{"id":1380,"date":"2021-04-26T11:33:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T15:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beverlyhillsvets.com\/blog\/?p=1380"},"modified":"2021-04-26T11:33:27","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T15:33:27","slug":"the-very-few-differences-between-wild-and-domesticated-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beverlyhillsvets.com\/blog\/the-very-few-differences-between-wild-and-domesticated-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"The Very Few Differences Between Wild and Domesticated Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The pet cats we know and love today are descended from the ancient wildcats Felis silvestris lybica<\/em>. Originally from the Fertile Crescent (and subsequently revered in ancient Egypt), history\u2019s wildcats enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with humans. However, despite living in close quarters for approximately 10 millennia, people cannot always get a read on domesticated cats. Without a doubt, many pet cats remain ferocious, independent, and true to their feline natures. In part, they are still remarkably wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Taming Inherited Behaviors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may be said that \u201cowning a cat\u201d is a bit of an oxymoron. After all, if anyone\u2019s the owner in a feline-human relationship, it\u2019s clearly the cat<\/a>. Seen as symbols of liberty and individualism, cats have taught us that in order to co-exist they must be completely free of our expectations or constraints. They please themselves, and that\u2019s final<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traits of Wild Cats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Domesticated cats and their wild cousins share a great deal of DNA. That being said, as they evolved from their wildcat ancestors, some important characteristics changed. For example, even though all cats are obligate carnivores, domesticated cats have longer intestines to accommodate diets with less meat than wild cats require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, domesticated cats have smaller adrenal glands than wild cat species. This is because their lifestyle is such that they don\u2019t rely much on their fight-or-flight hormones while lounging around the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Purr and the Roar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Large cat species, like tigers and lions, have the ability to roar. They have a small bone near the larynx, called the hyoid. As a result, they cannot purr. Of course, some domesticated cats take purring to extremes. Since they lack the hyoid bone, they cannot roar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wild…and Domesticated Cats <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cat behaviors are fairly alike across the 30-plus species spectrum, and include the following famously feline traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n