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The term big cat is used to distinguish the larger cat
Felidae

Felidae is the family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the most strictly Carnivore of the sixteen mammal families in the order Carnivora....
 species from smaller ones. One definition of big cat includes only the four species of cat in the genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 Panthera
Panthera

Panthera is a genus of the family Felidae , which contains four well-known living species: the Tiger, the Lion, the Jaguar, and the Leopard....
: the tiger
Tiger

The tiger is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an Carnivore#Obligate carnivores....
, lion
Lion

The lion is a member of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. With exceptionally large males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger....
, leopard
Leopard

The leopard is a member of the Felidae biological family and the smallest of the four "Panthera" in the genus Panthera; the other three are the tiger, lion and jaguar....
, and jaguar
Jaguar

The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a New World Felidae and one of four "big cats" in the Panthera genus, along with the tiger, lion, and leopard of the Old World....
. Members of this genus are the only cats able to roar, and this is sometimes considered a distinguishing characteristic of big cats. A more expansive definition also includes the cheetah
Cheetah

The cheetah is an atypical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking climbing abilities. Therefore it is placed in its own genus, Acinonyx....
, snow leopard
Snow Leopard

The snow leopard , sometimes known as "ounce," is a moderately large Felidae native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. The classification of this species has been subject to change and its exact taxonomy position is still unclear....
, clouded leopard
Clouded Leopard

The Clouded Leopard is a medium-sized felidae, 55 to 110 cm long and weighing between 15 and 23 kilograms . It has a tan or tawny coat, and is distinctively marked with large, irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ellipses which are said to be shaped like clouds, hence both its common and original scientific name....
, and cougar. The roaring cats may also be distinguished from the other big cats by referring to them as "great cats".

Three of the four largest cats are members of the genus Panthera; the cougar is the fourth largest cat, exceeding the leopard
Leopard

The leopard is a member of the Felidae biological family and the smallest of the four "Panthera" in the genus Panthera; the other three are the tiger, lion and jaguar....
 in size.






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The term big cat is used to distinguish the larger cat
Felidae

Felidae is the family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the most strictly Carnivore of the sixteen mammal families in the order Carnivora....
 species from smaller ones. One definition of big cat includes only the four species of cat in the genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 Panthera
Panthera

Panthera is a genus of the family Felidae , which contains four well-known living species: the Tiger, the Lion, the Jaguar, and the Leopard....
: the tiger
Tiger

The tiger is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an Carnivore#Obligate carnivores....
, lion
Lion

The lion is a member of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. With exceptionally large males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger....
, leopard
Leopard

The leopard is a member of the Felidae biological family and the smallest of the four "Panthera" in the genus Panthera; the other three are the tiger, lion and jaguar....
, and jaguar
Jaguar

The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a New World Felidae and one of four "big cats" in the Panthera genus, along with the tiger, lion, and leopard of the Old World....
. Members of this genus are the only cats able to roar, and this is sometimes considered a distinguishing characteristic of big cats. A more expansive definition also includes the cheetah
Cheetah

The cheetah is an atypical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking climbing abilities. Therefore it is placed in its own genus, Acinonyx....
, snow leopard
Snow Leopard

The snow leopard , sometimes known as "ounce," is a moderately large Felidae native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. The classification of this species has been subject to change and its exact taxonomy position is still unclear....
, clouded leopard
Clouded Leopard

The Clouded Leopard is a medium-sized felidae, 55 to 110 cm long and weighing between 15 and 23 kilograms . It has a tan or tawny coat, and is distinctively marked with large, irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ellipses which are said to be shaped like clouds, hence both its common and original scientific name....
, and cougar. The roaring cats may also be distinguished from the other big cats by referring to them as "great cats".

Three of the four largest cats are members of the genus Panthera; the cougar is the fourth largest cat, exceeding the leopard
Leopard

The leopard is a member of the Felidae biological family and the smallest of the four "Panthera" in the genus Panthera; the other three are the tiger, lion and jaguar....
 in size. Some medium-sized cats like the Eurasian lynx
Eurasian Lynx

The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized Felidae native to European and Siberian forests, where it is one of the predators. The Eurasian lynx is the biggest of the lynxes, ranging in length from 80 to 130 cm and standing about 70 cm at the shoulder....
 may weigh as much as 30 kg (66 lb), but they are not considered big cats.

Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are amazingly similar in both structure and behavior. All cats are carnivore
Carnivore

A carnivore , meaning 'meat eater' , is any animal with a diet consisting mainly of meat, whether it comes from animals living or dead .In a more general sense, an animal may be considered a carnivore if it prefers feeding on animal matter over plant matter....
s and efficient predators. Their range includes the Americas
Americas

The Americas are the region of the Western hemisphere that consists of the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions....
, Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
, Asia
Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
, and Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
; Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
 and Antarctica
Antarctica

Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, overlying the South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctica of the southern hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean....
 have no indigenous
Endemic (ecology)

Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a particular geographic location, such as a specific island, Habitat type, nation, or other defined zone....
 species of cats.

