1 All cats, both exotic and domestic, belong to the same family, the Felidae. The domestic cat is descended from a species of small wildcat called Felis silvestris.

2 The lion is the only member of the cat family that hunts in a
family group or pride. All other cats are solitary hunters and mainly live alone.

3 Cats’ hearts beat twice as fast as ours, about 240 beats per minute. They have faster metabolisms, requiring more oxygen to the heart. The faster beating meets that demand.

**Get the November 2007 issue of CAT FANCY to read the full article.**