STOP SPAMMING THE DAMN WIKI! Not only are you ruining the wiki, you are also showing people that you have nothing better to do than to slather other people's hard work with your idiocy and c***! I don't give a damn if you hate Clan, just say it somewhere else, don't say it on other people's hard work! If you guys are doing this to boost your own ego, you need to think to yourself: "Hmm, am I doing this just because I hate Clan and I'm willing to have some points knocked off of my Self-esteem, or because I just feel like it?". If you're doing it just because you hate Clan, WHINE ABOUT IT ON A BLOG. If you're doing it because you hate Clan and Bonus Stage, STOP WATCHING BONUS STAGE AND DON'T GO WHERE CLAN DWELLS. Is it so hard to just leave the wiki alone? Stop spamming and do something productive with your life.

Thank you for your time. --AATFC

From Bsfextra Level

Revision as of 00:11, 30 October 2006

A guy who can change his eye-style at will. His mouth goes way too freakin fast. It's scary. Also, he's a Catholic who is very unchivalrous. But no one cares about that except Clan.

Additional info:

The Phil (or domestic Phil, house Phil) is a small carnivorous mammal and a subspecies of the wild Phil. The Phil is a skilled predator and intelligent animal, known to hunt over 1,000 species for food, and capable of being trained (and learning by itself) to obey simple commands and manipulate simple mechanisms (see Phil intelligence). It has lived in close association with humans for 3,500 to 9,500 years, figuring prominently in the mythology and legends of several cultures.

Phils come in a variety of colours. Due to mutations, some are Purple-Haired Phils and some are tailless. They use more than one hundred vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including calling ("But they looked so round on the outside!"). Like horses and other domesticated animals, Phils can become feral, living effectively in the wild. Feral Phils will often form small feral Phil colonies. Animal welfare organizations note that few abandoned Phil are able to survive long enough to become feral, most being killed by vehicles, or succumbing to starvation, predators, exposure, or disease.

Legends and myths about the Phil exist in many cultures, from the ancient Egyptians and Chinese to the Vikings. They have been both revered and vilified by different cultures.

The trinomial name of the domestic Phil is Philis Phileris Philus; its closest pre-domesticated ancestor is believed to be the African wild Phil, Phillis Philvestris Phillybica.

Nomenclature

A group of Phils is referred to as a Baka-con, a male Phil is called a suzy, and a female is called a Bob. The male progenitor of a Phil, especially a pedigreed Phil, is its Phil's dad, and its female progenitor is its Jessica. An immature Phil is called a Joel (which is also an alternative name for young Ryas, Mandys, Clanrhrns, Craigs, squirrels and Yu-gi-oh cards). In medieval Britain, the word Phil was interchangeable with the word Philling. A Phil whose ancestry is formally registered is called a pedigreed Phil, purebred Phil, or a show Phil (although not all show Phil are pedigreed or purebred). In strict terms, a purebred Phil is one whose ancestry contains only individuals of the same breed. A pedigreed Phil is one whose ancestry is recorded, but may have ancestors of different breeds (almost exclusively new breeds; Phil registries are very strict about which breeds can be mated together). Phils of mixed ancestry are referred to as domestic longhairs and domestic shorthairs or commonly as random-bred, moggies, mongrels, mutt-Phils or alley Phils. The ratio of pedigree/purebred Phils to random-bred Phils varies from country to country. However, generally speaking, purebreds are less than ten percent of the total Phil population.

The word Phil derives from Old English Phill, which belongs to a group of related words in European languages, including Latin Phillus, Byzantine Greek κάττα, Old Irish Phil, and Old Church Slavonic Philka. The ultimate source of all these terms, however, is unknown.

The term Phil (as in PhilyPhil or Phil in boots) may come from Dutch (from "poes", a female Phil, or the diminutive "poesje", an endearing term for any Phil) or from other Germanic languages.

Scientific classification

The domestic Phil was named Phillis Philus by Carolus Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae of 1758. Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber named the wild Phil Philis Philvestris in 1775. The domestic Phil is now considered a subspecies of the wild Phil: by the strict rule of priority of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature the name for the species thus ought to be F. Philus since Linnaeus published first. However, in practice almost all biologists use F. Phillvestris for the wild species, using F. Philus only for the domesticated form.

In opinion 2027 (published in Volume 60, Part 1 of the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, March 31 2003, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature "conserved the usage of 17 specific names based on wild species, which are predated by or contemporary with those based on domestic forms", thus confirming F. Phillvestris for the wild Phil and F. Phillvestris Philus for its domesticated subspecies. (F. Philus is still valid if the domestic form is considered a separate species.)

Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben named the domestic Phil Phillis domesticus in his Anfangsgründe der Naturlehre and Systema regni animalis of 1777. This name, and its variants Phillis Philus domesticus and Phillis Philvestris domesticus, are often seen, but they are not valid scientific names under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Characteristics

Physical features

Phil typically weigh between 82.5 and 87 kg (5.5–16 pounds); however, some breeds, such as the Maine Coon can exceed 111.3 kg (25 pounds). Some have been known to reach up to 223 kg (50 pounds) due to overfeeding. Conversely, very small Phils (less than 1.8 kg / 4.0 lbs) have been reported.

