All About Cats: History, Care, and More!

This class will discuss the domestic cat from historic, scientific, and cultural viewpoints.  This is a great course for any student who has a cat as a pet, loves cats, or is interested in adopting a cat and wants to find out more.  Students will also have a chance to share about their own cats, and even bring their cats to class if they would like! 

Week 1: History of Cats. This week will cover the prehistoric origin of cats, the first domestic cats in Ancient Egypt, and how their popularity quickly spread around the world. Students will view pictures of domestic cats throughout history, including mummified cats from Egypt and humans with their cat companions throughout history.  

Week 2: The Science of Cats. This week covers cats' physical anatomy and five senses, including the importance of their whiskers and tails in their ability to navigate their surroundings.  We will discuss cats' unique eyes and how they function to let in and keep out light, allowing them to see in almost complete darkness. 

Week 3: Cat breeds. Although there are many cat breeds, we will discuss the different categories of breeds and focus more on a few breeds, some traditional and some more recently developed.  Students will be asked to share more about their cats (if they have them) or cats that they know or are interested in. The end-of-class project, a short report on a cat breed, will be introduced here. 

Week 4: Cats in culture. Over the years, cats have been very important to our culture, including in literature, TV and movies, cartoons, etc. Cats have also played a part in many myths and superstitious beliefs. We will discuss the role of cats in society, and students will be able to share who their favorite cat "characters" are.

Week 5: Cat care. Students will learn more about choosing the right cat and caring for their cat/kitten, including feeding, grooming, the litter box, play, and taking your cat to the vet. 

Week 6: Presentations. Students will share their presentations on cat breeds to their classmates.  The instructor will provide them with feedback based on facts, creativity, and oral presentation.