Research news on cats (family)

The biological family commonly referred to as cats is Felidae, a monophyletic group of carnivorous mammals within the order Carnivora. Felidae comprises two extant subfamilies, Pantherinae (large cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars) and Felinae (smaller to medium-sized cats including the domestic cat, lynxes, cougars, and many wildcat species). Members of Felidae are characterized by obligate carnivory, specialized dentition for shearing flesh, retractile or semi-retractile claws, highly developed sensory systems, and typically solitary, territorial behavior. They exhibit diverse ecological adaptations across terrestrial habitats worldwide, excluding Antarctica and some isolated islands.