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A tiger, the largest of the big cats.

Big cat distinguishes large cat species from smaller ones. One definition of big cat includes only the four species of cat in the genus Panthera: the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. Members of this genus are the only cats able to roar, and this is sometimes considered a distinguishing characteristic of big cats. A more expansive definition also includes the cheetah, snow leopard, clouded leopard, and cougar. The roaring cats may also be distinguished from the other big cats by referring to them as "great cats". Another distinction is the offspring of the great cats are called cubs while the offspring of the lesser big cats are referred to as kittens.

Three of the four largest cats are members of the genus Panthera; the cougar is the fourth largest cat, exceeding the leopard in size. Some medium-sized cats like the Eurasian lynx may weigh as much as 25 kg (55 lb), but they are not considered big cats.

Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are amazingly similar in both structure and behavior. All cats are carnivores and efficient predators. Their range includes the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe; Australia and Antarctica have no indigenous species of cats.

The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx and hyoid apparatus.^[1]. When air passes through the larynx on the way to the lungs, the cartilage walls of the larynx vibrate, producing sound. The lion's larynx is longest, giving it the most robust roar. Though jaguars are considered great cats, they are not often known to roar and have a less developed larynx. The snow leopard is also said to have a larynx nearly adapted for roaring, but it is far less developed than the jaguar.

The principal threats to big cats are habitat destruction and poaching. In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as pets, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act bans the interstate sale and transportation of these animals^[2]. Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in America, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos^[3]. The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos.

Family Felidae

• Genus Panthera (roaring or great cats)
  • Leopard, Panthera pardus (Asia and Africa)
  • Lion, Panthera leo (Africa, Gir Forest in India; extinct in former range of southeast Europe, Middle East and North America)
  • Jaguar, Panthera onca (the Americas; from Mexico to northern Argentina)
  • Tiger, Panthera tigris (Asia)
• Genus Acinonyx
  • Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus (Africa and Iran)
• Genus Puma
  • Cougar, Puma concolor (North and South America)
• Genus Uncia
  • Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia (mountains of central and south Asia)
• Genus Neofelis
  • Bornean Clouded Leopard, Neofelis diardi (Borneo and Sumatra)
  • Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa (southeast and south Asia)

• NatureFootage Big Cat pictures and video clips
• How big are the Big Cats - an article at Big Cats Online which includes a chart comparing the body lengths of several cat species.
• ARKive - images and movies of endangered big cats
• Humane Society of the United States -- article on big cats as pets
• Big Cat Rescue -- sanctuary dedicated to care and conservation of big cats
• FCF Big Cat Policy -- recommendations against casual private ownership