ANIMAL Teachers

WARM-BLOODED ONES

FELINE SUB-FAMILY (SMALL CATS, OCELOT, PUMA

Unsolved Mysteries

Scientists have traditionally split the Cat Family into two groups – Big Cats (Pantherinae) and Small Cats (Felinae). Although Many Felinae are small, Puma (Cougar) and Ocelot are not. However, They are smaller than Big Cats. Felines differ from Big Cats in other significant ways. Felines hunt by biting the back of their prey’s neck with their needle-sharp teeth. They sever the neck vertebrae of their prey. When Felines eat, They crouch. Meticulous, They strive to keep themselves clean, and spend many hours grooming themselves.

Fossil evidence shows that an ancestor of Small Cats existed about 2 million years ago. European Wildcats diverged from Martelli’s Cat about 250,00 years ago. African Wildcats split from European Wildcats later. About 8,000 years ago, people bred Domestic Cats from African Wildcats. Meanwhile, Puma and Ocelot established themselves in the Americas, in the Pleistocene period. Because of their close genetic ties, Small Cats can successfully interbreed with each other, producing fertile Offspring.

Because of their solitary lifestyle, Small Cats are surrounded with mystery. Rarely seen, Wildcats keep their own company. Pumas follow people like a ghostly presence. These Cats live such secret lives that little are known about them. Even Domestic Cats have their secrets that their owner knows nothing about.

Feline Sub-family teaches about unsolved mysteries. No matter how much people think they know about Felines, there is always something more to discover. Feline keep people guessing with their elusiveness. Having an unsolved mystery makes a person’s life more interesting.

Feline Sub-family’s Wisdom Includes:

Keeping Secrets

Going Your Own Way

Keeping Your Own Company

Conservation Note: Many members are endangered through habitat loss and the fur trade.

RETURN TO

Individual Cat Teachers' Page

Cat Family's Page

Individual Warm-Blooded Ones' Page

Main Animal Page

Purchase books about various members of the cat family from Amazon.com

Va. Carper

Snork5902g@yahoo.com

August 31, 2005