Title: Identify the characteristics of cats.
Course: Small Animal Care I (18102-18) > Section: Caring for and Managing Cats

Identification should include

- common feline terminology, including male and female internal and external anatomy
- domesticated cat ancestry
- physical characteristics (e.g., skeletal features, eyes, ears, coat, and whiskers) and their effects on a cat’s functions
- classification of cats according to hair length and color
- markings and color patterns
- body language
- behavioral characteristics, including normal and warning behaviors.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is a cat’s scientific classification (i.e., kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species)?
- What physical characteristics contribute to a cat's speed and flexibility? How?
- How are a cat's eyes physically different from the eyes of other animals? What advantages do these special characteristics give the cat?
- What are the characteristics of a cat that make them desirable as companion animals?
- How are cats’ ears physically different from the ears of other animals? What advantages are associated with this difference?
- Why is it important to protect and care for a cat's coat? What functions does the coat serve?
- How does a cat’s increased perception affect how it reacts to stimuli?

Teacher Resource:

- The Cat Fanciers’ Association (https://cfa.org/)