Latest from Big Cat Rescue

Caracal Facts

Caracal Facts

Common Name: CaracalKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Felinae (Caracal)Species: caracal Misc: The name Caracal is derived from a Turkish word “karakulak” meaning “black ear.” The Caracal was once trained for bird hunting in Iran and India. They were put into arenas containing a flock of pigeons, and wagers were made as to how…

Cougar Facts

Cougar – Felis concolor   Common Names: Cougar, Puma, Panther,Mountain Lion, Catamount Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Felinae (Puma)Species: concolorSub-species: Eastern Texas to Florida – P.c.coryi –IUCN: Endangered, CITES:Appendix I Northeastern US and southeastern Canada Cougar – P.c. couguar – IUCN: Endangered, CITES: Appendix I Central American Cougar – P.c. costaricensis – CITES:…

Bay Cat Facts

Bay Cat Facts

Bornean Bay Cat Common Name: Bornean Bay CatKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Felinae (Catopuma)Species: badia Misc.: No actual studies of this cat have ever been made in the wild, and it continues to be the mystery cat of the feline family. Virtually all information has been taken from museum specimens, except for in…

Lion Facts

Lion Facts

Lion – Panthera leo This “King of Beasts” once roamed over most parts of the world including Africa, North America and Eurasia. Today, however, they are restricted to the savanna, open expanses, and grassy plains of Africa, and to a small area of western India. There are about 15,000 lions in the wild today. Just…

Tiger Facts

Tiger Facts

TIGERS   Common Name: TigerKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Pantherinae PantheraSpecies: tigris Sub-species: Bengal Tiger – Panthera tigris tigris 1200-1500 leftSiberian (Amurian) Tiger – Panthera tigris altaica 331 leftSumatran Tiger – Panthera tigris sumatrae 136 leftIndo-Chinese Tiger – Panthera tigris corbettiMalayan Tiger – Panthera tigris jacksoni **South China Tiger – Panthera tigris amoyensis…

Chinese Mountain Cat Facts

Chinese Mountain Cat Facts

Photo by Hans Reinhard Common Name: Chinese Mountain CatKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Felinae (Felis)Species: bieti Misc: Another one of the world’s least known felines, the Chinese Mountain Cat was originally called the Chinese Desert Cat, but in 1992 it was agreed to change it to the Chinese Mountain Cat since it never…

Iberian Lynx Facts

Iberian Lynx Facts

Lynx Species – Spanish Lynx (Lynx pardinus)   The most rare species of Lynx is the Spanish Lynx. Its natural habitat is open forest and sand dunes in isolated areas of Spain and Portugal. It is an endangered species, with only 1,000 remaining in the wild. Its prized fur and label of agricultural pest has…

Flat Headed Cat Facts

Flat Headed Cat Facts

Flat Headed Cat Common Name: Flat Headed CatKingdomAnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Felinae (Prionailurus)                                               Photo by Anthony Bannister Species: planiceps Misc.: In captivity, it was discovered that these cats possess a “raccoon-like” quality and will wash objects in water. Size and Appearance: One of the most unique and unusual members of the cat…

Wildcat Facts

Wildcat Facts

Wild Cat Common Name: WildcatKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)Class: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: FelidaeGenus: Felinae (Felis)Species: silvestris Misc: The African Wildcat is the ancestor of the Domestic cat. This species of cat is widely distributed and has a wide variety of coat colors to help it blend into its environment. Because of that, theWildcat was originally classified as…