#WildCatsOfTheWorld
LightNews LightNews
ourwildcats.com
The #WildCatsOfTheWorld series will continue, but I’ll be rotating themes.

New this week: #10AfricanCatSpecies – big and small cats of Africa.

More series coming soon. 🐾

#WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity
A small African wildcat stands on reddish sandy ground, facing the camera with alert green eyes. Its body is slender with light brown and gray tabby markings. Sparse vegetation is visible on the right side, and the background is softly blurred in warm tones. Text on the image reads: “African wildcat in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa.” Photo credit: Damonique Maree de Beer.
November 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
ourwildcats.com
The other branch from Proailurus led to Styriofelis (stir-ee-oh-FEE-lis), ancestor of all modern cats (Felinae + Pantherinae).

This lineage adapted and diversified into the 38+ wild cats alive today. 🐾

#WildCatsOfTheWorld #BigCats #SmallCats #Biodiversity
A visually striking, six-panel collage of modern wild cats, arranged in a 4:5 portrait ratio with two rows and three columns. Row 1: 1. Black-footed Cat (left): A small cat with a spotted and striped coat, sitting on a log, looking directly at the viewer. Its eyes are green. 2. Lynx (center): A medium-sized cat with tufted ears and a grayish-brown coat, walking forward through the snow, with a serious expression. 3. Cheetah (right): A tall, slender cat with a spotted golden coat, walking down a dirt path, its black-ringed tail held high. Row 2: 4. Puma / Cougar (left): A large, tawny brown cat poised on a rocky outcrop, looking intently forward. 5. Tiger (center): A massive cat with a distinctive black-striped orange coat, sitting upright in a forest environment with trees in the background. 6. Lion (right): A large male lion with a full, dark mane, standing regally on a rock, looking directly at the viewer from a dark, dramatic setting. The overall style is realistic and naturalistic, showcasing the size and habitat diversity of the Felidae family.
October 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
ourwildcats.com
All cats trace back ~25–30M yrs to Proailurus (pro-AY-luh-rus), the first true cat (Felidae) 🐾

One branch became the extinct sabertooths (Machairodontinae – mah-KAI-roh-DON-tin-ee) 🦷: massive hunters like Smilodon and Homotherium, and lesser-known Lokotunjailurus.

#WildCatsOfTheWorld #Paleontology
October 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
ourwildcats.com
From African savannahs to Arctic forests, wild cats have conquered nearly every corner of our planet. 🌍

Blue = smaller cats (Felinae)
Green = big cats (Pantherinae)

Wherever prey thrives, cats follow. 🐾

#WildCatsOfTheWorld #BigCats #Conservation
🗺️ Craig Pemberton / Wikipedia
World map showing the geographic distribution of wild cats (family Felidae). Areas shaded in blue represent the range of Felinae (small to medium cats, excluding domestic cats), while areas shaded in green represent the range of Pantherinae (big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars). Blue regions cover most of North America, Europe, northern Asia, and southern South America. Green regions are concentrated in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and parts of China.
October 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
ourwildcats.com
From the tiny Black-footed Cat to the mighty Amur tiger, the cat family spans the globe.

Fierce, fragile, and fascinating – each species tells a story of survival.

Inspired by #WildCatsOfTheWorld by Luke Hunter. Stay tuned for more! 🐾
Book cover of Wild Cats of the World by Luke Hunter, illustrated by Priscilla Barrett, featuring a close-up of a wild cat’s face with green eyes and snow on its fur.
October 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM