Felidae is the
cat family within the order
Carnivora. There are thirty-seven
species of wild cats as well as the
domestic cat, a
subspecies of the
wildcat.
The cats are divided into three subfamilies: Acinonychinae (cheetah), Felinae (small cats), and Pantherinae (big cats).
All cats are carnivores, flexible and sharp-toothed, and have retractable claws. Most have fur markings for camouflage, and even some that in their adult state are all one color, such as the lion and cougar, are born with markings. They all have raspy tongues which aid in stripping meat from bone on their prey.