There are as many as 38 different types of cat species all the way from domestic cats to mountain lions. Cats are spread throughout the world and all live in similar habitats. There used to be 5 genera that the cats were divided into which included Lynx, Felis, Panthera, Acinonynx, and Neofilis. The Lynx genus consisted of cats with bob tails and tufted ears. Felis was made up of cats that can purr but not roar and Panthera consisted of cats that can roar. Acinonynx only consisted of the cheetah and Neofilis only consisted of the clouded leopard. More recently cats were divided into 3 major groups that are Acinonyxinae (the cheetah), Pantherina (large cats), and Felinae (small cats). They all contain one or more endangered species. The smallest cat species in the Felinae genus is the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) only weighing an average weight of 2.2 pounds. The largest cat species in the Pantherina genus is the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris) averaging a weight of 931 pounds. All cats mostly prey on amphibians, hares, insects, reptiles, rodents, snakes, fish, birds, spiders, and any animal that is invading their territory. In rare occasion sometimes a cat will attack a chicken, duck or passerine and eat it. Cats most serious enemy is a wolve and even eagle-owls and saker falcons have been knows to attack kittens and eat them.
~BW
This seems like an interesting topic. I never knew there were that many species.
I love the 3 major groups.
I had no idea their was a cat that’s only 2.2 lbs. I wish you had a picture of it. Good topic!
Good descriptions of some of the major feline groups!
Interesting topic i didn’t realize there were that many different cat species.
Not to sound like a “crazy-cat-lady,” but great topic! I love cats…probably too much. Like that girl from the youtube video (look up “I love cats”). Anyway, I love reading anything about felines, but I am curious about what you plan on doing with the topic? What about cats? Yes, they are adorable. Beyond that, is this just a general paper describing a bunch of cat species, or do you dive into their environment? What about the fact that crazy, wealthy, white people in Africa breed lions specifically to hunt and kill them? It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.
I never actually thought about how many different types of cats there are!
Good topic, never imagined an owl would eat a cat!
Great topic, I love cats! I think you are on the right track and you can do a paragraph on each of the three groups of cats you said at the end. Sounds like a good story to be writing about.
love this topic 🙂