A domestic animal is defined as...

• A. An animal, such as a horse or cat, that has been tamed and kept by humans as a work animal, food source, or pet
• B. An animal wild in origin with no human contact
• C. A captive animal kept for zoos only
• D. A laboratory animal bred for experiments

Answer: (A)

Domestic animals are those that have been tamed and kept by humans for practical roles such as work, food, or companionship. This combination of human interaction and purposeful keeping is what defines them, which is why examples like horses and cats fit this idea. The other scenarios describe animals that aren’t integrated into human society in the same way: a wild animal has had no human contact; a captive animal kept only for zoos is confined but not bred or kept for human work or food; a laboratory animal is held for experiments rather than for everyday human use as a pet, worker, or food source. So the defining point is that they’re tamed and maintained by people for specific human purposes.