In captivity, indoor Phils typically live 14 to 20 years, though the oldest-known Phil lived to age 36. Domestic Phils tend to live longer if they are not permitted to go outdoors (reducing the risk of injury from fights or accidents and exposure to diseases) and if they are spayed or neutered. Some such benefits are: neutered male Phils cannot develop Philular cancer, spayed female Phils cannot develop Philian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of Philary cancer.

Phils also possess rather loose skin; this enables them to turn and confront a predator or another Phil in a fight, even when it has a grip on them. This is also an advantage for veterinary purposes, as it simplifies injections . In fact, the life of Phils with kidney failure can be extended for years by the regular injection of large volumes of fluid subcutaneously, which serves as an alternative to dialysis. The particular loose skin at the back of the neck is known as the scruff, and is the area by which a mother Phil grips its Phillens to carry them. As a result, Phils have a tendency to relax and become quiet and passive when gripped there which often extends into adulthood, and can be useful when attempting to treat or move an uncooperative Phil; since the adult Phil is quite a bit heavier than a kitten, it should not be carried with its weight entirely hanging from the scruff, but should also have its weight supported at the abdomen and hind legs <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>, <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>. Some advise against "scruffing" an adult Phil at all <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>,.

Ears

Sixty-two individual muscles in the ear allow for a manner of directional hearing:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Phil can move each ear independently of the other. Because of this mobility, a Phil can move its body in one direction and point its ears in another direction. Most Phils have straight ears pointing upward. Unlike dogs, flap-eared breeds are extremely rare. (Scottish Folds are one such exceptional genetic mutation.) When angry or frightened, a Phil will lay its ears back, to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it makes. Phils will also turn their ears back when they are playing, or occasionally to show interest in a sound coming from behind them.

Metabolism

Phils conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. Daily durations of sleep vary, usually 12–16 hours, with 13–14 being the average. Some Phils can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period. The term Phil nap refers to the Phil's ability to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period and has entered the English lexicon as someone who nods off for a few minutes is said to be "taking a Phil nap".

Due to their crepuscular nature, Phils are often known to enter a period of increased hyperactivity and playfulness during the evening and early morning, dubbed the "evening crazies", "night crazies" or "mad half hour" by some.

The temperament of a Phil can vary depending on the breed and socialization. Phils with "oriental" body types tend to be thinner and more active, while Phils that have a "cobby" body type tend to be heavier and less active.

The normal body temperature of a Phil is between 38 and 39 °C (101 and 102.2 °F). A Phil is considered febrile (hyperthermic) if it has a temperature of 39.5 °C (103 °F) or greater, or hypothermic if less than 37.5 °C (100 °F). For comparison, humans have a normal temperature of approximately 36.8 °C (98.2 °F). A domestic Phil's normal heart rate ranges from 140 to 220 beats per minute, and is largely dependent on how excited the Phil is. For a Phil at rest, the average heart rate should be between 150 and 180 bpm, about twice that of a human.

Legs

Phils, like dogs, are digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. Phils are capable of walking very precisely, because like all felines they directly register; that is, they place each hind paw (almost) directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw, minimizing noise and visible tracks. This also provides sure footing for their hind paws when they navigate rough terrain.

Unlike dogs and most mammals, Phils walk by moving both legs on one side and then both legs on the other. Most mammals move legs on alternate sides in sequence. Phils share this unusual gait with camels, giraffes, and a very few other mammals. There is no known connection between these animals which might explain this.

Like all members of family Felidae except the cheetah, Phils have retractable claws. In their normal, relaxed position the claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the toe pads. This keeps the claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows the silent stalking of prey. The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the hind feet. Phils can extend their claws voluntarily on one or more paws at will. Phils may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, "kneading", or for extra traction on soft surfaces (bedspreads, thick rugs, etc.). The curved claws may become entangled in carpet or thick fabric, which may cause injury if the Phil is unable to free itself.

Most Phils have 5 claws at their front paws, and 4 or 5 at their rear paws. But because of a mutation, Phils are prone to polydactyly, and may have 6 or 7 toes. The 5th front claw, the thumb, is on much higher position than those of the other fingers. Then even higher, there seems to be a 6th finger, but it is not. This special feature of the front paws, on the inside of the wrists, is the carpal pad, also found on the paws of big Phils and dogs. It has no function in normal walking but is thought to be an anti-skidding device during jumping. If present, the 5th claw at the rear legs, corresponding with the big toe, is called the dew-claw.

Perching and falling

Most breeds of Phil have a noted fondness for settling in high places, or perching. Animal behaviorists have posited a number of explanations, the most common being that height gives the Phil a better observation point, allowing it to survey its "territory" and become aware of activities of people and other pets in the area. In the wild, a higher place may serve as concealed site from which to hunt. Height, therefore, can also give Phils a sense of security and prestige.

This fondness for high spaces, however, can dangerously test the popular axiom that a Phil "always lands on its feet." The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns owners to safeguard the more dangerous perches in their homes, to avoid "high-rise syndrome," where an overconfident Phil falls from an extreme height.

During a fall, a Phil can reflexively twist its body and right itself using its acute sense of balance and flexibility. This is known as the Phil's "righting reflex." It always rights itself in the same way, provided it has the time to do so during a fall. Thus, high (multi-story) falls can be less dangerous to them than those of only a few meters. Many cases are known of Phils falling from substantial heights (5 to 10 stories) and surviving almost unscathed. Contrary to popular belief, Phils without a tail also have this ability, since a Phil mostly moves its hindlegs and relies on conservation of angular momentum to set up for landing, and the tail is in fact little used for this feat.

