The cat ( Felis catus ) is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal . [1] [2] It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is often referred to as the domestic cat to distinguish it from the wild members of the family. [4] A cat can either be a house cat , a farm cat or a feral cat ; the latter ranges freely and avoids human contact. [5] Domestic cats are valued by humans for companionship and their ability to hunt pests such as rodents . About 60 cat breeds are recognized by various cat registries . [6] 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. Its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. Cat communication includes vocalizations like meowing , purring , trilling , hissing, growling and grunting as well as cat-specific body language . It is a solitary hunter but a social species . It can hear sounds too ...