Cat

The cat is one of the most common companion animals worldwide and among the most popular pets in South Africa. It is a small, agile carnivore that has lived alongside people for thousands of years while keeping much of its independent nature. Cats adapt readily to flats and townhouses in urban centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, as well as to houses with large gardens in the suburbs or to smallholdings in rural areas.

As pets, cats are valued for their relatively low daily demands. They groom themselves, use a litter tray indoors, and do not need to be walked. Most cats form strong attachments to the people they live with, though the degree of affection and sociability varies considerably between individuals.

Cats remain natural hunters. Even well-fed pets will stalk, pounce, and play, and these bursts of activity are usually followed by long periods of rest. A cat with outlets for hunting-style play and places to climb and hide tends to be calmer and easier to live with.

Who a cat suits

Cats suit people who want companionship without the constant supervision a dog needs. They fit busy households, flats, townhouses, and owners who are out for part of the day, provided the cat has food, water, a clean litter tray, and some enrichment. They are also a reasonable choice for first-time pet owners willing to learn basic care. Cats are a long commitment, often 15 years or more, so they suit people ready to plan for that span.

Estimates of the number of distinct cat breeds vary by registry, with around 102 commonly cited. Despite this number, the large majority of pet cats worldwide are not pedigreed. In South Africa, most pet cats are mixed-breed domestic shorthairs, well suited to the country's warm climate and varied living conditions.

Where breeds do differ, the main characteristics are coat length and texture, body build (from slim and long-limbed to stocky and rounded), head shape, colour and pattern, and broad temperament tendencies. Some breeds were developed for a particular look, while others are tied to a geographic origin.

How breeds are grouped

Cat registries group breeds by coat length (shorthair versus longhair), body type, and accepted colour and pattern classes within each breed. A breed is defined by a written standard describing its ideal appearance, and a pedigreed cat is one with documented parentage matching that standard. Mixed-breed cats are not assigned to a breed, only to general type.

The domestic cat descends from the African wildcat (Felis lybica), a small wildcat native to the Near East and North Africa that still occurs across parts of southern Africa today. The relationship between cats and people began around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, when early farming communities stored grain that attracted rodents. Wildcats that tolerated people and hunted those rodents found a reliable food source, and a loose partnership formed.

One of the earliest pieces of physical evidence is a burial on Cyprus dated to roughly 9,500 years ago, in which a cat was interred near a person. Because cats are not native to Cyprus, the animal must have been brought there by boat, which points to people already keeping cats at that time.

Cats became prominent in ancient Egypt, where they were associated with several deities and were sometimes mummified. From the eastern Mediterranean, cats spread along trade and shipping routes throughout the ancient world, valued for controlling rodents in stores, homes, and on ships. This maritime role carried them across Europe and, in later centuries, to southern Africa and the Americas.

For most of their history, cats were kept for pest control and were largely left to breed freely, so deliberate breeding is relatively recent. Organised cat fancy and the development of formal breeds date mainly from the late 19th century, when cat shows and breed standards began. Today the cat is among the most widespread domesticated animals on the planet.

Cats share a consistent underlying body plan. They are small and muscular with a flexible spine, light bones, and retractable claws that stay sharp because they are kept off the ground. Their eyes are large relative to the head and adapted for low light, giving them strong night vision, and their hearing extends well above the human range. Sensitive whiskers help them judge gaps and navigate in the dark.

The coat ranges from very short to long and flowing, in many colours and patterns including solid, tabby, pointed, spotted, and bicolour. A few breeds are nearly hairless. Most cats have a similar overall shape, so breed differences often come down to coat, colour, ear and tail form, and how slender or stocky the body is.

Variation between breeds

Appearance differs most in coat and silhouette. Slender breeds such as the Abyssinian have long legs and a fine frame, while others are rounder and heavier. Coat length runs from the short coat of the American Shorthair to the long coat of the Balinese. Specific features distinguish some breeds, such as the curled ears of the American Curl or the short tail of the American Bobtail. Colour and pattern range widely even within a single breed.

Cats are predators built around hunting. Even pets that never catch prey will stalk, chase, and pounce in play, and these bursts of activity are often followed by long periods of rest and sleep. Many cats are most active around dawn and dusk.

Socially, cats are flexible. The wildcat ancestor is largely solitary, but domestic cats can live happily in groups when resources are plentiful, and they form bonds with people and other animals they grow up with. They are territorial and mark familiar areas by rubbing their faces and bodies against objects. Conflict over space, food, or litter trays is a common source of stress in multi-cat homes.

Communication combines body language, scent, and sound. Tail position, ear angle, and posture signal mood, while purring, meowing, chirping, and hissing convey different messages. Adult cats meow mainly at people rather than at each other, a behaviour shaped by domestication.