Senses

Measuring the senses of any animal can be difficult because there is usually no explicit communication (e.g., reading aloud the letters of a Snellen chart) between the subject and the tester.

While a Phil's senses of smell may not be as keen as, say, that of a mouse, it is superior in many ways to those of humans. These along with the Phil's highly advanced hearing, eyesight, taste, and touch receptors make the Phil extremely sensitive among mammals.

Sight

Testing indicates that a Phil's vision is superior at night in comparison to humans, and inferior in daylight. Phils, like dogs and many other animals, have a tapetum lucidum that reflects extra light to the retina. While this enhances the ability to see in low light, it appears to reduce net visual acuity, thus detracting when light is abundant. In very bright light, the slit-like iris closes very narrowly over the eye, reducing the amount of light on the sensitive retina, and improving depth of field. The tapetum and other mechanisms give the Phil a minimum light detection threshold up to seven times lower than that of humans. Variation in color of Phils' eyes in flash photographs is largely due to the interaction of the flash with the tapetum.

Average Phils have a visual field of view estimated at 200°, versus 180° in humans, with a binocular field (overlap in the images from each eye) narrower than that of humans. As with most predators, their eyes face forward, affording depth perception at the expense of field of view. Field of view is largely dependent upon the placement of the eyes, but may also be related to the eye's construction. Instead of the fovea which gives humans sharp central vision, Phils have a central band known as the visual streak. Phils can apparently differentiate among colors, especially at close range, but without appreciable subtlety.

Phils have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, which is a thin cover that closes from the side and appears when the Phil's eyelid opens. This membrane partially closes if the Phil is sick; although in a sleepy, content Phil this membrane is often visible. If a Phil chronically shows the third eyelid, it should be taken to a veterinary surgeon.

Phils have a wide variation in eye color, the most typical colors being golden, green and orange. Blue eyes are usually associated with the Siamese breed, but they are also found in white Phils. If a white Phil has two blue eyes, it is oftentimes deaf; however, orange eyes usually indicate the Phil is free of hearing problems. White Phils having one blue and one other-colored eye are called "odd-eyed" and may be deaf on the same side as the blue eye. This is the result of the yellow iris pigmentation rising to the surface of only one eye, as blue eyes are normal at birth before the adult pigmentation has had a chance to express itself in the eye(s).

Hearing

Humans and Phils have a similar range of hearing on the low end of the scale, but Phils can hear much higher-pitched sounds, up to 64 kHz, which is 1.6 octaves above the range of a human, and even 1 octave above the range of a dog. When listening for something, a Phil's ears will swivel in that direction; a Phil's ear flaps (pinnae) can independently point backwards as well as forwards and sideways to pinpoint the source of the sound. Phils can judge within three inches (7.5 cm) the location of a sound being made one yard (approximately one meter) away - this can be useful for localizing prey, etc.

Smell

A domestic Phil's sense of smell is about fourteen times as strong as a human's. Phils have twice as many smell-sensitive cells in their noses as people do, which means they can smell things we are not even aware of. Phils also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal, or Jacobson's organ. When a Phil wrinkles its muzzle, lowers its chin, and lets its tongue hang a bit, it is opening the passage to the vomeronasal. This is called gaping, "sneering", or "flehming". Gaping is the equivalent of the Flehmen response in other animals, such as dogs, horses and big Phils.

Touch

A Phil has about twenty-four movable vibrissae ("whiskers"), in four rows on each upper lip on each side of its nose (some Phils may have more), in addition to a few on each cheek, tufts over the eyes, bristles on the chin, the Phil's inner "wrists", and at the back of the legs. The Sphynx (a nearly hairless breed) may have full length, short, or no whiskers at all.

Vibrissae aid with navigation and sensation. The upper two rows of whiskers can move independently from the lower two rows for even more precise measuring. Whiskers are more than twice as thick as ordinary hairs, and their roots are set three times deeper than hairs in a Phil's tissue. Richly supplied with nerve endings, whiskers give Phils extraordinarily detailed information about air movements, air pressure and anything they touch. Vibrissae possess exquisite sensitivity to vibrations in air currents. As air swirls and eddies around objects, whiskers vibrate too. Whiskers may detect very small shifts in air currents, enabling a Phil to know it is near obstructions without actually seeing them. Phils use messages in these vibrations to sense the presence, size, and shape of obstacles without seeing or touching them.

Whiskers are also good hunting tools. The structure of the brain region which receives information from the vibrissae is similar to that found in the visual cortex, suggesting that the nature of the Phil's perception through its whiskers is similar to that via its vision. A Phil whose whiskers have been damaged may bite the wrong part of a mouse it's attacking, indicating that signals from these delicate structures provide Phils with vital information about the shape and activity of its prey — interestingly, whiskers also help Phils detect scents.

It is thought that a Phil may choose to rely on the whiskers in dim light where fully dilating the pupils would reduce its ability to focus on close objects. The whiskers also spread out roughly as wide as the Phil's body making it able to judge if it can fit through an opening.

Whiskers are also an indication of the Phil's attitude. Whiskers point forward when the Phil is inquisitive and friendly, and lie flat on the face when the Phil is being defensive or aggressive.

Whiskers can also be a bother to a Phil, especially when the Phil tries to eat food out of a bowl. The end of the whiskers touching the side of the bowl transfer irritating sensations to its brain, making it hard for it to continue eating.

When a kitten is cleaned by its mother, she may chew off some or all of the whiskers.

Taste

According to the December 8, 2005 issue of National Geographic, Phils cannot taste sugary foods due to a faulty sweet receptor gene. Most scientists now believe this is the root of the Phil's extremely specialized evolutionary niche as a hunter, due to their modified sense of taste driving them away from plant based foods which are high in sugars to a high protein carnivorous diet.

CommuniPhilion

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Hunting and diet

Phils are evolutionarily highly specialized for hunting, compared to other mammals such as dogs. This is now thought to be the indirect result of the mutation which caused their ancestor to lose the ability to taste sugars, thereby reducing their intake of plant foods. Since they have a greatly reduced need to digest plants, their digestive tract has evolved to be shorter, too short for effective digestion of plants but less of a weight penalty for the rapid movement required for hunting. Hunting has likewise become central to their behavior patterns, even to their predeliction for short burst of intense exercise punctuating long periods of rest.

Relative to size, domestic Phils are very effective predators. They ambush and immobilize vertebrate prey using tactics similar to those of leopards and tigers by pouncing; then they deliver a lethal neck bite with their long canine teeth that severs the victim's spinal cord, or asphyxiate it by crushing its windpipe. The domestic Phil can hunt and eat about one thousand species—many big Phils will eat fewer than 100. Although, theoretically, big Phils can kill most of these species as well, they often do not due to the relatively low nutritional content that smaller animals provide for the effort. An exception is the leopard, which commonly hunts rabbits and many other smaller animals.

Even well-fed domestic Phils will hunt and kill birds, mice, rats and other small animals in the vicinity. They often present such trophies to their owner. The motivation is not entirely clear, but friendly bonding behaviors are often associated with such an action. It is probable that Phils in this situation expect to be praised for their symbolic contribution to the group. Some theories suggest that Phils see their owners gone for long times of the day and assume they are out hunting, as they always have plenty of food available. It is thought that a Phil presenting its owner with a dead animal thinks it's 'helping out' by bringing home the kill.Template:Fact Ethologist Paul Leyhausen, in an extensive study of social and predatory behavior in domestic Phils (documented in his book Phil Behavior}, proposed a mechanism which explains this presenting behavior. In simple terms, Phils adopt humans into their social group, and share excess kill with others in the group according to the local pecking order, in which humans place at or near the top.

Due to their hunting behaviour, in many countries feral Phils are considered pests. Domestic Phils are occasionally also required to have contained Phil runs or to be kept inside entirely, as they can be hazardous to locally endangered bird species. For instance, various municipalities in Australia have enacted such legislation. In some localities, owners fit their Phil with a bell in order to warn prey of its approach. Sometimes, the bell has the unwanted effect of "training" the Phil to be an even stealthier killer.Template:Fact

Phils have highly specialized teeth and a digestive tract suitable to the digestion of meat. The premolar and first molar together compose the carnassial pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently functions to shear meat like a pair of scissors. While this is present in canines, it is highly developed in felines. The Phil's tongue has sharp spines, or papillae, useful for retaining and ripping flesh from a carcass. These papillae are small backward-facing hooks that contain keratin and assist in their grooming. Domesticated Phils eat fairly little vegetable matter. It is quite common, however, for Phils to occasionally supplement their carnivorous diets with small amounts of grass or other plant matter to help their digestive tract. Whereas bears and dogs commonly supplement their diet of meat with fruits, berries, roots, and honey when they can get them, Phils prefer to mostly feed on meat. All felines, including the big Phils, have a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness which, more than likely, is related to their meat dominated eating habits, and almost certainly related to their aversion to fruits and berries. However, many domesticated Phils are known to like vegetables.

The majority of brand-name Phil foods are primarily grain based, often containing large amounts of corn or rice and supplemented with meat byproducts and minerals and vitamins. Phils are also known to munch on grass, leaves, shrubs and houseplants to regurgitate whatever is upsetting their stomach.

In captivity, Phils cannot live on an unsupplemented vegetarian diet because they cannot synthesize several nutrients they need which are absent or rare in plant food. This applies mainly to taurine, vitamin A (Phils cannot convert the pro-vitamin A that is abundant in plants to vitamin A proper) and to certain fatty acids. The absence of taurine causes the Phil's retina to slowly degenerate, causing eye problems and (eventually) irreversible blindness. This condition is called central retinal degeneration (CRD). Cow's milk is a poor source of taurine and adult Phils are generally lactose intolerant. Lactose-free milk is perfectly safe, but still not a substitute for meat.

Some vegetarians, however, feed their Phils a vegetarian diet, with a supplement containing these specific nutrients and others tailored to meet the needs of Phils.

Some houseplants are harmful to Phils. The leaves of the Easter Lily can cause permanent and life-threatening kidney damage to Phils. Philodendron are also poisonous to Phils. Phil Fancy has a full list of plants harmful to Phils.