Roaring

The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx
Larynx

The larynx , colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the vertebrate trachea and sound production....
 and hyoid apparatus
Hyoid bone

The hyoid bone is a horseshoe shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. At rest, it lies at the level of the base of the mandible in the front and the third cervical vertebra behind....
. When air passes through the larynx on the way to the lungs, the cartilage walls of the larynx vibrate, producing sound. The lion's larynx is longest, giving it the most robust roar. Four cats have the physical structure of the throat needed for making the deep, loud, and resonant sound of a roar. They are jaguars, leopards, lions, and tigers.

Threats

The principal threats to big cats are habitat destruction
Habitat destruction

Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present. In this process, plants and animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity....
 and poaching
Poaching

Poaching is the illegal hunting, fishing or eating of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international Conservation and wildlife management laws....
. In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as pets, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act bans the interstate sale and transportation of these animals. Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in the United States, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos. The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos.

Species

Family Felidae
Felidae

Felidae is the family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the most strictly Carnivore of the sixteen mammal families in the order Carnivora....
  • Genus Panthera
    Panthera

    Panthera is a genus of the family Felidae , which contains four well-known living species: the Tiger, the Lion, the Jaguar, and the Leopard....
     (roaring or great cats)
    • Leopard
      Leopard

      The leopard is a member of the Felidae biological family and the smallest of the four "Panthera" in the genus Panthera; the other three are the tiger, lion and jaguar....
      , Panthera pardus (Asia and Africa)
    • Lion
      Lion

      The lion is a member of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. With exceptionally large males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger....
      , Panthera leo (Africa, Gir Forest in India
      India

      India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
      ; extinct in former range of southeast Europe, Middle East
      Middle East

      File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East....
      , much of Asia, and North America)
    • Jaguar
      Jaguar

      The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a New World Felidae and one of four "big cats" in the Panthera genus, along with the tiger, lion, and leopard of the Old World....
      , Panthera onca (the Americas; from the Southern United States and Mexico
      Mexico

      The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
       to northern Argentina
      Argentina

      Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is a country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city....
      )
    • Tiger
      Tiger

      The tiger is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an Carnivore#Obligate carnivores....
      , Panthera tigris (Asia)
  • Genus Acinonyx
    • Cheetah
      Cheetah

      The cheetah is an atypical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking climbing abilities. Therefore it is placed in its own genus, Acinonyx....
      , Acinonyx jubatus (Africa and Iran
      Iran

      Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and formerly known internationally as Persian Empire until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf and the southern shore of the Caspian Sea....
      )
  • Genus Puma
    Puma (genus)

    Puma is a Felidae genus that contains the Cougar and the Jaguarundi.References...
    • Cougar, Puma concolor (North
      North America

      North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
       and South America)
  • Genus Uncia
    • Snow Leopard
      Snow Leopard

      The snow leopard , sometimes known as "ounce," is a moderately large Felidae native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. The classification of this species has been subject to change and its exact taxonomy position is still unclear....
      , Uncia uncia (mountains of central
      Central Asia

      Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to northern India in the south....
       and south
      South Asia

      South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries on the west and the east....
       Asia
      Asia

      Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
      )
  • Genus Neofelis
    Neofelis

    The genus Neofelis contains two species, the Clouded Leopard and the Bornean Clouded Leopard . The latter was only elevated by biologists to the rank of species in 2006; it was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Clouded Leopard....
    • Bornean Clouded Leopard
      Bornean Clouded Leopard

      The Bornean Clouded Leopard is a medium-sized wild felidae found on Borneo, Sumatra and the Batu Islands in the Malay Archipelago and publicised under that name by the World Wide Fund for Nature on March 14, 2007....
      , Neofelis diardi (Borneo
      Borneo

      Borneo is the List of islands by area and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Administratively, this island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei....
       and Sumatra
      Sumatra

      Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the list of islands by area in the world ....
      )
    • Clouded Leopard
      Clouded Leopard

      The Clouded Leopard is a medium-sized felidae, 55 to 110 cm long and weighing between 15 and 23 kilograms . It has a tan or tawny coat, and is distinctively marked with large, irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ellipses which are said to be shaped like clouds, hence both its common and original scientific name....
      , Neofelis nebulosa (southeast
      Southeast Asia

      Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India and north of Australia....
       and south
      South Asia

      South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries on the west and the east....
       Asia
      Asia

      Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
      )


External links

  • NatureFootage
  • - an article at Big Cats Online which includes a chart comparing the body lengths of several cat species.
  • ARKive -
  • -- article on big cats as pets
  • -- Tampa, Florida
    Tampa, Florida

    Tampa is a United States city in Hillsborough County, Florida, on the west coast of the state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County....
     sanctuary dedicated to care and conservation of big cats
  • -- Wylie, Texas
    Wylie, Texas

    Not to be confused with the unincorporated township of Wylie, Taylor County, Texas just outside Abilene, Texas.Wylie is a city in Collin County, Texas, Dallas County, Texas, and Rockwall County, Texas Counties in the U.S....
     rescue sanctuary
  • -- recommendations against casual private ownership
  • -- Wildlife Heritage Foundation (European Endangered Species Breeding Programmes (EEP))
  • -- Wildlife Heritage Foundation photos
  • -- Exotic Cat Conservation