How many types of cats are there in the world. The cat family - animal species

Among predatory animals there is a family named after our pet - cats. Big cats of the panther genus, which include the tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, can growl. They are all hunters, all have sharp teeth, thick fur, sharp claws that can be drawn in (the only exception is the cheetah). Cats live on all continents except Antarctica. In Africa, Eurasia and America, they appeared millions of years ago, and people brought them to Australia.

The cheetah's claws do not fully retract, and its tracks do not resemble those of most felines.

Such different cats

In the cat family, there is also a small black-footed cat with a body length of 34 centimeters with a 15-centimeter tail, and a huge tiger, one tail of which is 95 centimeters, and the body length without a tail is 2.8 meters. All of them are nocturnal predators, only the cheetah hunts during the day. Most cats prefer solitude, although lions live in pride families.

black-footed cat

Amur tiger

What is the largest cat in the world?

The largest cat of all living on our planet is, the size of which allowed him to easily fall into the subfamily of "big cats". Due to their gigantic size - and can reach a length of almost 3 m (and that's not counting the tail!), In height - up to 1.15 cm, and weigh up to 300 kg - tigers took third place in the list of the largest land predators (we managed to overtake them only brown and white).

The record weight belongs to a male Bengal tiger killed in northern India in 1967, its weight was 388.7 kg.

However, despite such an impressive size, tigers, unfortunately, are not protected from a smaller "predator" - a man, because of which this majestic animal was on the verge of extinction.

natural born hunters

All felines are born hunters, and their senses are perfectly adapted to this way of life. Their hearing is more than 2 times sharper than a human, and their sense of smell is 14 times! But their eyesight is especially well developed. And the scent, although weaker than that of dogs, is quite sharp.

Pride of lions on the hunt

The cat's nose distinguishes smells well (thanks to several tens of millions of olfactory cells), hard "whiskers" - vibrissae - serve them for touch. And the nose print of a lion (and other cats) is as unique as a human fingerprint.

glowing eyes

The eyes of cats glow in the semi-darkness. It is in the semi-darkness, because this light is reflected. Each cat (both large and small) has a “mirror” in its eyes - a special layer called the tapetum. It reflects any, even the weakest light, indistinguishable to the human eye, and the animal perceives it. Because the night vision of cats is 6 times sharper than human. But during the day they see worse than at night - their eyes are very sensitive to the bright sun.

It used to be believed that cats do not distinguish colors, and the world for them is black and white. But today, scientists have found that both tigers and domestic cats have color vision. In addition, they can perfectly determine the distance to any object, which is especially important when hunting.

Eyes of the Tiger

Why do big cats growl?

Big cats from the genus panthers - tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar - are able to roar. Allows them to do this special structure of the larynx and hyoid bone. But in the structure of the tongue and teeth, they do not differ from the rest of their relatives.

The vocal cords of big cats are a thick and long tube that allows you to make a loud roar or growl. The structure of the sublingual apparatus, located between the tongue and the larynx, plays a huge role in this. All this distinguishes big cats from small ones, regardless of the size of the animal. And in the savannas, a lion's roar is often heard, and in the Indian jungle and the Ussuri taiga - a tiger's.

The tongue of cat predators is rough due to the many horny papillae. Thanks to this structure, animals can scrape meat from the bones of prey and clean their own wool.

Can big cats purr?

Purring and rumbling are almost the same thing. Cats - both large and small - usually purr with pleasure. But small cats can purr on exhalation and inhalation, so they make a sound that we usually call purring, while big cats purr only on exhalation, and the sound comes out a little different. Therefore, it is sometimes said that big cats cannot purr.

Spots and stripes

It is known that tigers are striped, lions and cougars are one-color, cheetahs are spotted and long-legged, leopards and jaguars are also spotted, but not as lean as cheetahs.

Leopard and jaguar look alike. True, the jaguar is larger. They live on different continents and can only meet in the zoo. Of course, biologists and zookeepers are able to distinguish between these species. And the surest way to do this is to take a closer look at the spots.