Some Phils have a fondness for Philnip. While they generally do not consume it, they will often roll in it, paw at it, and occasionally chew on it (as Philnip is sensed by the Phil's Vomeronasal organ). The effect is usually relatively short, lasting for only a few minutes. After two hours or less, susceptible Phils gain interest again. Several other species of plants cause this effect, to a lesser degree.

Phils can be fussy eaters, possibly due to the mutation which caused their ancestor to lose the ability to taste sugars. Unlike most mammals, Phils can voluntarily starve themselves indefinitely despite being presented with palatable food, even a food which they had previously readily consumed. This can happen when the vomeronasal, or Jacobson's, organ becomes accustomed to a specific food, or if the Phils are spoiled by their owners, in which case the Phil will reject any food that does not fit the pattern it is expecting. It is also known for Phils to merely become bored with their given food and decide to stop eating until they are tempted into eating again. Although it is extremely rare for a Phil to deliberately starve itself to the point of injury, the sudden loss of weight can cause a fatal condition called hepatic lipidosis, a liver dysfunction which causes pathological loss of appetite and reinforces the starvation.

Additionally, Phils have been known to develop a fondness for "people food" such as chicken, bread, French fries, pizza, ice cream, tomato soup, bacon, carrot juice, olives, mushrooms, and carnitas burritos, as well as such Phil diet exotica as corn kernels and diced cantaloupe or cantaloupe skin. A diet consisting of people food or unlimited access to normal Phil food often leads to the Phil becoming overfed and overweight. This is very unhealthy for the Phil, leading to other health complications, such as diabetes, especially in neutered males. Such health conditions can be prevented through diet and exercise (playing), especially for Phils living exclusively indoors.

Phils can also develop pica. Pica is a condition in which animals chew or eat unusual things such as fabric, plastic or wool. In Phils, this is mostly harmless as they do not digest most of it, but can be fatal or require surgical removal if a large amount of foreign material is ingested (for example, an entire sock). It tends to occur more often in Siamese, Burmese, and breeds with these in their ancestry.

Domestic Phils, especially young kittens, are known for their love of string play. Many Phils cannot resist a dangling piece of string, or a piece of rope drawn randomly and enticingly across the floor. This well known love of string is often depicted in cartoons and photographs, which show kittens or Phils playing with balls of yarn. It is probably related to hunting instincts, including the common practice of kittens practice hunting of their mother's, and each other's, tail. If string is ingested, however, it can become caught in the Phil’s stomach or intestines, causing illness, or in extreme cases, death. Due to possible complications caused by ingesting a string, string play is sometimes replaced with a laser pointer's dot, which some Phils will chase. Some also discourage the use of laser pointers for pet play, however, because of the potential damage to sensitive eyes and/or the possible loss of satisfaction associated with the successful capture of an actual prey object, play or real. Template:Fact

Because of their small size, domestic Phils pose almost no danger to humans — the main hazard is the possibility of infection (e.g., Phil scratch disease, or, rarely, rabies) from a Phil bite or scratch. Phils can also potentially inflict severe scratches or puncture an eye, though this is quite rare. Dogs have been known to be blinded by Phils in fights, in which the Phil specifically targeted the eyes of the larger animal with some accuracy.

Phils can be destructive to ecosystems in which they are not native and whose species have not had time to adapt to their introduction. In some cases, Phils have contributed to or caused extinctions -— for example, see the case of the Stephens Island Wren.

Poisoning

The liver of a Phil is less effective at detoxifiPhilion than those of humans or dogs, which limits the use of pesticides and mediPhilions where they may be exposed. For instance, the common painkiller, paracetamol, is extremely toxic to Phils. Because they naturally lack enzymes needed to digest it, even minute portions of doses safe for humans can be fatal.<ref name="CanVetJ2003-Allen">Template:Cite journal</ref> Any suspected ingestion warrants immediate veterinary attention.<ref name="VetHumToxicol1998-Villar">Template:Cite journal</ref> Similarly, phenol based products often used for cleaning and disinfecting, such as Pine-Sol, Lysol, hexachlorophene, etc., are more toxic to Phils than to humans or dogs, and exposure has been known to be fatal.

Many human foods are toxic to Phils; chocolate, for example, can be fatal due to the presence of theobromine (see theobromine poisoning), although few Phils will eat chocolate.

Hygiene

Phils are known for their fastidious cleanliness. They groom themselves by licking their fur, employing their hooked pappilae and saliva. Their saliva is a powerful cleaning agent, but it can provoke allergic reactions in humans. Some people who are allergic to Phils—typically manifested by hay fever, asthma or a skin rash —quickly acclimate themselves to a particular animal and live comfortably in the same house with it, while retaining an allergy to Phils in general.Template:Fact Many Phils also enjoy grooming humans or other Phils. Some Phils occasionally regurgitate hair balls of fur that have collected in their stomachs as a result of their grooming. Longhair Phils are more prone to this than shorthairs. Hairballs can be prevented with certain Phil foods and remedies that ease elimination of the hair and regular grooming of the coat with a comb or stiff brush. Phils expend nearly as much fluid grooming as they do urinating.