Daily care

• Provide fresh water and feed appropriate meals each day
• Scoop the litter tray at least once daily and keep it clean
• Offer interactive play to satisfy hunting instincts
• Check briefly for any change in appetite, litter habits, or behaviour

Environment

• Give vertical space such as shelves or a cat tree for climbing and perching
• Provide scratching posts to protect furniture and maintain claws
• Offer quiet hiding spots where the cat can retreat
• Keep windows and balconies secured if the cat lives indoors; if the cat has garden access, ensure the garden is properly enclosed

Grooming and handling

Grooming needs depend on coat length. Shorthaired cats usually manage with a weekly brush, while longhaired cats often need brushing several times a week or daily to prevent mats. Most cats groom themselves thoroughly, so bathing is rarely needed. Trim claws every few weeks if the cat tolerates it, and check ears, teeth, and eyes during regular handling. Handle cats gently, support the body, and let nervous cats approach in their own time rather than restraining them.

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they depend on nutrients found in animal tissue and cannot thrive on a plant-based diet. They need a high level of animal protein and certain nutrients, notably taurine, that they cannot produce in adequate amounts themselves. A diet lacking taurine can cause serious heart and eye problems. For this reason, most owners feed a complete commercial cat food formulated to supply the right balance.

Wet food, dry food, or a combination can all work. Wet food adds moisture, which matters because cats have a relatively low natural thirst drive. Portion sizes should match the cat's age, weight, and activity level to avoid obesity, one of the most common nutrition-related problems in pet cats.

Treats, supplements, and water

Treats should make up only a small share of daily calories, as a rough guide no more than about a tenth. A cat on a complete diet usually needs no extra supplements unless a vet advises one. Always provide clean, fresh water. Because some cats drink little, a water fountain or several water bowls placed around the home, combined with some wet food in the diet, can help keep them well hydrated.

Cats are generally robust animals, and with good care many live 12 to 18 years, with some reaching their early 20s. They are skilled at hiding illness, so owners should watch for subtle changes in appetite, weight, litter-tray habits, grooming, and activity, which are often the first signs that something is wrong.

Several conditions are common across the species rather than tied to one breed. Dental disease is very widespread, obesity is a frequent problem in indoor cats, and chronic kidney disease is a leading concern in older cats. Cats are also susceptible to internal and external parasites and to several preventable infectious diseases.

Preventive care

• Keep core vaccinations up to date as advised by a vet
• Use regular flea, tick, and worm control
• Schedule annual checkups, more often for senior cats
• Provide dental care and monitor weight
• Consider neutering, which has health and behaviour benefits

Cats are often described as untrainable, but this is a misunderstanding. They learn readily when training uses rewards they value, such as food or play. They do not respond well to punishment, which tends to cause fear and damage the bond rather than change behaviour. The key is to reward the behaviour you want and redirect the behaviour you do not.

Most cats take to a litter tray with little effort because burying waste is natural to them. Beyond that, cats can learn to come when called, accept a carrier, tolerate nail trims and grooming, and perform simple tricks. Training sessions should be short, as cats lose interest quickly, and consistent across the household.

Getting started

1. Choose a small, high-value reward such as a favourite treat or a few seconds of play
2. Work in short sessions of a few minutes when the cat is relaxed and a little hungry
3. Reward the desired behaviour immediately so the cat connects action and reward
4. Add a word or signal once the behaviour is reliable
5. Repeat in different rooms to help the cat generalise the behaviour

Cats reach sexual maturity young, often around four to six months of age, though this varies with breed and time of year. Females are seasonally polyestrous, coming into heat repeatedly during longer-day periods until they mate. Cats are induced ovulators, meaning ovulation is triggered by mating, which makes successful breeding likely once a female is in heat.

Gestation lasts roughly 63 to 65 days. A typical litter is three to five kittens, though smaller and larger litters occur. Kittens are born blind and helpless and depend entirely on the mother at first. They open their eyes at around one to two weeks, begin weaning at about four weeks, and are usually fully weaned by eight weeks. Early handling and exposure to people and normal household life during the first weeks strongly shape how confident and sociable a cat becomes.

Is a cat right for you?

A cat needs daily feeding, a clean litter tray, play, and attention, even though it is more self-sufficient than many pets. Consider the space you have, whether the cat will live indoors or have access to an enclosed garden, and how a cat fits with other pets and family members. Costs include food, litter, routine veterinary care, vaccinations, parasite control, and the possibility of unexpected medical bills. Most importantly, a cat often lives 15 years or more, so it is a long commitment that should outlast changes in home, work, and lifestyle.

Where to get one

Cats come from several sources. The SPCA and independent rescue organisations across South Africa have cats and kittens of all ages needing homes, often already neutered and vaccinated. Responsible breeders are an option for those wanting a specific pedigreed breed; a good breeder lets you see the conditions, shares health information, and asks questions about the home. Avoid sources that cannot show where the cat was raised or that breed without regard for health and socialisation.

Registering your cat and its microchip in South Africa

Every stray that lands at an SPCA branch gets scanned, and the scan helps only when a registry answers with a name and number. A free United Pet Club profile gives your cat that record, indoor cat or garden wanderer, for as long as she's yours. Even a homebody can slip out through a gate left open for the gardener. Registering your cat takes a few minutes, and there's no fee now or later.

If a chip is already under her skin, finish the job by recording the number. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: any brand a South African vet implants is accepted, updating after a move between provinces costs nothing, and the record is searchable around the clock, here and abroad. Create your free account and get the profile and the chip squared away in one session.