S-gerard, L-leopard, J-jaguar. On the sides of the jaguar there are spots in the form of a rosette, inside which there is one or more small spots. And on the head, stomach and paws the spots are solid. The leopard also has open rosette rings, but there are no small spots in their center.

Tiger stripes are also spots, only very elongated. In general, all feline cubs are spotted, just with age, in many of them, the spots disappear or become almost invisible.

Ancestors of modern cats

In ancient times, large ones lived on Earth. Primitive hunters often encountered them. The saber-toothed died out 10 thousand years ago, with the end of the Ice Age.

Smilodon

In the Ice Age cartoon, there is a Smilodon character named Diego. Smilodons really lived in America during the glaciation. They weighed more than the Amur tiger, the heaviest of modern big cats, and lived like lions in pride families.

In some species of saber-toothed cats, fangs reached 20 centimeters in length. In order for such fangs to be used, the mouth had to open (and it did!) very wide - 95 degrees. In modern tigers and lions, the mouth opens only 65 degrees. In addition, the fangs of most modern felids are conical, and this also distinguishes them from the flattened fangs of the saber-toothed.

Thanks to their huge fangs and considerable strength, saber-toothed cats could hunt bison and even mammoths.

It probably won't be a mistake if I say that the most popular wild cat is the lion. No wonder they call him the king of beasts.

The lion lives in Africa and India. Few people know, but in India there is a reserve in the state of Gujarat called the Gir Forest. So in this reserve a small population of Indian lions has been preserved.

Lions are the only cats that constantly live in packs. For example, cheetahs can temporarily unite in small groups, for example, three individuals. And lions constantly live in a team, a flock of lions is called a pride.

Of all cats, and perhaps of all predators, lions are distinguished by a mane.

These large cats have pronounced sexual dimorphism. What does it mean? In fact, everything is very simple, in lions, boys and girls are very different from each other, not only internally, but also externally. Lionesses do not have such a lush mane.

Lionesses occupy a subordinate position in the pack. They mainly hunt and the livelihood of the flock depends on the lionesses.

Servals also live in Africa. Although they are not large, they compete with cheetahs. Yes, and they can just be their prey probably.

Serval is a cat with big ears. She likes to live in thickets of small vegetation, so she is called a bush cat.

In the thickets of shrubs, the serval perfectly masks its color.

Like the cheetah, the serval is tamed. He is even kept in apartments as a pet.

Caracal lives in the deserts of Africa and Asia. Therefore, the caracal is also called the desert lynx, and outwardly it looks like a lynx.

The name caracal comes from the Turkish word karakulak, which changes into "black ear". The ears of caracals are really black.

Despite the outward resemblance to a lynx, the caracal is genetically closer to the serval. In captivity, these cats interbreed.

Although the leopard is a large predator, it is inferior in size to lions and tigers. And not much inferior.

The main habitat of the leopard is Africa, although it can be found in Asia up to China. But only in Africa, its population is in a normal state, if you can write like that about an animal from the Red Book

Photo of tigers

So, moving closer to Asia, let's pay attention to tigers - this is one of the symbols of Asia.

The wild tiger is one of the most formidable predators. They live and hunt alone. Only during the mating season, the female and male can hunt together.

Now let's move to South America. Here the largest representative of the cat family is the jaguar.

The jaguar has a magnificent color, somewhat similar to the color of a leopard. Outwardly, these cats are very similar.

Black jaguars are found in nature. This is not a separate species, but an unusual color variant.

The Indians created legends about these cats, endowing them with mystical powers.

Photo jaguarundi

Another cat whose range is located mainly in South America is the jaguarundi. This cat lives in the savannas and leads a rather hidden lifestyle.

Dark jaguarundi.

Outwardly, the jaguarundi resembles a mixture of a cat and a weasel, the shape of the animal is very elegant and graceful. The jaguarundi hunts during the day.

Cougar photo

The other large wild cat of America is the cougar. It lives in North America and is a very common predator there.