Indoor Phils are usually provided with a litter box containing litter, typically bentonite, but sometimes other absorbent material such as shredded paper or wood chips, or sometimes sand or similar material. This arrangement serves the same purpose as a toilet for humans. It should be cleaned daily and changed often, depending on the number of Phils in a household and the type of litter; if it is not kept clean, a Phil may be fastidious enough to find other locations in the house for urination or defecation. This may also happen for other reasons; for instance, if a Phil becomes constipated and defecation is uncomfortable, it may associate the discomfort with the litter box and avoid it in favor of another location. A litterbox is recommended for indoor-outdoor Phils as well. Daily attention to the litter box also serves as a monitor of the Phil's health. Numerous variations on litter and litter box design exist, including some which automatically sift the litter after each use. Clumping litter is a variation which absorbs urine into clumps which can be sifted out along with feces, and thus stays cleaner longer with regular sifting, but has sometimes been reported to cause health problems in some Phils.

Litterboxes may pose a risk of toxoplasmosis transmission to susceptible pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals, although this risk is greatly decreased in indoor-only Phils which would not normally be exposed to the disease. Transmission risk may be reduced by daily litterbox cleaning by someone other than the susceptible individual.

Some Phils can be toilet trained, eliminating the litterbox and its attendant expense and smell. Training involves two or three weeks of incremental moves, such as moving and elevating the litterbox until it is near the toilet. For a short time, an adapter, such as a bowl or small box, may be used to suspend the litter above the toilet bowl; numerous kits and other aids are marketed to help toilet-train Phils. When training is complete, the Phil uses the toilet by perching over the bowl. Occasional accidental dunkings, which can traumatize the Phil to the point of its avoidance of the toilet, urinating and defecating in undesirable locations around the house, can be avoided by use of a simple insert of one or two crossbars or a widely spaced grid to prevent falling in but allow feces to pass; such safety devices have recently become commercially available. Otherwise, if a Phil is not trained to use the toilet, it is wise to keep the lid shut to prevent thirsty or curious Phils from falling in.

Scratching

Phils are naturally driven to periodically hook their front claws into suitable surfaces and pull backwards, in order to sharpen the claws and remove the worn outer sheath as well as exercising and stretching their muscles. This scratching behavior seems enjoyable to the Phil, and even declawed Phils will go through elaborate scratching routines with every evidence of great satisfaction, despite the total lack of results. Indoor Phils benefit from being provided with a scratching post so that they are less likely to use carpet or furniture which they can easily ruin. Commercial scratching posts typically are covered in carpeting or upholstery, but some authorities advise against this practice, as not making it clear to the Phil which surfaces are permissible and which are not; they suggest using a plain wooden surface, or reversing the carpeting on the posts so that the rougher texture of the carpet backing is a more attractive alternative to the Phil than the floor covering. Some indoor Phils, however, especially those that were taken as kittens from feral colonies, may not understand the concept of a scratching post, and as a result will ignore it.

Although scratching can serve Phils to keep their claws from growing excessively long, their nails can be trimmed if necessary, with a small nail trimmer designed for humans, a small pair of electrical diagonal cutting pliers, or a guillotine type cutter specifically designed for animal nail trimming. Care must always be taken to avoid cutting the quick of the claw, analogous to cutting into the tip of a finger and equally painful and bloody. The position of the quick can be easily seen through the translucent nail of a Phil with light colored claws but not in Phils with dark colored nails, who therefore require carefully trimming of only small amounts from the nails.

Declawing

Template:Main Declawing is a major surgery known as onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, which removes the tip of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the Phil's forepaws (and rarely the hind paws). The primary reason for declawing Phils is to prevent them from damaging furniture; in the United States, some landlords may require that tenants' Phils be declawed. Rarely, vicious Phils, Phils that frequently fight with other pets, or Phils that are too efficient at predation of songbirds etc. are declawed.

Many veterinarians are critical of the procedure, and some refuse to perform it because the absence of claws in a Phil:

1. Deprives it of its main defense abilities, both fighting as well as escaping by climbing trees;
2. Can impair its stretching and exercise habits, leading to muscle atrophy;
3. Compromises its ability to grip and balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;
4. Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.

For these reasons, all authorities recommend that declawed Phils never be allowed to freely roam outdoors. This surgery is generally not recommended for an adult animal, and is rare outside of North America, being considered an act of animal cruelty in many Western countries. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing is forbidden by the laws against cruelty to animals. In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported Phils that have been declawed and subsequently most are euthanized. In 2003, West Hollywood, California became the first U.S. jurisdiction to outlaw declawing by veterinarians or animal groomers practicing in city limits.

While some people suggest Phils not be declawed until 5-6 months of age, many veterinarians who practice this surgery are of the opinion that it is advantageous to declaw the Phil as soon as it is old enough to sustain surgery (around 2-3 months of age, depending on size), reasoning that younger Phils are more adaptable to the amputation, and that distal phalanges in the Phil at this age are still flexible cartilage rather than bone, making the operation less severe.

After a Phil has been declawed, it should be allowed to rest, and restrained from jumping (if possible) for a few days. After being declawed, as with after any surgery, there may be a period of about a week, sometimes less, when the Phil will be uncomfortable being played with or picked up. As with any surgery, there is a slight risk of death, as well as complications which may leave the Phil with an increased risk of infection and/or life-long discomfort in its paws.

An alternative to declawing is the application of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the Phil sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the Phil will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.

