Your Cat's Family Tree

Key Concepts

• Feline Family Tree: The evolutionary history and relationships between different cat species, both extinct and extant.
• Panthera Branch: A major lineage within the Felidae family that includes large cats like lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards.
• Fellini Branch: Another major lineage within the Felidae family that includes smaller cats and is more closely related to domestic cats.
• Extinct Felines: Ancestral cat species that are no longer alive, such as Smilodon populator and the American cheetah.
• Domestic Cat Ancestry: The origin of domestic cats from wild cat species and their subsequent domestication by humans.
• Hybridization in Felines: The ability of different cat species to interbreed and produce offspring, such as ligers and tyigons.
• Cat Breed Characteristics: Distinct physical and behavioral traits associated with various domestic cat breeds.
• Coat Patterns and Genetics: The genetic basis for different fur colors and patterns in cats, such as tabby, calico, and tortoiseshell.

Extinct Felines

• Smilodon Populator: The largest cat to have ever existed, weighing approximately half a ton and possessing canine teeth up to 11 inches long. Its large teeth were adapted for taking down large prey like bison and giant ground sloths, likely with a single bite to the throat.
• American Cheetah: An extinct feline that once inhabited the US. It was not closely related to the modern cheetah but was larger and likely almost as fast. Its primary prey was the pronghorn, the second fastest mammal.
• Proailurus: Considered the earliest feline, dating back 30 million years. It resembled a mongoose and likely lived in trees, hunting birds and rodents across Eurasia. It is the "grandaddy" of all modern cats.

Modern Cats: The Panthera Branch

• Lions: Primarily found in the savannas of Africa, with a small population in India. They live in social groups called prides, where males defend territory and females hunt and care for cubs. Lions are noted as being significant scavengers, sometimes stealing more food than they hunt, even more so than hyenas in some regions.
• Tigers: Mostly solitary and inhabit the forests of Asia. They are ambush hunters, utilizing their camouflage to blend into their surroundings before attacking ungulates.
• Hybridization (Ligers and Tyigons): Felines can hybridize more easily than other mammals due to genetic similarity.
  • Liger: Offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. Ligers are exceptionally large, potentially due to growth-limiting genes in lions being inherited from females. This typically occurs only in captivity.
  • Tyigon: Offspring of a female lion and a male tiger. Tyigons are smaller than ligers due to the same genetic factors.
• Jaguars vs. Leopards:
  • Jaguars: Found in the Americas. Their rosettes (fur patterns) are large and have a central spot.
  • Leopards: Found in Africa and Asia. Their rosettes are smaller and lack a central spot.
  • Black Panther: A melanistic (black coat) individual of any Panthera species. Jaguars and leopards are the only big cats that regularly produce black individuals.
• Snow Leopards: Not closely related to leopards, but more so to tigers. They inhabit the Himalayas, with adaptations for cold climates including bushy coats and thick, fat-filled tails for insulation.
• Clouded Leopard: Split off from the Panthera branch early. It is a slightly smaller Asian cat and an exceptional tree climber.

Modern Cats: The Felini Branch

• Bay Cat: One of the rarest cats, found only on the island of Borneo. Its diet is largely unknown due to limited observation.
• Marbled Cat: Found in Asia, resembling a miniature clouded leopard with an extra-long tail for arboreal balance.
• Serval: Possesses the longest legs relative to body size among cats. It hunts mice in the African savanna.
• Caracal: Recognizable by long ear tufts, which likely act as acoustic amplifiers to detect small prey. Found in Africa and parts of Asia.
• Kodkod: A small cat from Chile, resembling a jaguar kitten. Its preferred prey is the "wetwet" bird.
• Oncilla: A small South American cat that uses its spots for camouflage while hunting small prey like lizards. Approximately 20% are black, aiding nocturnal hunting.
• Margay: A small cat from Mexico and Central/South America. It mimics the calls of its prey, the tamarind monkey, to lure them closer.
• Ocelot: Abundant in the Amazon, preying on mice. Their rodent-heavy diet is thought to benefit forest growth, as uneaten seeds from their stashes germinate.
• Bobcat: Native to North America, characterized by its short, "bobbed" tail. The evolutionary reason for this trait is unclear, possibly a non-adaptive mutation.
• Lynx: Closely related to bobcats, also with short tails. They have distinctive facial ruffs resembling mustaches. Eurasian lynxes are efficient hunters, taking down over 60 deer annually on average.
• Cheetah: Found in Africa and parts of Asia, it is the fastest land animal. Its anatomy is optimized for speed, including a flexible spine, small head, enlarged lungs, and a rudder-like tail for turning.
• Puma (Cougar, Mountain Lion, Panther): Holds the record for the longest leap in the animal kingdom, covering nearly 40 feet. Found throughout the Americas.
• Jaguarundi (Otter Cat): The closest relative to the puma. It resembles an otter and lives near rivers, even catching fish.

