Cat, (Felis catus), also called house cat or domestic cat, domesticated
member of the family Felidae, order Carnivora, and the smallest member
of that family.
Like all felids, domestic cats are characterized by supple low-slung
bodies, finely molded heads, long tails that aid in balance, and
specialized teeth and claws that adapt them admirably to a life of
active hunting. Cats possess other features of their wild relatives in
being basically carnivorous, remarkably agile and powerful, and finely
coordinated in movement.