Cat vs Wildkatze

Felis catus compared with Felis silvestris

Key Differences

  • Cat is Not Evaluated while Wildkatze is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Cat Wildkatze
Kingdom same Animalia (Tier) Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same Chordata (Chordatiere) Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same Mammalia (Säugetiere) Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order same Carnivora (Raubtiere) Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family same Felidae (Cats) Felidae (Cats)
Genus same Felis (Small Cats) Felis (Small Cats)
Species Felis catus Felis silvestris

Evolutionary Relationship

Cat and Wildkatze share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Felis. (Small Cats)

Conservation Status

Cat

NE — Not Evaluated

Trend: Stable →

Wildkatze

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Cat Wildkatze
Diet Carnivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 46 cm
Average Weight 4.5 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

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).

Wildkatze

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 13 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Madagascar), Asia (Cyprus, Saudi Arabia), Europe (7 countries), North America (Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico), and South America (Peru). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Wildkatze

wild cat (Felis silvestris) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia