Cats are one of the most recognisable groups of mammals, and have even made their way into our homes.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe extant Felidae family is split into two subfamilies, Pantherinae (big cats: tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard and Sunda clouded leopard) and Felinae (all other species). The exact number of species is unclear, as some subspecies are occasionally referred to as distinct species (such as the Iriomote cat), but there are roughly 40 species described by scientists.<\/p>\n
The BBC One series Big Cats<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>uncovered the secret lives of some of these remarkable felines, including many which are very elusive \u2013 snow leopards and Pallas\u2019s cats are respectively known as \u2018ghosts of the mountain\u2019 and \u2018small ghosts of the grasslands\u2019.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the world\u2019s smallest cat?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\nWhat\u2019s the world\u2019s largest cat?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\nWhy can only big cats roar?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\nBig cat guide: how to identify each species and where to see<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/p><\/div> <\/section>
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Tigers are the biggest of all the cats \u2013 from the giant siberian tigers that roam the frozen boreal forest of russia, to the secretive \u2018swamp\u2019 tigers of the Indian Sundarbans that bathe in seawater and patrol muddy shores. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lions are iconic animals\u2026 but they\u2019re strange too. They are the only cat to live in groups. In numbers they find the strength and cooperation to hunt the most formidable prey, including bison, giraffe, and even elephants. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pallas\u2019s cat thrive in the remote grasslands of the Mongolian steppe. They are perfectly adapted to hide in this open landscape \u2013 they have a wide head, low ears, and can flatten their bodies to look like a rock when hunting. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fishing cats are suited to a life in the wetlands of Asia. Beneath a long outer coat they have a short layer of insulating fur that acts like a wetsuit \u2013 and they have partially webbed feet. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pumas are the widest ranging mammal in the Americas, thanks to their extraordinary adaptability and an eye for opportunity. On the southern tip of Patagonia, they even stalk the most unlikely of prey\u2026 penguins! @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaguar are the largest cat in the Americas and have a powerful bite to match. For their size, they are the strongest of any cat, allowing them to dispatch monstrous prey \u2013 even caiman crocodiles. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Margay\u2019s climb high in the tree tops of central America where they are known as the monkey cat. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ocelots are one of the most common cats in central America, but because of their remarkable camouflage, they are rarely seen. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jaguarundi are also known as the otter cat because of their physical similarity to the aquatic mammals. This small cat is found from Texas to Argentina, and it particularly thrives in dense rainforests where it must avoid the much bigger jaguar that is known to be one of their predators. @ Paul Williams<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Snow leopards live in the Indian Himalayas, the world\u2019s highest living cat. Known as the \u2018ghost of the mountain\u2019 they roam huge territories, where food is scarce, and finding a mate is even harder. @ BBC <\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\n
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Rusty spotted cats live in Sri Lanka. This miniature predator, is the world\u2019s smallest cat\u2026 weighing little more than a kilo, 200 times lighter than a lion! @ BBC<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Tigers](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/O6A0388-27-73417cd.jpg?quality=90&crop=36px%2C22px%2C4235px%2C2821px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Tigers")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Lions](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/WIL0065-4e18c84.jpg?quality=90&crop=40px%2C25px%2C4725px%2C3148px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Lions")
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Fishing](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/WIL8465-b1de6d8.jpg?quality=90&crop=32px%2C18px%2C4244px%2C2827px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Fishing")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Pumas](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/WIL9145-c6356d5.jpg?quality=90&crop=60px%2C29px%2C5155px%2C3434px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Pumas")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Jaguar](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/WIL9206-Edit-43551e5.jpg?quality=90&crop=36px%2C24px%2C5682px%2C3785px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Jaguar")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Margay\u2019s](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/WIL9253-0769819.jpg?quality=90&crop=42px%2C27px%2C5670px%2C3777px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Margay\u2019s")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Ocelots](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/408A0808-98cf59f.jpg?quality=90&crop=40px%2C22px%2C5338px%2C3556px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Ocelots")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Jaguarundi](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/408A2453-da13b4e.jpg?quality=90&crop=43px%2C16px%2C5135px%2C3421px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Jaguarundi")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/BIG-CATS-EP2-MAKING-OF-FINAL-CUT_STQT0-8a7ac8c.jpg?quality=90&crop=14px%2C10px%2C1590px%2C1059px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Snow")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"Rusty](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2019\/01\/BIG_CATS_EP1_104910-866ec29.jpg?quality=90&crop=28px%2C12px%2C2996px%2C1996px&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Rusty")
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