Portal:Cats

Margay in Costa Rica

The margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a small wild cat native to Mexico, Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal felid, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest.

Until the 1990s, margays were hunted for the wildlife trade, at which point the killing of the species was outlawed in most countries; however, years of persecution resulted in a notable population decrease. Since 2008, the margay has been listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, as the population is thought to be declining due to loss of habitat and deforestation. (Full article...)

• List of felids – the family Felidae consists of 41 extant species belonging to 14 genera and divided into 92 subspecies.
• List of domestic cat breeds – includes only domestic cat breeds and domestic × wild hybrids
• List of individual cats – includes cats that have achieved some degree of popularity either in their own right.
• List of fictional felines – includes a limited selection of notable felines from various works, organized by medium.

A female black spotted tabby Bengal cat with tricoloured rosettes and a clear coat

The Bengal cat is a breed of hybrid cat created from crossbreeding an Asian leopard cat to domestic cats (Prionailurus bengalensis × Felis catus), especially the spotted tabby Egyptian Mau. Bengals have varying appearances. Their tabby coats range from domestic spots to hybrid rosettes, arrowhead markings, and marbling. The breed is selectively bred and pedigree registered with most of the major cat registries. The breed's name derives from the leopard cat's taxonomic name.

Due to the recent hybridisation with their wild ancestor species, the breeding, trading, and ownership of Bengal cats is legally regulated in several countries. (Full article...)

• ...that a polydactyl cat (pictured) is a cat that has more than the usual number of toes on one or all of its paws?
• ...that Unsinkable Sam was a ship's cat of both the Kriegsmarine and Royal Navy during the Second World War who survived the sinking of all three ships on which he served?
• ...that William Gore Ouseley, a diplomat noted for representing British interests in Nicaragua and Honduras, found one of the earliest sources for the Pantomime story of Dick Whittington's cat?
• ...that caracal is very powerful for its size and has even been known to bring down a full grown adult Gazelle?
• ...that Scarlett the cat is a former stray cat whose efforts to save her kittens from a fire, at serious harm to herself, attracted worldwide media attention and has been related in a number of nonfiction books?
• ... that Peter, the Lord's cat is the only animal to be given an obituary in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack?