Donkey

Horses, donkeys and zebras are all members of the same genus called Equus. The word donkey and ass are used to identify the same animal. Its Latin name is Equus asinus, from where the shortened term ‘ass’ is derived.

Donkeys are descendents of the African wild ass. They were first domesticated by humans in Africa. They are now used around the world as working animals.

It is believed that Egyptians domesticated the donkey around 4000 BC. It is much steadier on its hooves than a horse and, therefore, it is better on trails. It also has a longer life span (twenty-five to fifty years, with many reaching thirty years as well).

The average donkey stands 40 inches at the shoulder, but different breeds vary greatly in size and shape. Donkeys rage from white to gray or black in color. They usually have a dark stripe from the mane to the tail and a crosswise stripe on the shoulder.

Wild donkeys congregate in small groups with transient members. Groups generally consist of bachelor males or females and their immature off-spring. Only mature jacks are solitary.

Donkeys as a dairy species have been known since the Roman age not only for the nutritional value of their milk but also for its beneficial properties in skin care.
Donkey

The domestic cat

The cat is a much loved and well-known animal. In farms its value as a rodent catcher has been appreciated for centuries. Loved and familiar though it is, the cat remains an enigma.

The earliest known companion cat dates to about 4500 years ago, when a cat was buried with its master in an Egyptian tomb. Cats in Egypt were often mummified and placed in tombs as members of the family.

Cats are intelligent, highly specialized mammals that evolved a range of morphological adaptations and sensory abilities to suit their exclusively carnivorous lifestyle.

Hunting by sight at night mean they see in lower light intensities then the people can and are particularly sensitive to rapid movement.

Cats living together in feral groups do interact affectionately. Similar, in multi-cat households, adult cats may greet each other with head rubbing, and they may lie together and groom each other, although such interludes are often tempered with an occasional spat.

The relationship between cats and people has shown considerable evolution and change over the centuries. The main ancestor of the domestic cat, the African wildcat of North America Felis silvestris lybica, overlapped the March cat Felis chaus in its range in Egypt along the Nile.

Today, there are more than fifty five million cat owners in the United States, making cats the number one household.

The domestic cat