About 6.2 million years ago, the genus Felis set itself apart from other small cats. Today, these descendants are known as Felis catus—the scientific name for our beloved cats. This term connects their deep historical roots to their place as beloved companions today. The scientific name for cats reflects both their evolutionary journey and their special role in human history. Let’s read more about cats and their mighty scientific name.

Revolution of the Scientific Name for Cats

Let’s delve into the age of revolution of the scientific name of cats:

Source: Biodiversity Library

Early Domestication and Naming

The history of cats begins with their direct modern ancestors, the African wildcats (Felis lybica), who were first domesticated in ancient Egypt. Cats were highly revered and often associated with the goddess Bastet. Although the ancient Egyptians didn’t use the name Felis catus, they had their own words, like miu or miut, to describe these feline friends.

When cats spread into the Roman Empire, they became part of everyday life there too. The Romans used the Latin term Felis for small cats, especially those living close to humans. But back then, this term was more about general description than a formal scientific name for cats.

Medieval and Renaissance Periods

During the medieval era, the term Felis continued to show up in bestiaries. A book written in the Middle Ages containing descriptions of real and imaginary animals intended to teach morals and to entertain other writings, but these were more about myths and bedtime stories than scientific accuracy.

Eventually, this was left behind as a natural scientific curiosity grew over humanity, leading scholars to begin cataloguing animals systematically. The renewed interest in the natural world led to more accurate descriptions of animals, including cats, and set the stage for modern taxonomy.

The Age of Taxonomy: Birth of the Scientific Name for Cats

The newfangled idea came with Carl Linnaeus, who introduced the scientific name for cats, Felis catus, in his landmark work, Systema Naturae, in 1758.

In his description, Linnaeus wrote:

“Felis Catus: Inhabits woods of Europe and Asia; domesticated everywhere; when tranquil purrs, moving the tail; when irritated is very active, climbs, emits a fetid odor; eyes shine at night, the pupil in the day a perpendicular line, by night large, round; walks with its claws drawn in.”

Linnaeus is known for creating the binomial nomenclature system, which gives each species a two-part Latin name. Breaking down the genus (Felis) and species(Cactus)helps clarify the scientific name for cats.

Breaking Down the Scientific Name of a Cat

• Felis: Linnaeus chose the genus name Felis to group small to medium-sized cats, reflecting classical Latin usage where it referred to these feline creatures.
• Catus: The species name catus was added to set domestic cats apart from their wild cousins. It comes from the Latin word for “domestic cat,” which likely traces back to even earlier Indo-European languages.

This distinction within the scientific name for a cat helps differentiate between various types of felines.

Various Scientific Names of Cats

The scientific name for cats, Felis catus, is the result of centuries of linguistic, cultural, and scientific development. Originating from Latin terms used by Romans and evolving through medieval and Renaissance scholars, the name was formalized by Linnaeus in the 18th century as part of his groundbreaking work in taxonomy. Today, this scientific name for cats points to their ancient origins and underscores the long-standing connection between cats and humans.

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