Although his appearance is very impressive, especially in winter, when his lush winter coat makes him visually larger, he is about the size of an ordinary domestic cat.

Manuls are not tamed. They can live in an aviary, but they will not become tame animals. It is generally illegal to keep them at home, as the species is dying out and is listed in the Red Book.

Many wild cats are becoming rarer due to population growth. People destroy habitats, food supply and simply engage in poaching.

Biology classifies cats into two subfamilies: big cats and small cats. But in the distribution of cats into these groups, it is not the size itself that plays a role, but the structure of certain bones. Therefore, representatives of the largest cats in the world are found not only among the subfamily of large cats. Cougars and cheetahs are sometimes not inferior in size to panthers, although they belong to a small group.

In the first place among large cats is the tiger, one of the representatives of the panther genus. Most tigers live in Asia and feed on ungulates. These predators prefer to hunt alone, in the morning or in the late afternoon, while they see in the dark six times better than a person.

Some characteristics of the tiger:

• weight varies from 180 to 300 kg;
• life expectancy up to 15 years, in captivity 25 years;
• the largest of the subspecies, the Amur tiger, reaches a length of three and a half meters;
• the predator accelerates to 60 km / h.

The most common subspecies of the tiger, the Bengal tiger, consists of 3,000 to 4,500 individuals. Three out of nine species have already become extinct, the rest are endangered.

A noble, proud and majestic predator that lives in the African savannas. Lions live in families or prides. Only females hunt, often also in groups. Of the entire cat family, lions are the tallest.

Some facts about lions:

• weight reaches 250 kg;
• life expectancy 10-14 years, in captivity can reach up to 20 years;
• the size of a lion in length is from 2.7 to 3 meters. One of the largest lions was 3.3 meters long;
• the usual running speed for these animals is 50 km / h, the maximum is 80 km / h.

The species of lions is at risk of becoming endangered; over the past decades, their population in Africa has decreased by 40%.

liger

Interesting features of this unusual species:

• the liger Hercules was listed as the largest cat on Earth;
• has a weight of 400 kg and a height of 3.7 meters;
• there are 25 individuals of this species in the world;
• Ligers are capable of childbearing, which is not typical for hybrids;
• ligers love to swim.

A leopard is a large cat, smaller than a tiger or lion. It lives in Africa, Asia, the Far East in Russia. Has spots all over the body. There are also black panthers, which also have spots, but due to melanism they do not show through.

Leopard Features:

• weight in males up to 80 kg, in females up to 65;
• body length, excluding tail, 0.9-1.9 meters;
• life expectancy 12-15 years, in captivity - up to 23 years;
• leopards climb trees and can swim and fish.

The population of these animals is steadily declining: five species are already listed in the Red Book, and the number of the Far Eastern, or Amur, leopard is 60 individuals. This is due to the constant cutting of trees in the main habitats, poaching and a decrease in the food supply.

The jaguar belongs to the genus Panthera. It lives in South and Central America, feeds on both small rodents and adult mammals. Able to swim, climb trees. He spends his life alone, meets with other representatives of his species only during reproduction.

Some features of this predator:

• body weight - 60-90 kg;
• body length, excluding tail, 1.1-1.8 meters;
• life expectancy 10 years, in captivity - up to 25 years;
• the jaguar hunts at night, prefers to sleep during the day;
• the animal is listed in the Red Book.

The genus of panthers is different in that the spots on the skin of predators are unique, like human fingerprints.

Snow Leopard

The snow leopard, or irbis, belonging to the genus Uncia, lives in the mountains of Central Asia. They live in mountain caves alone, travel a lot, do not show aggression towards people, attacks are rare.

Features of snow leopards:

• body length with tail is 2-2.3 meters;
• body weight - up to 60 kg;
• life expectancy 20-25 years;
• snow leopards jump up to 6 meters in length and up to 3 meters in height;
• snow leopards do not know how to meow, purr, or growl.

The snow leopard is recorded in the Red Book, since 6,000 individuals remain.

Puma belongs to small cats, although the size is not at all small, 1-1.8 meters long. It lives in North and South America, hunts deer, leads a solitary lifestyle.

