Black-backed jackal vs Cat

Canis mesomelas compared with Felis catus

Key Differences

• Black-backed jackal is Least Concern while Cat is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-backed jackal	Cat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Felis (Small Cats)
Species	Canis mesomelas	Felis catus

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-backed jackal and Cat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (Carnivorans)

Conservation Status

Black-backed jackal

LC — Least Concern

Cat

NE — Not Evaluated

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-backed jackal	Cat
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	46 cm
Average Weight	—	4.5 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-backed jackal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Cat

Habitat

Inhabits deserts and xeric shrublands within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (9 countries), Asia (7 countries), Europe (11 countries), North America (13 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (6 countries).

Black-backed jackal

The Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) is a species in the genus Canis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Cat

One of humanity's most successful domesticated companions, domestic cats are small, agile carnivores originating from the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago. With over 70 recognized breeds, cats retain strong predatory instincts and have colonized virtually every terrestrial environment on Earth. They are the world's most popular pet, with an estimated 600 million kept worldwide.