 The domestic cat ( Latin : Felis catus ) or the feral cat ( Latin : Felis silvestris catus ) is a small , typically furry , carnivorous mammal . They are often called house cats when kept as indoor pets or simply cats when there is no need to distinguish them from other felids and felines . Cats are often valued by humans for companionship and for their ability to hunt vermin . There are more than 70 cat breeds ; different associations proclaim different numbers according to their standards . 
