It has a flexible, muscular body perfectly adapted for hunting, sharp claws and teeth, and excellent vision, hearing, and smell. The domestic cat has always served humans primarily as a hunter of rodents and also as a companion and pet. A cat can reach speeds of up to 48 km/h, but only over short distances. Worldwide, the domestic cat is the most popular household pet, even outnumbering dogs by three to one. At the withers, a cat is about 30 cm tall, and the body length including the tail is around 80 cm. Males are larger than females and weigh about 3.5–7 kg, while females weigh about 2.5–4.5 kg. The coat is usually short, straight, and close-lying. Cats can have two litters per year, with up to ten kittens in a single litter. Pregnancy in domestic cats lasts approximately 9 weeks.