Interesting Facts:

• in nature, cougars live up to 20 years;
• the main enemies of cougars are bears, jaguars and wolves;
• cubs do not leave the shelter unless their mother calls them;
• the cougar reaches 65 km / h on the plains, but quickly gets tired.

Cougars are constantly hunted, but due to their adaptability to different living conditions, their subspecies are not under the threat of complete extermination.

The cheetah lives in Africa and the Middle East. The fastest of all land animals. Produces food during the day, the diet consists mainly of gazelles and antelopes.

Distinctive features of the cheetah:

• develops speed up to 110 km / h;
• body length 1.1-1.4 meters;
• hunts in a pack;
• claws in the paws are not removed or are partially removed;
• cheetahs get along with people, are tameable.

The number of these predators is falling, according to the latest information, no more than 4,500 cheetahs remain.

The size and abilities of wild cats are amazing, it is hard to believe that these creatures live on the same planet as people. But due to human activities, the population of these animals is rapidly declining. A person must protect, protect these incredible creatures, treat them with respect and not harm.

I've been introducing them to you all year. You admired them, each of them was called the most beautiful. But it's time to decide. Who exactly do you think is the most beautiful? Let's choose the cat of 2017!

There are 41 of them in total. All are beautiful, although maybe some are not for everyone, but I am sure that each of them is worthy of attention and each has fans. Personally, I could not unambiguously choose the best. In my TOP 3 mark at least twenty contenders.

This article has been updated for the 5th time. Initially, I wanted to show you all the felines in one place. As it turned out, even the most inveterate "cat lovers" knew far from everyone. So my work was not in vain.

Well, let's define Miss Kitty 2017?

If suddenly you see this article for the first time, let's first try to figure out what pussies are and how they differ from each other, but then vote anyway !!!

All cats, without exception, are predators. And they belong to the squad of predators, and then this squad is divided into two suborders: canids and felines. Cats include hyenas, mongooses, viverrids, and felids. They are all very distant relatives, but cats are only those who are part of the cat family!

And this is what this family looks like in the subfamily / genus / species projection:

Subfamily Small cats (Felinae)

- genus Cheetahs (Acinonyx)

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You can read the original of this article (full version).

Cat family (Felidae)- a group of mammals from the order carnivores (Carnivora - "carnivores").

With the exception of Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, Japan, and most oceanic islands, indigenous cat populations are found throughout the world, and one species, the domestic cat, has been introduced almost everywhere where humans currently exist. Although some scientists recognize only a few genera, most authorities recognize 18 genera and 36 species. With the exception of the largest cats, most species are adept climbers, and many are skilled swimmers. Almost all members of the family are solitary animals. Often, modern felines are divided into two subfamilies - large and small cats. As a rule, small cats include animals that, due to the structure of the hyoid bone, are not able to growl.

Felines are perhaps the most specialized hunters of all predators. They often kill prey of their own size, and sometimes several times larger. Unlike some predators, felids feed on animals they have killed themselves. They are fast and hunt mainly at night. Felids are found in all terrestrial habitats, with the exception of treeless tundra and polar ice.

area

Felines are native to all continents. Excluding domestic and stray cats (Felis catus), which are geographically distributed throughout the world, wild cats can be found everywhere except Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Madagascar, the polar regions, and many isolated oceanic islands.

Habitat

Felids are found in all terrestrial habitats, with the exception of treeless tundra and polar ice regions. Most species have unique habitats and can be found in a wide range of environments. However, only a few of them are adapted to the limited habitat. For example, optimal living conditions for sand cats (Felis margarita) include sandy and rocky deserts. Domestic and stray cats (F. catus) are found throughout the world and are especially widespread in urban and suburban areas.

