Faces People, Places, and World Culture for Kids and Children October 2015

THE TIGER is the largest member of the cat family — some are almost 700 pounds! That’s more than the combined weight of 80 house cats! Here are five more tiger facts! HOW MANY? Today, we have fewer than 4,500 tigers left in the world. At one time in the early 20th century, there were more than 100,000 tigers. WHERE Once upon a time, tigers roamed from Turkey through Southeast Asia. Now, they can only be found in Eastern Russia, China, and Southeast Asia. EAT Tigers like a big lunch — deer, pigs, water buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys, and snakes. WATER Unlike house cats, tigers love the water, and love swimming. It’s not known if they wait an hour to go swimming after they eat. FAMILY Tigers have three or four…

CATNATOMY MOUTH Cat teeth are built for the hunt.: long front teeth are for seizing and holding its prey. When a cat licks your hand, doesn’t it feel like sandpaper? There are tiny spines on the tongue that slant back to also hold onto their meal; these spines are also handy for cleaning fur. FEET Cats walk on their toes, and they have retractable claws. Most cats have five claws on their front paws, and four or five on their rear paws. EYES To see better in darkness, there’s a reflective layer at the back of cat eyes that helps bring more light. Special adaptations give the cat a minimum light sensitivity seven times lower than that of humans. Cats have a third protective eyelid, the nictitating membrane, which is…

The lion has been a symbol of strength, courage, and royalty throughout history. In ancient Egypt, the goddess of war was Sekhmet, a woman with the head of a lioness. Lion-human hybrids called sphinxes guarded the gates of cities, temples, and royal palaces in Egypt and Assyria (now Iraq). In Greek mythology, Hercules’ first labor was to slay the Nemean Lion, and Oedipus had to answer the famous riddle of the sphinx who guarded the entrance to the city of Thebes: “What creature walks on four legs in the morning, on two at midday, and on three in the evening?” (The answer to this burning question? Man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane in his old…

We’re used to seeing cats in people’s homes. In fact, you may have one or even several living in your house, sleeping on your bed, or curled up in the most comfortable chair in the living room. And anyone who shares their home with a cat knows how true it is that people never really “own” cats, and it’s more likely that cats simply put up with their human housemates for food and comfort. One famous quote by Robert Vogel states, “A dog is a man’s best friend. A cat is a cat’s best friend.” But despite their reputation, we love cats. Yet how did an animal that is basically a miniature version of a wildcat like a tiger or a lion, end up as one of the most popular…

IN THE REALM OF THE JAGUAR The image of the mighty jaguar played a significant role in the most advanced civilizations of the pre-Columbian Americas. (This is the era prior to the 16th century, before Europeans arrived.) To these people the jaguar represented fear of the unknown, the ferocious beast lurking unseen in the dark jungle. The jaguar was a mysterious and supernatural creature that moved between our world and the spirit world beyond. And the jaguar meant power, seen by few but feared by all. Even the mightiest king or priest wanted to possess the power of the great jaguar. It’s no wonder the jaguar (Panthera onca) commanded such fear and respect from the people who lived in its realm. As the largest big cat in the Americas, a…

Is there a cat in your household? If there is, chances are it isn’t a special breed. Maybe your cat came from the animal shelter, or from a friend whose cat had kittens. Most of us have cats that are the feline version of mutts: no particular breed, but we love them just the same. But cats come in more varieties than you can imagine. You may know about Siamese cats, or long-haired fluffy Persian or Angora cats. But how about cats whose ears fold over, or whose legs are short and stumpy, that don’t have tails or perhaps don’t even have fur? Welcome to the wonderful world of cat breeds! There are about 100 known breeds of cats in the world. Some cat breeds have occurred naturally, when a…