Although the cat is a social species, it is a solitary hunter. Cat communication includes vocalizations like meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting as well as cat-specific body language. Its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. The cat is similar in anatomy to the other felid species: it has a strong flexible body, quick reflexes, sharp teeth, and retractable claws adapted to killing small prey like mice and rats. About 60 cat breeds are recognized by various cat registries. Domestic cats are valued by humans for companionship and their ability to kill vermin.
Cats are commonly kept as house pets but can also be farm cats or feral cats the feral cat ranges freely and avoids human contact. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of the family. The cat ( Felis catus) is a domesticated species of small carnivorous mammal.