The Private Life of a Cat: Documentary Film (1944)

http://thefilmarchive.org/

The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felines and felids, is a small, furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests. Cats have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years, and are currently the most popular pet in the world. Owing to their close association with humans, cats are now found almost everywhere in the world.

Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. As nocturnal predators, cats use their acute hearing and ability to see in near darkness to locate prey. Not only can cats hear sounds too faint for human ears, they can also hear sounds higher in frequency than humans can perceive. This is because the usual prey of cats (particularly rodents such as mice) make high frequency noises, so the hearing of the cat has evolved to pinpoint these faint high-pitched sounds. Cats also have a much better sense of smell than humans.

Despite being solitary hunters, cats are a social species and use a variety of vocalizations, pheromones and types of body language for communication. These include meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting.

Cats have a rapid breeding rate. Under controlled breeding, they can be bred and shown as registered pedigree pets, a hobby known as cat fancy. Failure to control the breeding of pet cats by spaying and neutering, and the abandonment of former household pets, has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, with a population of up to 60 million of these animals in the United States alone.

As The New York Times wrote in 2007, "Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal," but a study that year revealed that the lines of descent of all house cats probably run through as few as five self-domesticating African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) c. 8000 BC, in the Near East. The earliest direct evidence of cat domestication is a kitten that was buried alongside a human 9,500 years ago in Cyprus.

The gestation period for cats is between 64--67 days, with an average length of 66 days. The size of a litter averages three to five kittens, with the first litter usually smaller than subsequent litters. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven weeks, and cats normally reach sexual maturity at 5--10 months (females) and to 5--7 months (males), although this can vary depending on breed. Females can have two to three litters per year, so may produce up to 150 kittens in their breeding span of around ten years.

Cats are ready to go to new homes at about 12 weeks old, or when they are ready to leave their mother. Cats can be surgically sterilized (spayed or castrated) as early as 7 weeks to limit unwanted reproduction. This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as aggression, territory marking (spraying urine) in males and yowling (calling) in females. Traditionally, this surgery was performed at around six to nine months of age, but it is increasingly being performed prior to puberty, at about three to six months. In the USA approximately 80% of household cats are neutered.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat

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[Keith5Cats2]

This isn't typical of males. These adult cats have been buddies for a while. None-the-less fix all the cats!! We don't need any more homeless, starving, sick cats.

[PrimalRhythm]

Wow. I have never seen a cat give birth before. As well as the parenting involved. Amazing how the kittens immediately knew how to nurse. She was such a good mom. When the dad finally came in from the "waiting room", at first I was thinking he might hurt the kittens. I don't know why, though. But he tried to help best as he could, by babysitting, grooming and playing with the kittens. I wonder if he knew they were his offspring? Cute how the kittens resembled the parents coloring and markings.

[tntpde]

i dont hear the sound...

[cbunn77]

The cutest silent film I've ever seen indeed. Although I didn't really get the "cat's-eye view" of the film, it sure was adorable to watch. To see this mother cat at her most private part of her life was breathtaking. Mother cats usually hide during giving birth, so as an owner of 8 cats, it was really touching to see that moment.

[planetraptor420]

related videos: inside the mind of hitler

[kivlov]

this is the best fucking documentary ive seen in my life,cats are fucking awesome

[ChildFlowwwer]

@mobyasuka lol nice one :P

[mobyasuka]

should have been called "The Private Life of a Human"

[geyza0711]

felines are the most wonderful creatures on earth. i wish I was a cat but only with an owner like me who opens the door 1000 times a day and gives me the bestest foods :)

[xxxNOIRxxx]

@PrimalRhythm human babies do the same thing when left alone and placed on their mother's belly, they will literally climb up their mother's belly and chest to nurse-it's just that doctors usually whisk away a baby unnecessarily.