Top 10 Largest Felidae (Wild Cats) in the World

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From tigers to small fluffy pets. Cats are available in every size and not every cat is safe. These are the ten largest felines that roam our planet.

10. Caracal

This feline is most common in Africa and Southwest Asia. This species grows up to 91 centimeters long and is recognizable by the feathers on the ears, which is why it is sometimes called the desert lynx. However, he is related to the lynx. The caracal is active at night and mainly hunts rabbits, smaller monkeys and rodents.

9. Clouded leopard

The clouded leopard has the forests of Southeast Asia as territory. His physique and thick tail make him extremely agile. With a weight of 23 kilograms and relatively large canines and is therefore a dangerous predator. He catches his prey by waiting his hours in a tree for his moment.

8. Eurasian lynx

This predator with the size of a shepherd dog still occurs in certain regions in Europe. Especially in Northern and Central Europe you can still spot this animal in the wild. The lynx is a very territorial animal whose territory can be up to 1000 square kilometers in size. They hunt mainly in the twilight for rabbits and deer. He is easily recognizable by his plump ears and short tail.

7. Cheetah

The Cheetah is known as the fastest land animal in the world. His speed is admirable in Africa and Iran where he catches his prey by means of a short sprint. Its light physique combined with long legs make it so fast. Its pale yellow body covered with black spots can grow up to one and a half meters long.

6. Leopard

The leopard is also sometimes called the panther. Which name is used depends mainly on the region it occurs. In Africa this animal is referred to as a leopard while in Asia it is often used as a panther. A leopard has an excellent view which allows it to hunt both during the day and at night but also its sense of smell and hearing are impressive. However, he hunts mainly in the twilight and at night because he is less noticeable for his prey. Animals he hunts include antelopes, deer, pigs, goats and baboons.

5. Snow leopard

The snow leopard is not the largest feline but it is the rarest. It differs from the other leopards by its lighter skin, which is often light gray rather than yellow. The snow leopard is mainly found in the Himalayan mountains but only a few have ever been able to spot the animal. This is partly because there are only 4000 specimens of it left and he is therefore part of the list of endangered species. Its weight can reach up to 75 kilograms.

4. Cougar

In most of America, the cougar has been eradicated, but it still occurs in Central and South America. Unlike most other felines, he is not aggressive and prefers to avoid confrontation with humans. Should he still want to attack, you can try to chase him away by posing big and dangerous and making a lot of noise. Often he then chooses the rabbit path. The cougar does run in the twilight and very rarely during the day. He usually lies down to rest on the branch of a tree during the day. It is most common in rainforests, mountain forests and grasslands.

3. Jaguar

This animal often occurs in the rainforests of Central and South America and is therefore a major competitor of the cougar. In appearance he looks very much like a leopard but his physique is a lot heavier. An adult jaguar can measure up to 180 centimeters and weigh 100 kilograms. This makes him the largest cat on the American continent.

2. Lion

The lion is one of the Big Five animals and therefore lives mainly in Africa. The size of the animal and the moons of the male make the animal very impressive, making him the king of the jungle. The lion is the only cat species that is very social. Hunting often takes place in groups. Once a prey has been captured, the hierarchy becomes clear. Males eat first followed by females and cubs.

1. Siberian tiger

The Siberian tiger is the largest cat living on this planet. With a length of more than three meters and a weight of 280 kilograms, that can already count. Unfortunately, the animal is almost non-existent in the wild and is on the list of endangered species. In 2011, barely 500 more specimens would survive in the wild. Their territory is restricted to some regions in eastern Russia.

Did you know that hybrids get even bigger than all the cats in this list? A liger is a cross between a lion and a tiger . But since these animals do not occur in the wild (tigers and lions do not even live in the same location!), We have not included them in the list.

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