Cats, also called domestic cats[4][5] or house cats (scientific name: Felis silvestris catus or Felis catus)

are a type of carnivorous mammal of the family Felidae. The word "cat" usually refers to
domesticated "cats",[6] but can also refer to "big cats" such as lions and tigers.

Cats have been intermingled with human life since at least 5,000 years BCE, with the discovery of cat
skeletons on the island of Cyprus.[7] As early as 3,500 BCE, the Ancient Egyptians used cats to keep
rats or other rodents out of barns that stored crops.[8] Today, cats are one of the most common
animals in the world.

Today, cats are one of the most popular pets in the world.[9] Cats whose bloodlines are officially
recorded as pure breeds, such as persians, Siamese, manxes and sphinxes. These cats are usually
bred in official animal shelters. Purebred cats make up just 1% of all cats in the world, with the rest
being mixed-breed cats such as feral or domestic cats.