The Basics First

Starting at the beginning, there are a number of solid colors, their coats are made up of only one hair color. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as we started researching we realized just how deep the proverbial rabbit hole goes.

In the coming weeks we’ll go through the many patterns & dilutions that affect these colors in detail.

From blue to red to chocolate, solid colors are more interesting than you may think.

Coloriffic

There is plenty more to come, these solic colors are pretty self explanatory, but the patterns are more specific.

Image from John Morton

The origins of this breed are a mystery, however physically they resemble cats found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. It is believed that the modern Abyssinian is a descendant of those cats.

Africa Natives

The two main breeds of cat native to that part of Africa are the Jungle Cat and the African Wildcat. In appearance the Abyssinian has many physical traits associated with the Wildcat.

An Interesting Twist

Over the centuries feline blood from many different walks of life contributed to this breeds development. In fact, today’s Abyssinian breed was largely influenced by English breeders who brought the breed to the UK in the mid 19th century.

Although everyone has a theory about where this lovely breed came from, no one knows for sure.

Semantics

The name Abyssinian doesn’t indicate that the breed originated in Abyssinia (which is now Ethiopia). The first ‘Abyssinian’ cats that were shown in England were said to have been imported from there.

Abyssinian is an incredibly intelligent and inquisitive cat. They are interested in people and have very strong personalities.

A Colorful Breed

Today the breed can be found in a ridiculous amount of colors. This is obviously due to English breeding as primitive ruddy colors & striped patterns are dominant in cat genetics. After a few generations in the wild, they will always revert back to coloring that provides them camouflage.

Ancient Cats

We’ve got more ancient cat breed profiles on the way. For now, why not learn more about the Egyptian Mau?

Image from Muffet

There is a long list of domestic cat breeds that exist today, but in ancient times things were a little different. In ancient Egypt cats were known as the mau and played an important part in society.

Mau = Cat

The two breeds of cat that are native to Egypt are the Jungle Cat and the African Wildcat. The wildcat proved to be friendlier with people and contributed more to domestication. However both cats were interbred & eventually fused to create a new breed, the animal we call the Egyptian Mau.

Not actually a breed, the Mau was what Egyptians called all cats, regardless of what type of feline they were.

Initially they were found valuable for ridding crops of vermin (including cobras) and soon a symbiotic relationship formed between feline & humans.

To Infinity & Beyond

The Egyptians came to appreciate their cats on another level, & it wasn’t long before they became a symbol of grace & poise. From popular symbols the feline was catapulted into Godlike status as they were associated with the goddess Bast.

The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally occurring spotted breed of domestic cat. However their best feature is their eyes, they are large with a slight slant and come in the most arresting shades of green.

Not The Oldest

Althought the Egyptian Mau is an ancient cat, it isn’t the oldest. In the coming weeks we will meet other ancient cat breeds and learn more about where your domesticated cat comes from.

Image from Arno & Louise

The panthera genus is comprised of the four largest members of the cat family, lions, tigers, jaguars & leopards.

The largest of the big cats, these four species also have an ability the rest of the felidae family doesn’t…they can roar.

Not just tough guys, the big cats have also been reported to purr, although from what we read it has not been clinically proven.

Among the largest land predators in the world almost every member of this genus is victim to very low numbers. We introduce to you genus panthera.

Jaguars have a wide range but the largest concentration is found in the Amazon Basin. These cats are the only members of the genus in the Americas & is the largest cat on either continent.

Leopards were originally found from the west tip of Europe to the eastern tip of Asia. Today they can only be found in Africa & parts of Asia. This subspecies is notable because they have adapted to living in close proximity to people without detection.

Learn more about Leopards

Lions are found almost exclusively in Africa (with one subspecies found in Asia). They live primarily on plains or savannah regions & unlike the rest of the genus they are social animals that live in prides.

Learn more about Lions

Tigers are native throughout Asia into the middle east & southern islands. Today they are extinct in a large portion of their native territories and can only be found in eastern China, Korea, Russia & parts of India.

Learn more about Tigers

Image from Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Another small genus, neofelis only encompasses two members of the cat family & they are the smallest of the big cats. These animals inhabit the tropical rain forests of southeast Asia.

This genus is distinct from the other cats, they are similar in size to the small cats, but their skull structure is closer to that of the pantherine cat.

The most notable difference being the size of their canines, which are the largest in relation to body size of all cat species.

Found in the Maylay Peninsula, Sumatra & Borneo, the Bornean Clouded Leopard was recognized as it’s own species in 2007. Little is known about this cat due to its secretive & elusive nature.

All clouded leopard populations are low, each subspecies is listed as vulnerable & they are protected by international law.

The Clouded Leopard is found in southern China & Indochina & they have the lightest coat with the largest blotches of all subspecies. As with other spotted cats, they are largely hunted for their fur & have been hunted to extinction on several of their native islands.

All clouded leopard populations are low, each subspecies is listed as vulnerable & they are protected by international law.

Among The Most Beautiful

The patterned cats have to be the most beautiful of them all. Too bad the fur industry feels the same way. Many of the endangered cats have low numbers as a result of hunting for their fur.

Be sure to meet the rest of the family if you haven’t already.

Felis | Lions | Tigers | Prionailurus | Lynx | Leopardus | Leopards | Catopuma

Image from Babirusa

This genus has a very distinctly different look than much of the rest of the family & there are only two members.

Genetic research has shown that this genus and the Pardofelis genus should be merged into one, but for the sake of keeping it simple, we’ve introduced them separately. We haven’t seen anywhere that the two have actually been merged into one genus as of yet.

Both subspecies are very rare and found throughout southeast Asia. For many years the Bay Cat cleverly eluded the paparazzi in the wild.

The Asian Golden Cat is the largest of the small cat species & can be found from Tibet, Nepal & India to Southern China through southeast Asia to Sumatra.

This cat is very uncommon & threatened by deforestation, & hunting for their pelt. This sub species is classified at near threatened and they do not breed well in captivity.

Found only in the country of Borneo, the Bay Cat is still a mystery and may simply be a smaller island form of the Asian Golden Cat. Because of their reclusive nature and small habitat, they managed to elude photographers in the wild for a long time.

These animals are incredibly rare and only found in a very small geographical range. Very little is known about them, but they are protected in any environment where they thought to be located.

The Family Tree

We are slowly constructing the feladie family tree so our readers can appreciate each member. Keep checking back for more and while you are here why not meet the rest of them?

Felis | Lions | Tigers | Prionailurus | Lynx | Leopardus | Leopards

Image from BrianScott

Another introduction to the cat family, it’s time to meet the leopards who interestingly enough are not part of the leopardus genus, but of the panthera genus.

These big cats used to be found from the British Isles all the way to Japan, however today they are almost exclusively in Africa and small parts of Asia & Sri Lanka.

Perhaps the flashiest of the cat breeds, the leopard is definitely known for their stylishly spotted coat.

The leopard can survive in a wide variety of habitats from mountains to swamps.

The African Leopard is found throughout Africa & physical characteristics change due to their local area. Found in a number of different habitats from grasslands to mountain forests, their preference being undisturbed rainforests.

Thus is the most common subspecies of leopard and in the least danger of extinction.

The Amur Leopard comes from eastern Russia and they are one of the rarest of the big cats on the planet. Their coat is distinct from the other members of this genus with a particularly pale background and large, dark rosettes.

There is an estimated 35-45 left in the wild, this magnificent cat is dangerously close to extinction.

The Arabian Leopard is native to the arid terrain of the Arabian Peninsula & Israel. These animals cover wide territories due to the inhospitable landscape & do most of their hunting at dusk & dawn.

This is one of the most endangered of this genus, suffering from lack of available prey. They are critically endangered.

The Indian Leopard can be found throughout India, from Nepal to Bhutan to Bangladesh to southern China. This animal is the most successful of the Indian big cats, although they survive in a land ruled by larger predators than themselves.

This leopard is fairly stable in numbers from what we can tell, although they suffer from many of the same threats as their cousins.

The Indo-Chinese Leopard lives in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos & Malaysia. These animals have been known to attack & kill people & often face hunting as retribution or for their fur. They are highly elusive & hunt at night, dragging their prey into the trees while they eat.

We had a difficult time finding information about the status of these cats, if anyone knows tell us so we can add it.

