Discover the evolution of the domesticated cat
All cats, from our own pet moggies to lions and tigers, belong to the same family of animals; the Felidae family.
These animals first began to evolve 25 million years ago. They have become the most highly-developed carnivorous hunters of all the mammals.
The oldest cat lineage is the Panthera, which split from its common ancestor 10.8 million years ago. This is the line our modern day big cats have evolved from, including:
- tigers (Panthera tigris)
- panthers (Panthera pardus)
- lions (Panthera leo)
As the tiger was one of the first to evolve, they have spread out and adapted to the most environments around the world. They can survive the -40 degrees Celsius nights of Siberia to the +40 degrees Celsius swamps of the Sundarbans.
The Felidae family continued to evolve and branch off into different common ancestors until 3.4 million years ago. This is when the Felis genus appeared. This group includes:
- the wildcat (Felis silvestis)
- the jungle cat (Felis chaus)
- our own domestic cats (Felis catus)
Our moggies are most closely related to Felis silvestris lybica, also known as the African wildcat. As they separated into different species not that long ago, their genetic makeup is almost identical. They share some of the same behaviours, such as hunting and the need to be alone. Our cats are also closely related to the Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia). This is why they can interbreed and produce kittens.
Our domestic cats and tigers shared a common ancestor around 10.8 million years ago. They also share 95.6% of their DNA! But that is not where the similarities end.
5 similarities between cats and tigers
1. They have a similar body shape
There are vast differences in size within the Felidae family. Tigers weigh up to 300 kilograms (661 pounds). Our largest domestic cat breed, the Maine Coon, weighs up to eight kilograms (18 pounds). But there are common themes to their body shape. These include:
- strong, supple bodies
- a long tail for balance
- sharp teeth and retractable claws perfectly adapted for hunting their prey
2. They are obligate carnivores
As they are adapted to hunt it is no surprise that, like the tiger, our domestic cats are obligate carnivores. This means they need to have meat in their diet. This is because without meat they can become deficient in certain nutrients, such as taurine, arginine, arachidonic acid and retinoic acid. This can cause a range of health issues. While tigers have to hunt for their food, our cats have the luxury of commercial, well-balanced, complete cat foods to meet all their needs. Despite this our moggies still have a strong hunting instinct. Find out more about feeding your cat.
3. They scent mark their territory
Territory and personal space is very important to both tigers and domestic cats. They will mark their territory by:
- spraying urine
- rubbing their facial scent markers on objects
- scratching around the area to warn off other cats
Here's some advice on how to stop your cat scratching in the home.
4. They prefer to live on their own
The only members of the Felidae family that frequently establish social groups of ‘families’ are lions. Other felines usually prefer to live alone, only coming together to mate. This is because they are highly territorial. As a result of being solitary, they have fewer refined facial muscles for communication, compared to social species like dogs.
5. They like boxes
With many zoos becoming more focused on improving animal welfare, the use of enrichment has become a normal part of the animals’ daily routine. This has shown us how, like our domestic cats, tigers love a good cardboard box too! It’s important to provide your cat with plenty of places to hide at home, to help them feel safe. Find out more about cats and hiding.
