Cats and Hunting
Through the centuries the cat has been valued for its prowess in hunting. Even as long ago as 1,000 BC the cat was used in Japan and China to protect the silkworm cocoons from ravage by rats. In the ninth century in South Wales, a law was passed against killing a cat or its kittens because of their value in protecting the stores of grain. Today cats still perform a valuable service to the community by keeping down the rodent population.
The cat is built supremely for the life of a hunter. It has padded feet which make no sound, and muscles of enormous power and bulk in proportion to its size which are attached to bones adjusted to each other at such angles as to form a complete system of springs and levers for propelling the body. The cat's claws are sharper and more curved into strong hooks than in any other mammal, and by action of special muscles are withdrawn under sheath-like pads to escape injury and wear when not in use. No teeth are better fitted for their work of tearing or shearing off lumps of flesh small enough to swallow. In the eye, the fibers of the iris expand the pupil to full circle to admit the darkness of the night and, by rapid and spontaneous contraction, shut off all excess of blinding light at midday permitting minutely exact vision under either extreme. The cat is a work of precision mechanism from lions down to domestic cats. All are able to move delicately on their toes and are able to trot or, when speed is required, to race along in graceful bounding leaps, each movement silently controlled by great efficient muscles.
A cat's hearing is extremely acute, with the exception of white cats with blue eyes --many of whom are incurably deaf. Cats can detect sound far beyond the range of human hearing, and it has been suggested that a cat's hearing is more acute even than that of a dog. Each ear contains twenty-seven muscles which enable the part of the ear that we see, the pinna, to be turned in several directions to collect sound waves. Most cats enjoy music, and it's not unusual to see a cat stepping on the piano keys. They will often sit and listen to music as attentively as their human and have definite likes and dislikes.
It is widely believed that cats can see in the dark, but this is a fallacy. Cats cannot see in complete darkness, but they can see better than most mammals in a  dim light. In its wild state, a cat is nocturnal and does most of its hunting by moonlight; many pet cats still sleep by day and hunt by night. Many nocturnal animals can increase the amount of light passing through the retina because they have a reflecting layer in the area behind the retina, this is known as the tapetum. It is the tapetum which causes cats' eyes to shine at night when a bright light is directed at them. The iris in a cat's eyes is very contractile and is equipped with a dilating muscle which can respond suddenly to light changes. In a dim light, the pupil is widely exposed allowing the maximum light to pass through to the retina. In bright light, the opening contracts until all that is left of the pupil is a vertical slit.
Cat Whiskers
 A cat sheds its coat in spring, and in autumn it is regrown. Whiskers are not shed with the rest of the coat, and are longer and grow in tufts. They feel coarse and wiry to the touch and are found on the tips of the ears, the eyebrows, and the face. The bulbs of the hairs are rich in nerve and blood supplies and their special function is to protect the eyes and to act as very sensitive organs of touch. It is a widely held belief that domestic cats use their whiskers to measure a gap before going through, but few of the unfortunate overfed cats have whiskers to match their size. However, in a poor light this can be a valuable asset.
Cat Communication
A cat's face can be very expressive, it can show many moods: annoyance, fear, pleasure and pain. A cat with lots of personality may show every reaction and thought on its face and can be read like human expressions. The eyes change color, the pupils widen. The ears and the tail can demonstrate various moods by the way they in which they are held. Every cat has its own character and, as an individual, it develops its own means of communication. All cats are vocal and develop a language by means of gestures and expressions. Although some basic gestures are common to all cats, there are many that are special to the cat's own personality.
The grin of the Cheshire cat may have been especially large, but many cats enjoy a good joke and can grin almost was widely as he can. Cats have a sense  of humor and often have an expression of laughing. They do not enjoy a joke against themselves, however, nor do they like to be laughed at. They hate to be teased, and they very rarely learn to do tricks just to amuse. But if their human is having fun they like to join in, and they will certainly grim broadly at a joke against him.
Cat Caution
 Most cats are very good at looking after themselves, and, on the average, have a life-span of fourteen to fifteen human years. The myth that cats have nine lives is well known, though it is usually meant that a cat has nine "chances" --each time a cat has a narrow escape from an accident he is said to have lost one of his nine lives. Cats seem to have some miraculous escapes, and they also treat life with the greatest respect. A cat will not rush into a situation without first examining its surroundings. Open the door to let it out, and it will size things up before it leaves the safety of the house. At night, it will hesitate while its eyes adjust to the darkness. Its reaction to sudden movement or noise is so swift that it can usually escape threatening danger, just as when a cat falls it nearly always lands on its feet.
Cats and Dogs
A cat will only behave aggressively to dogs when they pose a threat to its territory or to its security. There is no threat when they share the territory with a dog, as when they belong to the same human, so there is no need for aggression. Cats and dogs are not natural enemies. When cats and dogs live together, however, it is usually the cat who is in charge.
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