Continued from Part 1
Dear friends,
Last posting I stopped with domestication of cats and the two theories about it.. Let me continue with cat domestication theories.
Sincerely,
Gopala Krishnan 30-4-2012.
Reposted on 5-9-2020 after editing and updating. R. Gopala Krishnan.
9. Cat domestication theories
In one, people deliberately tamed cats in a process of artificial selection, as they were useful predators (preying on) of vermin (pests, mice etc).
However, this has been criticized as implausible, because there may have been little reward for such an effort: cats generally do not carry out commands and, although they do eat rodents, other species such as ferrets or terriers may be better at controlling these pests.
The alternative idea is that cats were simply tolerated by people and gradually diverged from their 'wild' relatives through natural selection, as they adapted to hunting the vermin found around humans in towns and villages.
10.. Cat genetics
Blue-eyed cats with white fur have a high incidence of genetic deafness.
The domesticated cat and its closest wild ancestor are both diploid organisms that possess 38 chromosomes and roughly 20,000 genes.
About 250 heritable genetic disorders have been identified in cats, many similar to human inborn errors.
The high level of similarity among the metabolisms of mammals allows many of these feline diseases to be diagnosed using genetic tests that were originally developed for use in humans, as well as the use of cats in the study of the human diseases.
11.. Why do cat do not eat sweets?
An example of a mutation that is shared among all felines, including the big cats, is a mutant chemo sensor in their taste buds that prevents them from tasting sweetness, which may explain their indifference to fruits, berries, and other sugary foods.
My note- Is it a similar reason, dogs do not eat bananas and other fruits?
12.. Deaf cats
In some breeds of cats congenital deafness is very common, with most white cats (but not albinos) being affected, particularly if they also have blue eyes.
The genes responsible for this defect are unknown, but the disease is studied in the hope that it may shed light on the causes of hereditary deafness in humans.
MY NOTE- I never knew some cats have deafness especially white colour and blue eyes. Most cats when we say "myavu myavu" found turn or sternly look at us. Some will run, but a few would sit or stand there as if least bothered. It would leave on its own will.
13 Iyer home and cats
In one of my visits to Tanjore with family, since my son desired we went to a home of his friend in Soudi. To my wonder a lot of cats were running here and there. To a query his mother said- "I liked one cat that came here, now it is with its kittens. They do not harm, do not enter kitchen and drink milk. Let them be there.
14 Cats can elongate their body.
While providing windows in my home in Chennai, my engineer provided meshed grilles from other rooms. He said, cats may squeeze into the kitchen owing to smell of milk.
15 Covid 19 and cats.
Many cats and dogs I could see earlier, now cats are the least seen. Dogs are rarely found in day time but many are found at night. I wondered where they were in day time.
16 Cats returning home
In my boyhood days I had seen nuisance cats being put into hessian bags and taken 2-3 KMs away and released. 50% returned home in one or two days. Again after a few days the same procedure was followed but in vain. But mostly in a third attempt as if it smells the person leaving they may not return.
Posted by: Narayanan Ramachandran <nnr_rama@yahoo.com>
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