticated by hunter-gatherers for its functional abilities: it was the rise of agriculture in the Near East, approximately 10,000 years ago, that initiated this relationship.
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Grain storehouses attracted rodents and small birds; wild felids of the species Felis silvestris lybica (African subspecies) that hunted them naturally drew closer to human settlements, finding there an abundant food resource without having to surrender their independence.
This origin explains a fundamental characteristic of the domestic cat: it is, according to ethologists, a "facultatively social" animal. Unlike the dog whose sociability is a biological necessity, the cat can live in a colony or alone without its well-being being profoundly altered, provided that its fundamental needs are met. Genomic studies published in Nature Communications (2017) confirmed that the domestic cat's genome differs from its wild ancestor cat on only a few dozen genes, primarily linked to reward processing, reduction in fear responses and adaptation of activity rhythms — a particularly "light" domestication on an evolutionary scale.
The Egyptians played a central role in the diffusion of the domestic cat throughout the Mediterranean basin, from 3,700 BCE. The goddess Bastet, depicted with a cat head, symbolized protection of the home and fertility. Cats were mummified by hundreds of thousands as votive offerings, and their mistreatment was punishable by death. This sacralization contributed to the rise of a dense feline population that later accompanied Egyptian commercial maritime routes to Europe, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Today, the International Cat Federation (FIFé) recognizes 71 official breeds, covering a morphological palette from the short-legged Munchkin to the Maine Coon (up to 10 kg) including the slender Abyssinian or the brachycephalic Persian. The vast majority of pet cats in the world (approximately 75%) remain, however, undefined "domestic" cats, vigorous in their genetic heterozygosity and often longer-lived than intensely selected breeds. Average life expectancy is between 12 and 16 years, with documented records exceeding 25–28 years in neutered individuals living exclusively indoors.
Overview
0.1–30 kg
Weight range
min ↔ max documented
12–18 ans
Life expectancy
all ages
Medium
Majority size
55 breeds of 80
7
Hypoallergenic
of 80 listed
Distribution by size
Ideal profile
What should good food contain for cat ?
Nutritional ranges validated by our team. These are the ranges our PawScore considers ideal.
Cat dry food
- Protein25–42%
- Fat12–22%
- Fiber1–4%
- Calories340–420kcal
Cat wet food
- Protein8–14%
- Fat3–10%
- Fiber0.2–1.5%
- Calories70–110kcal
Cat BARF
- Protein14–22%
- Fat8–16%
- Fiber0.5–2%
- Calories110–170kcal
Values outside the range are not dangerous, but slightly reduce the PawScore according to our methodology.
By build
Choose by size
The #1 criterion when choosing a breed — space needed, transport, budget.
Discover
The essentials
A selection to start your exploration of cats.
Abyssin
Medium-sized feline breed, balancing independence and affection.
American curl
cat breed
American Shorthair
Medium feline breed, balance between independence and affection.
American wirehair
Cat breed
Anatoli
Cat breed originating from Turkey
Lifestyle
Territory and space
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The cat is a territorial animal whose well-being depends directly on its ability to control a defined space. In nature, an intact male can defend a territory of 1 to 10 km², compared to 0.5 to 2 km² for a female. In an apartment, this need for control translates into the importance of high areas (shelves, cat trees, top of cabinets), semi-enclosed refuges and variety of scratching surfaces. A cat with a rich vertical space of 3 meters feels safer than a cat in a large bare apartment without the ability to overlook its environment.
Olfactory marking — by rubbing facial glands, scratching surfaces and, in intact males, urine spraying — is a normal communication behavior, not a sign of behavioral problems. Neutering both sexes before 6 months considerably reduces urine spraying and aggressive behaviors related to sex hormones.
Rhythms and stimulation
Contrary to their reputation as lazy, cats are crepuscular predators (active at dawn and dusk) who naturally devote 10 to 14 hours per day to sleep — a rhythm linked to their metabolism as an ambush hunter. Activity phases are short, intense and precise. Interactive play sessions (feather wand, laser pointer accompanied by a tangible prey to capture) of 10 to 15 minutes, twice a day, satisfy this predatory need and prevent obesity, a pathology showing clear progression in indoor cats (estimated prevalence of 40–60% in Western Europe).
Cognitive enrichment also involves variety: new object rule (regularly introduce new objects into the environment), puzzle feeders, views of the outdoors via secure windows or screened enclosures (catios), and playback of nature sounds.
Multi-species cohabitation
Cohabitation between cats proves delicate: cats are fundamentally less tolerant of conspecifics than dogs, especially when not socialized together from a young age. Introduction of a second cat into a household must follow a gradual desensitization protocol over 2 to 4 weeks: initial separation with odor exchange, then controlled visual contacts before free cohabitation. A multi-cat household must offer as many litter boxes as cats plus one, and as many distinct rest areas as felines to avoid resource conflicts.
Nutrition
Strict carnivore: physiology without compromise
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The cat is the only obligate carnivore among common pet animals. Its digestive physiology is entirely optimized for animal proteins and lipids, and presents several major metabolic incapacities that distinguish it from the dog or human. It cannot synthesize taurine (amino acid essential to vision and heart function), arachidonic acid (omega-6 fatty acid present only in animal fats), nor vitamin A from beta-carotene — it requires preformed retinol of animal origin. Taurine deficiency causes dilated cardiomyopathy and irreversible retinal degeneration (FCRD) in a few months.