Description

All felines bear a strong resemblance to each other. Unlike members of the canine family (Canidae), felines have a short mouth and a characteristic dental formula, which increases the force of the bite. Loss or reduction of premolars and molars is especially evident in felines, which have a typical dentition of 3/3, 1/1, 3/2, 1/1 = 30. In most species, the upper premolar is significantly reduced, and in lynxes (lynx), is completely missing. Cats have well developed carnivorous teeth. Their cheek teeth are cusp-cutting and specialized for cutting meat. The fangs are generally long and tapered, and are ideal for piercing prey tissue with minimal force. Cats also have a vestigial baculum and retractable claws. Most cats have five toes on their front paws and four on their back paws.

Body weight varies from 2 kg in black-footed cats (Felis negripes) up to 300 kg in tigers (Panthera tigris), and sexual dimorphism appears, with males being larger and stronger than females. In some species such as lions (Panthera leo), males may also have ornamentation that is used to attract potential mates. Throughout the range, cats' coats are longer where ambient temperatures tend to be low (such as snow leopards). Fels show a wide range of coat colors from black to white, and many species have cryptic colored coats containing rosettes, spots and stripes that help camouflage the animals while hunting. Melanistic variants (solid black) are common in many species, but completely white individuals tend to be rare. Great variation in coat color can occur within individual species and ages. For example, adult cougars (Puma concolor) rarely have spots, while their kittens almost always have them. In general, the belly of cats is usually light in color, and the muzzle, tail, and back of the ears often have black or white markings.

Felines have a number of morphological adaptations that have allowed them to become the most skilled hunters among carnivores. They are digitigrade, which allows them to move quickly. Their powerful limbs help them capture and hold large prey. Often, felines have a cryptic camouflage that makes them invisible while hunting. In addition, many species of the cat family have large eyes and exceptional vision. In nocturnal species, the tapetum helps to capture limited light. Most species are famous for their large, semi-structured, rotating ears. And finally, their tongue is sandpaper-textured, which helps to keep food in the mouth and separate the meat from the bones of prey.

reproduction

Felids are most often classified as polygynous (when a male can mate with several females in one breeding season), but promiscuity is also shown (polygynandrous - when two or more males copulate with two or more females). The number of males and females does not have to be equal. Such groups often include related males. The advantage of this form of sexual behavior is more, less need for males to compete with each other, as well as a higher degree of protection for offspring). A female's estrus lasts from 1 to 21 days and may recur several times until she becomes pregnant. Through vocalizations, olfactory markings, and restless behavior, females signal to their potential mates that they are ready to breed. As with most polygynous species, males compete for a female through displays of strength in combat as well as direct physical contact (such as rubbing against a female). During courtship, lucky males may approach receptive females with their heads down. The act of copulation lasts less than a minute, and is repeated for several days. Then, the male is able to leave the female to find another, in which case, another male takes his place.

In felids, male home ranges often include the territories of several females (with the exception of lions) and the male mates with females that are within his territory. Most conspecific interactions occur during the mating season or as a result of territorial disputes between competing males. Indirect interactions through olfactory markings or vocalizations help reduce the number of deaths.

In most felids, breeding is not seasonal, but in areas with extreme climatic conditions or variability in prey, births occur at the most favorable times of the year. Small cats tend to have up to 3 litters per year, while large cats have 1 litter every 18 months. The interval between litters will depend on the rate of maturation of the kittens, body size, availability of food, or recent loss of pups. For example, if a female loses her litter, she may be in heat within a few weeks. Although most litters average 2-4 cubs, sometimes up to 8 kittens are born. The gestational period (pregnancy) lasts about 2 months in small cats and up to 3 months in lions and tigers.

Kittens are born completely blind and deaf, making them defenseless. With the exception of lions, in other species of the family, the females are the only ones who raise the young. Mothers often hide newborns in dens, rock crevices, or hollows until they learn to move independently. Weaning begins with the introduction of solid food into the diet and ranges from 28 days for domestic cats to 100 days for lions and tigers. Small cats reach sexual maturity at about 12 months, and large cats at about 2 years. As a general rule, felines do not produce their first litter until they have established a home range, which is usually acquired at 3-4 years of age. Although the age of independence varies greatly in many species, it occurs around 18 months. Unlike most felines, lions are very social and females take turns caring for newborn kittens while the mother is away hunting prey.

