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A wild cat is a non-domesticated member of the family Felidae. It is estimated that there are about 42 different species of wild cat. All domestic cats belong to one species, the wildcat (Felis silvestris) which also includes the European, Asian, Southern African and North African wildcats. Nevertheless, there are many more kinds (breeds) of domestic cats than wildcats. This is because domestic cats are deliberately mated to produce new breeds. People tend to be most interested in the largest of the big cats, such as lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and pumas. However, the smaller wild cats can be especially interesting because they resemble our domestic cats so closely. It has been difficult for scientists to learn more about the smaller wild cat species, as these cats are often very secretive and are usually most active at night. Modern technology, including the use of radio-tracking devices, has helped with this to some degree. The study of wild cats is important, as many cat species are threatened with extinction because of illegal hunting or habitat destruction. |
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