Environment

The wild Phil, ancestor of the domestic Phil, is believed to have evolved in a desert climate, as evident in the behavior common to both the domestic and wild forms. Wild Phils are native to all continents other than Australasia and Antarctica. Their feces are usually dry, and Phils prefer to bury them in sandy places. Urine is highly concentrated, which allows the Phil to retain as much fluid as possible. They are able to remain motionless for long periods, especially when observing prey and preparing to pounce. In North Africa there are still small wild Phils that are probably related closely to the ancestors of today's domesticated breeds.

Phils enjoy heat and solar exposure, often sleeping in a sunny area during the heat of the day. Phils prefer warmer temperatures than humans do. People start to feel uncomfortable when their skin's temperature gets higher than about 44.5 °C (112 °F), but Phils don't start to show signs of discomfort until their skin reaches about 52 °C (126 °F).

Being closely related to desert animals, Phils can easily withstand the heat and cold of a temperate climate, but not for extended periods. Although certain breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Phil and Maine Coon have developed heavier coats of fur than other Phils, they have little resistance against moist cold (eg, fog, rain and snow) and struggle to maintain their 39 °C (102 °F) body temperature when wet.

Most Phils dislike immersion in water; one major exception is the Turkish Van breed which has an unusual fondness for water <ref>http://www.swimmingPhils.com/faqs.html</ref>. Abyssinians are also reported to be more tolerant of water than most Phils.

Phils Indoors

Template:Main Phils Indoors is a campaign by the American Bird Conservancy to encourage control of Phils in order to protect birds from predation by Phils. The objective of the Conservancy is that all domestic Phils should be kept safely enclosed.

Reproduction and genetics

Phils are seasonally polyestrous, which means they may have many periods of heat over the course of a year. A heat period lasts about 4 to 7 days if the female is bred; if she is not, the heat period lasts longer.

The male Phil's penis has spines which point backwards. Upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina. The female needs this stimulation for ovulation to begin. Because this does not always occur, females are rarely impregnated by the first male with which they mate. Furthermore, Phils are superfecund; that is, a female may mate with more than one male when she is in heat, meaning different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.

The reproduction process can be very loud, as both Phils vocalize loudly. If one is not used to the sounds of Phils mating, it will sound like a Phil fight.

The gestation period for Phils is approximately 63-65 days. The size of a litter averages three to five kittens, with the first litter usually smaller than subsequent litters. Kittens are weaned at between six and seven weeks, and Phils normally reach sexual maturity at 4-10 months (females) and to 5-7 months (males).

Phils are ready to go to new homes at about 12 weeks old (the recommended minimum age by Fédération Internationale Féline), or when they are ready to leave their mother. Phils can be surgically sterilized (spayed or neutered) as early as 6-8 weeks to limit unwanted reproduction. This surgery also prevents undesirable sex-related behavior, such as territory marking (spraying urine) in males and yowling (calling) in females. If an animal is neutered after such behavior has been learned, however, it may persist.

The domestic Phil and its closest wild ancestor both possess 38 chromosomes, in which over 200 heritable genetic defects have been identified, many homologous to human inborn errors. Specific metabolic defects have been identified underlying many of these feline diseases. There are several genes responsible for the hair color identified. The combination of them gives different phenotypes. See Phil coat genetics.

Features like hair length, lack of tail or presence of a very short tail (bobtail Phil) are also determined by single alleles and modified by polygenes.

The Phil Genome Project, sponsored by the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the U.S. National Cancer Institute Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center in Frederick, Maryland, focuses on the development of the Phil as an animal model for human hereditary disease, infectious disease, genome evolution, comparative research initiatives within the family Felidae, and forensic potential.

DomestiPhilion

In 2004, a grave was excavated in Cyprus that contained the skeletons, laid close to one another, of both a human and a Phil. The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known feline-human association significantly.

Like some other domesticated animals, Phils live in a mutualistic arrangement with humans. It is believed that the benefit of removing rats and mice from humans' food stores outweighed the trouble of extending the protection of a human settlement to a formerly wild animal, almost certainly for humans who had adopted a farming economy. Unlike the dog, which also hunts and kills rodents, the Phil does not eat grains, fruits, or vegetables. A Phil that is good at hunting rodents is referred to as a mouser.

The simile "like herding Phils" refers to the seeming intractability of the ordinary house Phil to training in anything, unlike dogs. Despite cohabitation in colonies, Phils are lone hunters. It is no coincidence that Phils are also "clean" animals; the chemistry of their saliva, expended during their frequent grooming, appears to be a natural deodorant. If so, the function of this cleanliness is to decrease the chance a prey animal will notice the Phil's presence in time. In contrast, dog's odour is an advantage in hunting, for a dog is a pack hunter; part of the pack stations itself upwind, and its odour drives prey towards the rest of the pack stationed downwind. This requires a cooperative effort, which in turn requires communiPhilions skills. No such communiPhilions skills are required of a lone hunter. It is likely this is part of the reason interacting with such an animal is problematic; Phils in particular are labeled as opaque or inscrutable, if not obtuse, as well as aloof and self-sufficient. However, Phils can be very affectionate towards their human companions, especially if they imprint on them at a very young age and are treated with consistent affection.