The females teach the kittens the necessary hunting techniques. Most of the time, kittens spend "role-playing" games that help them develop their hunting skills. Despite the fact that lions have infanticide by foreign males, natural fathers take care of their offspring and protect them from possible threats, and also allow mothers to get a well-deserved rest.

Lifespan

Life expectancy ranges from 15 to 30 years. In the wild, high mortality occurs among young, usually due to predation. In captivity, deaths have been reported associated with stillbirths, cannibalism, maternal neglect, hypothermia, and birth defects.

Behavior

With the exception of lions, which form prides, felines are solitary animals that meet with their own kind only for breeding. They tend to hunt at night (with the exception of cheetahs) and although most of them are nocturnal, peak activity occurs at dusk and dawn. Most cats are excellent climbers, and some species have shown themselves to be skilled swimmers. When conspecifics meet, the position of the tail and ears, as well as the display of the teeth, demonstrate a level of tolerance. Scent markings, rubbing, and tree scratching are used to mark territorial boundaries, dominance, and breeding.

Communication and perception

Felines have an acute sense of smell, hearing and vision. In addition to the tapetum, the reflective layer in the eye of many vertebrates that makes cats 7 times better at night than humans, they have a modified pupil that provides excellent vision over a wide range. The pupil is a vertical slit that widens in low light and contracts in strong light. Felines have relatively large ears that can rotate, allowing them to receive multidirectional sounds without turning their heads. Well-developed vibrissae, located above the eyes, near the nose, on the chin, paws, ankles and tail, play an important role in the tactile sensory system. Like other carnivores, felines have touch receptors inside their fingers that allow them to sense temperature, pressure, and other stimuli.

Felines are solitary animals that mark territory with their facial glands and urine. They also mark territorial boundaries by scratching tree trunks. Like many vertebrates, cats have a vomeronasal or Jacobson's organ that allows them to detect pheromones. This olfactory sensory organ is located at the base of the nasal cavity and plays an important role in interspecies interactions, especially those related to reproductive function. The use of the vomeronasal organ allows males to assess the readiness of females for mating and the quality of potential partners. It is believed that input from the vomeronasal organ and olfactory bulbs greatly contributes to sexual activity.

Due to their nocturnal and solitary lifestyle, it is difficult to study sound communication between relatives. However, the sounds of many carnivores signal individual recognition and territorial boundaries. It is believed that from domestic cats ( Felis catus), you can hear most of the sounds made by most members of the cat family. They purr, meow, growl, hiss and scream. The hyoid bone of small cats is hardened, resulting in an inability to roar. Big cats are capable of roaring, which is believed to be used for communication over a distance. For example, lions usually roar at night to defend territory. Studies show that lionesses can determine the sex of a roaring individual and react differently to different roaring individuals.

Nutrition

Morphologically, felids are considered the most specialized carnivores of all carnivores. They are at the top of the food chain in most ecosystems as their diet consists almost entirely of animals. Occasionally, felines ingest grass to help "cleanse" the stomach of indigestible foods such as fur, bones, and feathers. Some species consume fruit to make up for the lack of water. Felines can eat the viscera (i.e. internal organs) of prey, thus consuming partially digested plant biomass. Although big cats tend to prey on large prey (such as equids and cloven-hoofed animals), they also occasionally feed on carrion. Small cats mainly prey on rodents, rabbits or hares. When possible, small cats feed on reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, crustaceans, and arthropods. Some species hide their prey and may drag dead carcasses under nearby trees before consumption (such as the leopard). Fishing cats and Sumatran cats are unique among felids in that they have adapted to prey on fish and frogs.

Threats

Felines are generally apex predators (i.e. their numbers are not regulated by other animals), but juveniles are vulnerable to predators until they are able to defend themselves. Many species have cryptic coloration that allows them to remain camouflaged in their native habitat. Most big cats are intolerant of other species in the family. For example, lions easily kill leopards, which are known to kill cheetahs. Male lions commit infanticide to induce estrus in the female and eliminate the offspring of competing males. About a quarter of lion cub deaths are the result of infanticide, which also occurs in cougars.

