To many people, Cats are mysterious creatures. Even for scientists, understanding Cats is a major undertaking. The taxonomy problem of Cats is so complex that many scientists have simply divided Cats into Big Cats (Pantherinae) and Small Cats (Felinae). But that is not enough. Cheetah and Clouded Leopard are in their own sub-families. Built for speed, Cheetah’s body type is similar to Greyhound’s. Meanwhile, Clouded Leopard is believed to be the intermediary between Big and Small Cats.
Even among regular people, confusion over Cats abounds. Pumas and Leopards are both called “Panther”. However, Black Panthers are either Jaguars or Leopards. Pumas, belonging to the Small Cat Sub-family, are also known as Mountain Lions. Then there are the “Mystery” Cats-- Cats that have been sighted but not easily studied. King Cheetah and Kellas Cat are two such Mystery Cats. Do They exist as separate species or hybrids of current species?
From the massively powerful Tiger to the tiny Black-footed Cat, They all are highly skilled hunters of prey. Equipped with sharp claws, Cats use them for climbing, seizing, and killing prey. Their large canines help Cats catch and kill their prey. They are the ultimate Killing Machines.
Since the beginning of time, Cats have been a part of human’s lives. In Africa, early humans lived among Lions and Leopards. Ancient Egyptians and Romans revered Domestic Cat. In the Americas, the Mayas and Aztecs believed that Jaguar could shape-shift and enter other worlds. Around the world, Big Cats traditionally had the powers of life and death. Because Small Cats live such secretive lives, people told stories of “fairy cats”. Special Cats, such as Black Panthers, White Tigers, and White Lions, have their own particular mystical meanings. People’s and Cats’ lives have been intertwined across the millennia.
People look at Cats with all their grace and independence, and see the beauty and beast in themselves. Cats, on the other hand, do not particularly want to know people. Cats can be so intolerant of human intrusion into their lives that They will vanish into the night.
What Cats teach is a sense of the “Other”. People have shared their lives with Cats, Big and Small, and still do not understand these animals. For their part, Cats care little what people think. Cats are what They are – familiar yet alien. They are the Other, the shadow that accompanies people on their journeys.
Cat Family’s Teachings Also Include:
“Among the families that constitute the class Mammalia, no more attractive one can be found than that of the FELIDAE…. The family comprises not only the largest and most ferocious of the beasts of prey, but also the graceful little animal that delights to make its home within man’s abode.” Copyright: “A Monograph of the Felidae”, Daniel Giraud Elliot.
“But the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by himself, and all places were alike to him.” Copyright: “Just So Stories”, Rudyard Kipling.
Take time to read what Individual Cat Family Members have to teach.
Note: Cat Subfamilies: Felinae includes Puma, Ocelot, Jaguarundi, and Margay Cat. Pantherinae includes Bobcat, Jaguar, Lynx, Lion, Leopard, and Tiger.
Conservation Note: Many cats are endangered and are protected by international treaties.
Pictures of "Lion Trek" and "Cougar" copyrighted by Mary Ann Sterling
Va. Carper
April 19, 2005