Only found on the island of Java, the Javan Leopard is smaller & very distinctive from the other members of the genus genetically. It is unsure when they broke off from the rest of the species and came to the island.

Hunted for their fur & confined to such a small territory, these animals are critically endangered & hanging on for dear life.

Fount in northern China, the North Chinese Leopard lives in highly fragmented ranges with a preference for forests & mountain meadows. They have the longest & darkest coat of all of the subspecies & their rosette pattern resembles that of a jaguar.

Another endangered member of this genus, the North Chinese leopard is so rare they are seldom seen in the wild at all & their numbers are unsure.

Also called the Iranian Leopard, the Persian Leopard is native to Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Taijkistan & Afghanistan, & cover a wide variety of territories. This is one of the largest subspecies and like the rest they are often hunted for their fur.

This animal is endangered and protected by international law. Their numbers are dangerously low & they are one of the species threatened by this war in its homeland.

Sri Lankan Leopard is also called Kotiya and Puli, and they are native to Sri Lanka where they are the countries top predator. These animals are distributed throughout the island & their Yala National Park has the highest densities of leopards in the world.

Despite their seemingly widespread habitat, this subspecies is limited to one island. They are considered endangered & threatened by hunting, loss of habitat and persecution.

Panthers are not specifically one genus of cat, they occur in a couple of the big spotted cats found in dense jungle areas.

Have A Family Favorite?

It’s hard to pick one member of the cat family to love the most, the lions are so majestic, the tigers so intense, the leopards so beautiful. If you haven’t met them all, be sure to check them out.

Felis | Lions | Tigers | Prionailurus | Lynx | Leopardus

Image from dracobotanicus

This is a genus that encompasses a group of small spotted cats that are generally found in Central & South America throughout a wide variety of habitats and ecosystems.

Although most of them are the same size as your neighborhood house cat they aren’t nearly as friendly.

These animals are the oldest branch of the cat family to cross into the Americas. Interestingly enough the leopard is not in this genus, they are in the Panthera genus.

The Andean Mountain Cat is a highly specialized animal that is only found in the Andean mountain region of Peru, Bolivia, Chile & Argentina. Nocturnal hunters, the Andean cat uses it’s tail for balance while navigating it’s rocky terrain.

Protected throughout their geographical range this cat is considered endangered.

The Colocolo has a larger range than any of the South American cats and can be found from top to bottom of the continent in a wide variety of habitats. They are predominately nocturnal and generally solitary creatures.

This genus is considered endangered by some and rare by others, their habitat slowly being taken from them.

The Geoffroy’s Cat can be found through most of the southern half of South America, including Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Patagonia, Brazil, Paraguay & Uruguay. They are primarily nocturnal, avid swimmers and tend to be secretive & elusive.

Geoffroy’s Cat is the most common wild cat in South America, though they have a near threatened status & are fully protected by the law.

The Kodkod or the Guigna is found in central & southern Argentina & Chile predominately in temperate forests of the Andean & Coastal ranges. These cats are nocturnal, spend much of their time in trees & are thought to live in social groups.

These cats don’t appear to be in particular danger, their adaptability when it comes to habitat allows them to avoid heavily populated areas.

The Margay is found in forested areas from north Mexico to Uruguay to north Argentina. This cat is known for their artful climbing and though solitary they are active day and night.

The Margay is rare & endangered throughout its native habitat, hunted & harvested for their fur.

The Ocelot can be found from Southwestern Texas to northern Argentina. They live in a wide variety of habitats and are known for their particularly beautiful coats.

The ocelot is protected by the Lacey Act (probably due to that pretty coat) and habitat destruction is their primary threat.

A tiny spotted cat, the Oncilla is a rare cat and the extent of their range is unknown. They have been seen as far north as Costa Rica & Panama as as far south as se Brazil & northern Argentina. Little is known about these animals, but they are thought to be nocturnal & solitary.

Considered different stages of classification in different countries, the Oncilla is only protected against hunting in parts of its range.

A small cat found in the Pampas area of Argentina & Chile, until recently the Pampas Cat was considered a subspecies of the Colocolo. This cat is highly adaptable and found in a wide variety of habitats.

We couldn’t find much info about their numbers or the status of the Pamps cat, if anyone knows tell us.

The Pantanal Cat is a small feline native to Brazil, Paraguay & Uruguay, until recently they were though to be a subspecies of the Colocolo. Because they are newly considered their own breed they are not well documented.

We couldn’t find any info about the numbers on these cats, if you know drop us a line.

A Big Big Family

And you’ve almost met them all, we have one installment left in which we introduce several small genus.

Until then, meet the rest:
Felis | Lions | Tigers | Prionailurus | Lynx

Image from Nevit

There are four members of the lynx genus, although there has been disagreements about how to classify them & some put them in the felis genus. For the purpose of our introductions, we’ve separated them to keep confusion to a minimum.

These are medium sized cats who have characteristic short tails, tufts of black hair on their ears & big padded paws.

The animals in this genus are found in a wide variety of habitats, & their differing physical characteristics reflect their natural surroundings.

Bobcats can be found throughout North America & live in a variety of habitats from forests to semi-desert areas. like most of their cousins, they are solitary and nocturnal, only interacting during breeding season.

Their status varies depending upon the state, one of the subspecies (the Mexican bobcat) is listed as endangered.

The Canadian Lynx can be found throughout Canada & in parts of Montana, Idaho, Washington, New England, Utah, Wyoming & Colorado. This animal is solitary & territorial favoring mature forests with dense undergrowth for hunting.

The Lynx is listed as threatened overall and endangered in the state of Michigan.

The Eurasian Lynx is native throughout Europe & Siberia and are found in forested areas far from dense human populations. They are a shy and elusive animal that is active during the day & lives a solitary life.

These animals flourished until the mid 20th century when they were hunted almost to extinction. Experts have been moderately successful at reintroducing them into forested areas in Switzerland, Germany & Austria.

The native habitat of the Iberian Lynx is solely the Iberian peninsula. Similar to the Eurasian Lynx, only a bit smaller this cat is similarly solitary but primarily nocturnal.

This lynx is one of the most endangered cat species on the planet & are on the brink of extinction. Their numbers are in the double digits.

Meet The Rest of the Family

We’ve already shown you quite a few members of the family, and there are even more to come. Until then, go meet some more.

Felis | Lions | Tigers | Prionailurus

Image from M Kuhn

The Prionailurus genus encompasses a number of small Asian cats. They are about the same size as the domestic cat, but differentiated by a thick, short tail, a short snout & large eyes.

While they look similar to their felis cousins their large eyes give them a distinct look.

Collectively this group of cats are typically forest dwellers and known for their swimming ability. Some of the members are semi-aquatic and live mainly on a fish diet.

Fishing Cats can be found in the peninsular region of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Java & Pakistan & live primarily in wetlands, however they can be found in a variety of habitats. This genus is the largest of the lesser cats & their diet is mainly fish & shellfish.

These animals are in danger due to destruction of the wetlands where they reside & a fish population reduced from to overfishing.

The native territory of the Flat-headed Cat is the islands of Borneo & Sumatra & the Malay Peninsula. Very little is known about this animal due to such small numbers.

Declared extinct in 1985, the flat-headed cat was rediscovered in the 90′s in Malaysia & Sumatra. Some islands populations have healthier numbers than others.

This genus is specific only to the Iriomote Island in Japan. The Iriomote cat is solitary, but they pair off to mate & although generally nocturnal, they have been seen hunting during the day.

The Iriomote cat is the rarest felid species on the planet due to habitat destruction & their numbers are in double digits.

The Leopard Cat can be found throughout Asia from the southern islands, north to Siberia, east to India & west to Korea & the Philippines. Nocturnal & solitary these cats live in a wide variety of habitats and have excellent swimming skills.

Although they are not endangered, there are a few vulnerable island populations & their habitat is threatened.

The Rusty-Spotted Cat is found in the southern parts of India & Sri Lanka. The cats occupy different habitats in each place from dense tropical forests to grass & scrublands. Their behavior has not been thoroughly documented, however they are thought to be nocturnal.

These cats are not particularly rare, although hunting and trade is prohibited for the population in India.

The Rest of The Family

One by one we will introduce you to members of the felidae family. If you haven’t already, be sure to meet the felis, the lions & the tigers.