The protein requirements of adult cats are 26 to 30% on a dry matter basis according to the NRC, twice as much as those of a dog of the same weight. The cat has hepatic enzymes (aminotransferases) constantly active to degrade amino acids, independently of dietary intake — a system adapted to an exclusively carnivorous diet that makes prolonged protein restriction particularly deleterious.
Care
Grooming
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The cat devotes 30 to 50% of its waking hours to grooming, maintaining its own coat thanks to its tongue covered with cornified papillae (filiform). This autonomy does not dispense with human assistance for long-haired breeds (Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll): daily brushing with a fine-toothed comb prevents the formation of painful knots and reduces hair ingestion (responsible for hairballs or trichobezoars). Short-haired breeds are satisfied with weekly brushing.
Claws and litter
Claws grow in concentric layers and naturally sharpen by scratching surfaces — behavior essential to direct toward suitable scratchers (sisal, cork, corrugated cardboard). Monthly trimming of the claw tip with an appropriate clipper limits domestic accidents. Litter must be cleaned daily and completely changed every 1 to 2 weeks.
Preventive veterinary care
The basic vaccination protocol covers feline panleukopenia, feline respiratory disease (herpesvirus + calicivirus) and feline leukemia (FeLV) for outdoor cats. Primary vaccination is performed between 8 and 12 weeks, with a booster at 1 year then every 1 to 3 years depending on lifestyle. Neutering is recommended from 4–6 months.
Alert signals
Stranguria (repeated attempts to urinate without emission, absolute emergency in males), anorexia exceeding 24 hours (risk of hepatic lipidosis), polydipsia-polyuria, third eyelid visible at rest and abundant nasal or ocular discharge.
Family tree · phylogeny
Morphology of medium and long-haired cats
Official classification by silhouette — from compact cat (cobby) to slender cat (oriental). Recognized by feline federations (CFA, FIFé).
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Family tree · phylogeny
Morphology of medium and long-haired cats
Official classification by silhouette — from compact cat (cobby) to slender cat (oriental). Recognized by feline federations (CFA, FIFé).
Official classification by silhouette — from compact cat (cobby) to slender cat (oriental). Recognized by feline federations (CFA, FIFé).
Cobby · brevilinear
Sturdy body, heavy bone structure, round head, short legs.
4 breeds
Semi-cobby
Muscular body but slightly more elongated than cobby.
3 breeds
Semi-foreign
Balanced silhouette, neither compact nor slender. Most common profile.
16 breeds
Foreign · foreign
Fine and toned body, airy gait without being graceful.
3 breeds
Oriental · longilinear
Long and slender body, high legs, triangular head.
3 breeds
Semi-cobby
Muscular body but slightly more elongated than cobby.
3 breeds
Semi-foreign
Balanced silhouette, neither compact nor slender. Most common profile.
16 breeds
Foreign · foreign
Fine and toned body, airy gait without being graceful.
3 breeds
Oriental · longilinear
Long and slender body, high legs, triangular head.
3 breeds
Filled chips = file available · Dotted = documented breed not yet referenced
Family tree · phylogeny
Morphology of short-haired cats
Same spectrum cobby → oriental, applied to short-haired breeds. FIFé / CFA categorization.
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Family tree · phylogeny
Morphology of short-haired cats
Same spectrum cobby → oriental, applied to short-haired breeds. FIFé / CFA categorization.
Same spectrum cobby → oriental, applied to short-haired breeds. FIFé / CFA categorization.
Cobby · brevilinear
Corps trapu, pattes courtes, museau aplati.
4 breeds
Semi-foreign
Balanced silhouette — neither compact nor slender.
10 breeds
Oriental · longilinear
Long body, long legs, triangular head.
4 breeds
Cobby · brevilinear
Corps trapu, pattes courtes, museau aplati.
4 breeds
Oriental · longilinear
Long body, long legs, triangular head.
4 breeds
Filled chips = file available · Dotted = documented breed not yet referenced
What if your next companion was already waiting for you? Many shelter cats are of an identifiable breed — every adoption is a new life beginning. Meeting in a shelter is often the love of a lifetime.
Alert
To avoid for cat
Our database lists toxic ingredients and problematic additives by species.
- cocoa pasteModerate
- onion piecesModerate
- low-fat cocoa powderModerate
- chilliModerate
Rankings
Find the right cat
Thematic selections to guide your choice based on your lifestyle.
The most intelligent cat breeds
Problem-solving, learning, interaction: feline brains.
See the rankingRed cat breeds
From the British Shorthair to the Maine Coon, here are the most beloved red-coated cats.
See the rankingCat breeds with blue coats
Chartreux, Russian Blue, Korat: the blue-gray coat, from myth to reality.
See the rankingHairless or down-coated cat breeds
Sphynx, Donskoy, Peterbald — for lovers of skin-to-skin contact.
See the rankingCat breeds that get along with dogs
Sociable and self-assured: cats who adopt the house dog.
See the rankingThe largest cat breeds
Maine Coon, Savannah, Norwegian — the giants of the feline world.
See the rankingOur catalog cat
Daily update723
Referenced products
70/100
Average PawScore
18%
Rated excellent
130 produits
9
Organic products
1% du catalogue
Distribution by category
Complete catalog
All breeds of cats
80 pages · filter by size, energy, lifestyle.
Next step
The right meal for your cat.
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