The basic cat "design" has been wonderfully adaptable. Cat species have adapted in a range sizes, some much larger than the largest cats today (lions and tigers), down to some miniature insect eaters. They all have relatively short digestive tracts so must live mostly on protein rich prey. People, dogs, and bears, for example, are all omnivores and eat a variety of foods, but cats must have mostly meat. Plants are just eaten to scour out their insides or make them purge their stomaches. They can't get much nourishment from green plants or grains.
Cats live in nearly all altitudes and climates, even fairly far north and south getting into snowy areas. Lions and other large cats once lived in Europe and throughout the Americas.
Genetically, the domestic cat is about 99% genetically identical to the tiger, except in genes controlling size.
In a sense, cats domesticated people. They were drawn to human grain stores and the rodents the grain attracted, and then discovered that people could provide a direct food supply, companionship, excellent shelter and sleeping situations, safety from predators, not to mention medical care and amusing toys.
Cat etiquette is important to cats. People who don't look directly at them at first are seen as friendly and not stalking them. Cats want to make all the friendly moves, and then he people have a chance to reciprocate. Cats tend to choose their people first and can be ardent if they take a liking to a person or family. I've had a friend's cat snuggle up on my lap and chew on my ear out of affection. If they like you, they go all out.
A neighborhood cat left a present of a dead squirrel on the carport, so I dispatched the remains with a snow shovel into an wooded easement across the street. When the cat came back and saw it was gone, it assumed I had eaten the squirrel and came up and rubbed against my leg and accepted my gratitude. It was a beautiful cat but I haven't seen it since.
We have a full house with two adult cats, brothers, who are jealous of their peoples' attention even with each other.
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