Cats, also called domestic cats (Felis catus), are small, carnivorous (meat eating) mammals, of the family Felidae. Cats have been domesticated (tamed) for nearly 10,000 years. Some of the most popular breeds of this mammal include the Siamese, Japanese Bobtail, Abysinnian, Cornish Rex, American Shorthair, Ragdoll, Aegean cat, Russian Blue, Persian, Manx, Burmese, Sphynx, and British Shorthair Tabby.