Are domestic cats related to big cats?

Got a feisty feline giving lion-in-the-Savanna energy when they attack your sock collection? If so, you might sometimes wonder “are domestic cats related to big cats?”

Well, hold on to your whiskers because we’re going to explore the big question of “what are cats related to?” in this article.

Are domestic cats related to big cats?

So, are big cats related to domestic cats? You bet! Domestic cats (known scientifically as Felis catus) are indeed related to big cats. Both belong to the Felidae family, a group of carnivorous mammals that includes all the cats: from the smallest house cat to the biggest lion. 

Despite their obvious differences in size and habitat, domestic cats and big cats share a common ancestry, making them distant relatives. So deep down, your little furball is the king or queen of the jungle, even if they traded the Savanna for the sofa!

How closely related are domestic cats to big cats?

So how are domestic cats related to big cats? Well, if you’re wondering “did cats evolve from lions or tigers?” – Nope, they didn’t. While your feline friend might have a long-haired mane or a slight “roar” to their meow, according to cat ancestor evolution, domestic cats and big cats are just (very) distant cousins. 

The Felidae family is divided into two primary subfamilies: Pantherinae and Felinae. The Pantherinae subfamily consists of big cats, such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars and the Felinae subfamily includes smaller cats like domestic cats, wildcats, servals, and ocelots. 

All cats, big and small, are descended from one prehistoric cat that’s a relative of the African Wild Cat (Felis silvestris lybica). However the family tree of cat evolution took a split, so, while house cats are related to big cats, they didn’t evolve from them.

Related article: 8 cats that look like leopards, cheetahs, and other wild felines

From wildcat to house pet: The evolution of domestic cats 

Ever wondered “where do cats come from in the wild?”. As we now know, our cuddly house cats have a pretty wild backstory, their roots tracing back to the African Wildcat. These wildcats roamed the deserts and savannas of Africa around 10,000 years ago, hunting small prey and living a solo life. Cat domestication began when these wildcats were drawn to human settlements by their tasty rodents.

Despite thousands of years of the domestication of cats, domestic cats still share a high percentage of their DNA with their wild ancestors. Of course, a few things have changed – selective breeding and a life close to humans have made them evolve differently. For example, domestic cats tend to be more social and less aggressive compared to their wild counterparts.

You can find out more about the domestication of cats in our article: Where do cats come from? A brief history of Felis catus.

Domestic cat vs. big cat

Despite their differences in size and behavior, big cats and domestic cats have a whopping 95% of DNA in common. So, when it comes to big furball vs. little furball, domestic cats have more similarities than differences to their big, wild cousins due to their common ancestry (just don’t try to give a wild cat a belly rub). Let’s take a look at these similarities below:

Physical similarities

While there are quite a few physical differences between domestic cats and wild cats, such as size, vocalizations, and coat thickness, their shared genetics mean they’ve many common physical similarities such as: 

• Body structure: Both domestic and big cats have a flexible spine, powerful legs, and retractable claws (some big cats, like cheetahs, have semi-retractable claws), which allow for quick, silent movements and agile pouncing — whether it’s on a toy mouse or a gazelle!
• Eyes: Both have excellent night vision thanks to a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum, which makes their eyes glow in the dark and helps them hunt in low light.
• Teeth and jaw structure: Both domestic and big cats have sharp, pointed teeth designed for tearing meat. Their jaws are also built to deliver a strong, lethal bite — perfect for bringing down prey or, in your kitty’s case, that stubborn piece of kibble.
• Tail: For both, the tail plays an important role in balance, especially when they’re on the prowl or making those high jumps.
• Paw pads: Both domestic cats and big cats have soft, padded paws. These pads help them move silently when stalking prey – and they’re also soooo cute!
• Whiskers: These highly sensitive tools are used by both domestic and big cats to navigate their environment, gauge spaces, and detect nearby objects or prey.
• Coat patterns and colors: While domestic cats come in a variety of colors and patterns, many of these can be traced back to their wild cousins. The classic tabby stripes, for example, resemble the markings of wildcats like tigers, serving as camouflage in their natural habitats.
• Hearing: Both domestic and wild cats can detect high-frequency sounds that we can’t.

On the hunt for house cats that look like tigers? Take a look at our article on 10 striped cat breeds: The tiny tiger guide.

Behavioral similarities

Both domestic and big cats share some pretty impressive instincts when it comes to hunting and marking their territory. However, these behaviors show differently in house cats because of their co-existence with us. For example, while a tiger might patrol vast territories in the wild, a domestic cat might just keep a close eye on their favorite spot on the couch. 

Likewise, the hunting behavior of big cats involves stalking and ambushing large prey, while domestic cats usually hunt smaller animals like mice – or their favorite toy or an unsuspecting foot! 

Unlike most wildcats, domestic cats can form close bonds with their humans and also other pets. They display many meow-velous social behaviors, from playtime antics to loving gestures like head-butting and “making biscuits”. Our whiskered friends have also evolved to communicate with us by meowing and they even match their purr frequency to a human baby’s cry! 

Related article: Savannah cat: everything you need to know

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