Role in the ecosystem

The felines are at the top of the food chain and begin to control species populations from top to bottom, in their native habitat. Often they attack the most vulnerable individuals (for example, young, old or sick). Some types of large herbivores can avoid predators. For example, evidence suggests that white-tailed deer from Bear Island, Florida avoided the forested habitat of Florida cougars. However, bobcats, which usually prey on small mammals, may attack deer in open habitats. Thus, in an attempt to avoid one predator, white-tailed deer become increasingly vulnerable to another.

Economic importance for humans

positive

Felines were first domesticated in Egypt between 4,000 and 7,000 years ago. Historically, the skins of these animals served as a symbol of high status and power, a trend that continues to this day. In Africa, felines were often hunted as trophies. Punitive killings by livestock farmers are also not uncommon. In addition to skins, these animals are desirable because of their claws and teeth. Conventional medicines may include feline by-products, but their effectiveness has not yet been proven. Although international trade in feral cats and their by-products is illegal, domestic trade continues in some countries to this day. Big cats are important to African and Indian ecotourism, and attract tourists to national parks and private reserves. Small cats primarily prey on rodents, hares and rabbits, and control pest populations throughout much of their range. Big cats tend to prey on large herbivores, which reduces competition between livestock and local ungulates.

negative

In areas inhabited by feral domestic cats, populations of small vertebrates (eg birds, lizards and small mammals) have declined significantly. Felids attack and kill farm animals, resulting in losses. Wild cats can transmit diseases to domestic cats. Big cats sometimes kill and eat people, although most attacks are often the result of accidental encounters, sick or injured animals. In the Sundarbans National Park, India, where the densest mangrove forests are located, several dozen people die every year from tigers.

conservation status

Major concerns for felines include: habitat loss or fragmentation, human interaction, international trade, wild domestication, poaching, and the loss of natural prey. In addition, decreasing population sizes increase the vulnerability of animals to extinction due to natural disasters, epidemics, and inbreeding. According to the IUCN Red List, most of the species of the family are currently in decline, and for some species there are no reliable data to determine the demographic trend. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1975 over fears that the international fur trade would lead to the extinction of large numbers of felids. Currently, all species of the family are listed in Appendixes I and II.

At the moment, conservation efforts are focused on habitat conservation, captive breeding and reintroduction. Numerous cat species have been reintroduced to areas where they once disappeared. Most reintroduction attempts fail due to lack of careful planning and execution, which is directly related to lack of time and money. Many cats are currently in a state of decline, mainly due to human persecution. If reintroduction is not supported by local communities, such attempts are doomed to failure.

In 1996, the IUCN published an action plan for the conservation of big cats, which consists of a list of 105 "priority projects". The "General Conservation Plan" included a range of actions that were thought to help conserve all species. Since 1996, a team of IUCN specialists has helped launch numerous research projects to meet the conservation goals set out in the 1996 Conservation Plan. In 2004, a group of specialists created a "digital cat library" containing over 6,000 "articles and reports relevant to the conservation of wild cats", and in 2005 there was the first successful captive breeding of the Iberian lynx, serving as a giant symbolic leap on the long journey. conservation of feline species.

Classification of modern species

Subfamily Big cats (Pantherinae)

Genus	View
clouded leopards (neofelis)	(Neofelis nebulosa)
	(Neofelis diardi)
Panthers (Panthera)	(Panthera leo)
	(Panthera tigris)
	(Panthera pardus)
	(Panthera onca)
Uncia	(Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia)- used to belong to the genus Panthers

Subfamily Small cats (felinae)

Genus	View
Cheetahs (Acinonyx)	(Acinonyx jubatus)
Caracal (Caracal)	(Caracal caracal)
	(Caracal aurata)
Catopums (Catopuma)	(Catopuma badia)
	(Catopuma temmincki)
cats (Felis)	Chinese cat (Felis beeti)