Wild Cats Closely Related to Domestic Cats

• Leopard Cat: Resembles a tiny leopard. While not the direct ancestor of domestic cats, some were kept as pets in ancient China.
• Pallas's Cat (Manul): Adapted to the cold plateaus of Mongolia and Tibet. Its dense fur and low ears provide insulation. It often sits with its tail wrapped around its paws to keep them warm.
• Sand Cat: A small desert cat with large ears relative to its size, enabling it to hear prey from a significant distance in North Africa.
• Wild Cats (African and European): Slightly larger than most domestic cats and very similar in appearance. Domestic cats are directly descended from these wild cats.

Domestication of Cats

• Origins: Wild cats likely began habituating to humans around 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the development of agriculture. The storage of grain attracted rodents, which in turn attracted wild cats.
• Evolutionary Changes: Over time, domestic cats evolved to better digest plant matter from human scraps and became less skittish.
• Ancient Egypt: Cats were revered and worshipped in ancient Egypt. The modern Egyptian Mau breed is believed to be descended from these cats.

Domestic Cat Breeds and Hybrids

• Bengal Cat: A hybrid of a domestic cat (often Egyptian Mau) and a leopard cat. It is the only pet cat with rosette markings. Ownership is restricted in some areas.
• Savannah Cat: A hybrid of a serval and a domestic cat.
• Ragdoll: Large, long-haired cats with blue eyes, known for going limp when picked up. They are affectionate and can be trained, earning them the nickname "puppy cats."
• Maine Coon: The most popular and longest domestic cat breed. The longest recorded Maine Coon, Stewie, measured over 4 feet. They often exhibit polydactylism (extra toes).
• Scottish Fold: Characterized by folded ears due to a genetic condition causing abnormal cartilage growth, which also leads to arthritis.
• American Shorthair: Descended from working cats brought to the US on ships to control rodents.
• British Shorthair: The most popular breed in England, known for its chunky build and wide face, inspiring the Cheshire Cat.
• Siamese: Have triangular faces, long ears, and slender bodies. Their color pattern is temperature-controlled albinism: warmer areas are white, cooler areas are pigmented.
• Persian: Easily identified by long hair, short legs, and flat faces. Mr. Bigglesworth in Austin Powers was originally a Persian.
• Sphynx: Naturally hairless due to a genetic mutation, used as a replacement for the bald Mr. Bigglesworth after cryogenic freezing.
• Turkish Angora: Similar to Persians but with less flat faces. More prone to heterochromia (different colored eyes).
• Devon Rex: Small cats with short, curly coats and wide-set ears, giving them a fairy-tale appearance.
• Abyssinian: Long and lean cats known for their regal appearance and playful, social nature, often called the "jokers" of the cat world.
• Norwegian Forest Cat: Possess long, dense, water-resistant fur for warmth. Despite their size, they are excellent climbers.

Non-Purebred Domestic Cats

• Domestic Shorthairs/Longhairs (Moggies in Britain): The vast majority of cats are not purebred. They exhibit a wide variety of colors and patterns due to a lack of selective breeding for specific genes.
• Tabby: Any mixed-breed cat with a striped coat pattern. Approximately 80% of domestic cats are tabbies, indicating the strength of tabby genes inherited from ancestors.
• Solid Colored Cats: Often black. Black cats have historically been associated with bad luck and witchcraft due to medieval religious texts.
• Calico Cats: Always female, as the orange, white, and black pattern is linked to the X chromosome. The name originates from Calicut, India, known for its printed fabrics.
• Tortoiseshell Cats: Also always female due to the X chromosome linkage for orange and black genes. They have less white than calicos, with blended colors resembling a tortoise shell.
• Bicolor Cats: Have two colors, typically black and white. This pattern can create the appearance of socks or a dress shirt. The tuxedo variation is the basis for Mr. Mistoffelees in the musical Cats.

Conclusion and Merchandise

The video concludes by highlighting the diversity and appeal of the feline family. The creators offer a poster celebrating cats, available for purchase at DFTBA.com/MinuteEarth, with a discount offered for purchasing both the canine and feline posters.