All Felines from the Domestic Cat, Leopard Cat, Cheetah, Cougar, Bobcat and more.

-Genus Acinonyx

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

-Genus Caracal

Caracal (Caracal caracal)

-Genus Catopuma

Bay Cat (Catopuma badia)

Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii)

-Genus Felis

Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti)

Domestic Cat (Felis catus)

Jungle Cat (Felis chaus)

Pallas's Cat (Felis manul)

Sand Cat (Felis margarita)

Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes)

Wildcat (Felis silvestris)

-Genus Leopardus

Pantanal Cat (Leopardus braccatus)

Colocolo (Leopardus colocolo)

Geoffroy's Cat (Leopardus geoffroyi)

Kodkod (Leopardus guigna)

Andean Mountain Cat (Leopardus jacobitus)

Pampas Cat (Leopardus pajeros)

Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)

Margay (Leopardus wiedii)

-Genus Leptailurus

Serval (Leptailurus serval)

-Genus Lynx

Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

-Genus Pardofelis

Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata)

-Genus Prionailurus

Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)

Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus iriomotensis)

Flat-headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps)

Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)

Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)

-Genus Profelis

African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata)

-Genus Puma

Cougar (Puma concolor)

Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi)

Original British Shorthair late 1800

British SH late 1800s photographed by Helmi Flick

The British Shorthair today looks very similar to the English cat of 110 years ago. There would seem to be a slight difference, an enhancement of the concept of roundness and cobbiness that is so admired in the Brit SH and the refinement of its coat. This can be seen by making a comparison in the photograph below of a champion Brit SH taken at the end of the 1800s.  Courtesy of Pictures of Cats.

Scientific America: The Evolution of House Cats

The Evolution of House Cats

Genetic and archaeological findings hint that wildcats became house cats earlier--and in a different place--than previously thought.  Unlike other domesticated creatures, the house cat contributes little to human survival.

Condemned to Death

"Whoever kills a cat in Egypt is condemned to death, whether he committed this crime deliberately or not. The people gather and kill him. An unfortunate Roman, who had accidentally killed a cat, could not be saved, either by King Ptolemy of Egypt or by the fear which Rome inspired."  Diodorus Siculus

British Shorthair History

Roman soldiers brought the first cats to England. Centuries later, you could find their offspring in every street or alley in the UK. It was Mr. Harrison Weir, a cat lover who was regarded as the father of the Cat Fancy, who made the British native cat breed, the British Shorthair, popular in the late nineteenth century. 'The ordinary garden cat', he wrote, 'has survived every kind of hardship and persecution. That he exists at all, is tribute to his strength of character and endurance.' Weir's devotion to the British cats was supported Mr. Jung, one of the first Shorthair judges. Many cat lovers were encouraged by Weir's and Jung's enthusiasm and started breeding the British cats.

Human-cat relationship goes back further.

While ancient Egypt provides the first written record of cats, a burial discovered on Cyprus indicates that humans and felines may have become associated much earlier — extending 9,500 years or more into the past.

This undated handout shows a human burial in Cyprus with cat skeleton, bottom, that is estimated to be 9,500 years old. The research team of National Museum of Natural History in Paris uncovered the carefully buried cat on Cyprus, placed just inches from a human burial that also contained polished stones, shells, tools and jewelry. [Reuters]

400 Year-Old Mummified Cat Discovered in Home Renovation

Many years ago, during renovation of a small house, circa 1901, contractors found the inner walls lined with old newspapers published at that time. Most of them were still in relatively excellent condition. Used at that time for primitive insulation, many of the articles were fascinating, and with gentle handling several pieces were salvaged, restored and framed.  A 400 year-old mummified cat was discovered in the walls of a cottage under renovation. It is thought that the cat was placed within the walls of the cottage years ago to ward off evil spirits. 

An offering to the Gods.

Sarcophagus for Cat Mummy, ca 305 B.C.E.-1st century C.E.

Cats were kept to protect food stores from rats, mice and snakes, and were kept as pets. They are shown in paintings beneath their owners' chairs, or on their laps. Egyptian cats resembled modern tabby cats. The Egyptian name for cat is 'miw'.

Cats also had a symbolic or religious meaning, as represented by the goddess Bastet, and in later periods of Egyptian history cat mummies were used as offerings to the gods.

Cat Evolution & Domestication

Cat evolution has been going on for a long time... longer than people have been on earth. And when people finally did show up, the cat let us right on in.

A Short History of the Domestication of the Cat

Ra, sun god in form of a cat triumphant over a serpent Apophis, god of darkness and chaos (Egypt, 1300 BC)

Cat Domestication in Ancient Egypt and the Middle East