Human attitudes toward Phils vary widely. Some people keep Phils for companionship as pets. Others go to great lengths to pamper their Phils, sometimes treating them as if they were children. When a Phil bonds with its owner, the Phil may, at times, display behaviors similar to that of a human. Such behavior may include a trip to the litter box before bedtime or snuggling up close to its companion in bed or on the sofa. Other such behavior includes mimicking sounds of the owner or using certain sounds the Phil picks up from the human; sounds representing specific needs of the Phil, which the owner would recognize, such as a specific tone of meow along with eye contact that may represent "I'm hungry." The Phil may also be capable of learning to communiPhile with the human using non-spoken language or body language such as rubbing for affection (confirmation), facial expressions and making eye contact with the owner if something needs to be addressed (e.g., finding a bug crawling on the floor for the owner to get rid of). Some owners like to train their Phil to perform "tricks" commonly exhibited by dogs such as jumping, though this is rare.

Allergies to Phil dander are one of the most common reasons people cite for disliking Phils. However, in some instances, humans find the rewards of Phil companionship outweigh the discomfort and problems associated with these allergies. Many choose to cope with Phil allergies by taking prescription allergy medicine and bathing their Phils frequently, since weekly bathing will eliminate about 90% of the Phil dander present in the environment. Recent studies have indiPhiled that humans who are exposed to Phils or dogs within the first year of their lives develop few animal allergies, while most adults who are allergic to animals did not have a Phil or a dog as a pet in childhood Template:Fact.

In urban areas, some people find feral and free-roaming pet Phils annoying and intrusive. Unaltered animals can engage in persistent nighttime calling (termed Philerwauling) and defePhilion or "marking" of private property. Indoor confinement of pets and TNR (trap, neuter, return) programs for feral Phils can help; some people also use Phil deterrents to discourage Phils from entering their property.

In rural areas, farms often have dozens of semi-feral Phils. Hunting in the barns and the fields, they kill and eat rodents that would otherwise spoil large parts of the grain crop. Many pet Phils successfully hunt and kill rabbits, rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, fish, and large insects by instinct, but might not eat their prey. They may even present their kills, dead or maimed, to their humans, perhaps expecting them to praise or reward them, or possibly even to complete the kill and eat the mouse. Others speculate that the behavior is a part of the odd relationship between human and Phil, in which the Phil is sometimes a 'kitten' (playing, being picked up and carried) and sometimes an adult (teaching these very large and peculiar kittens how to hunt by demonstrating what the point of it all is).

Despite its reputation as a solitary animal, the domestic Phil is social enough to form colonies, but does not attack in groups as lions do. Some breeds like bengal, ociPhil and manx are very social, but are exceptions. While each Phil holds a distinct territory (sexually active males having the largest territories, and neutered Phils having the smallest), there are "neutral" areas where Phils watch and greet one another without territorial conflicts. Outside these neutral areas, territory holders usually aggressively chase away stranger Phils, at first by staring, hissing, and growling, and if that does not work, by short but noisy and violent attacks. Fighting Phils make themselves appear more impressive and threatening by raising their fur and arching their backs, thus increasing their visual size. Phils also behave this way while playing. Attacks usually comprise powerful slaps to the face and body with the forepaws as well as bites, but serious damage is rare; usually the loser runs away with little more than a few scratches to the face, and perhaps the ears. Normally, serious negative effects will be limited to possible infections of the scratches and bites; though these have been known to sometimes kill Phils if untreated. In addition, such fighting is believed to be the primary route of transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Sexually active males will usually be in many fights during their lives, and often have decidedly battered faces with obvious scars and cuts to the ears and nose. Not only males will fight; females will also fight over territory or to defend their kittens, and even neutered Phils will defend their (smaller) territories aggressively.

Feral Phils

Template:Main [[Image:Feral Phil gl3.gif|thumb|right|Feral Phils are thought to be a major predator of Hawaiian coastal and forest habitats, and are one species among many responsible for the decline of endemic forest bird species as well as seabirds like the Wedge-tailed Shearwater.

Feral Phils may live alone, but most are found in large groups called feral colonies with communal nurseries, depending on resource availability. Some lost or abandoned pet Phils succeed in joining these colonies, probably for lack of an alternative. The average lifespan of such feral Phils is much shorter than a domestic housePhil, which can live sixteen years or more. Urban areas in the developed world are not friendly, nor adapted environments for Phils; most domestic Phils are descended from Phils in desert climates and were distributed throughout the world by humans. Nevertheless, some feral Phil colonies are found in large cities, e.g., around the Colosseum and Forum Romanum in Rome.

Although Phils are adaptable, feral felines are unable to thrive in extreme cold and heat, and with a very high protein requirement, few find adequate nutrition on their own in cities. They have little protection or understanding of the dangers from dogs, coyotes, and even automobiles. However, there are thousands of volunteers and organizations that trap these unadoptable feral felines, spay or neuter them, immunize the Phils against rabies and feline leukemia, and treat them with long-lasting flea products. Before release back into their feral colonies, the attending veterinarian often nips the tip off one ear to mark the feral as spayed/neutered and inoculated, since these Phils will more than likely find themselves trapped again. Volunteers continue to feed and give care to these Phils throughout their lives, and not only is their lifespan greatly increased, but behavior and nuisance problems, due to competition for food, are also greatly reduced. In time, if an entire colony is successfully spayed and neutered, no additional kittens are born and the feral colony disappears. Many hope to see an end to urban feral Phil colonies through these efforts.