United States

The United States of America (U.S.A. or U.S.) is a country located in North America. Its first inhabitants were Indians who crossed the Bering Strait from Nother Asia into America over a land bridge around 12,000 years ago. It is the world’s third-largest country.

Many diverse species inhabit the U.S.A., including over 420 mammals, 780 birds, 300 reptiles, 290 amphibians, and around 91,000 insects.

History of U.S. Wild Cats

One of the first wild cats to appear in the U.S.A. was the Smilodon fatalis (saber-toothed cat), an ancestor of today’s big cats that first appeared around 800,000 years ago.

The Smilodon evolved in Eurasia and crossed the Isthmus of Panama into North America approximately 2 million years ago. It evolved into two different species, the North American Smilodon fatalis, and the bigger South American Smilodon populator. Both species of Smilodon went extinct roughly 10,000 years ago.

Another big cat that roamed the area around the same time was the Panthera atrox (American lion). It appeared around 350,000 years ago and went extinct around 12,500 years ago.

Saber-toothed Cat (Smilodon fatalis)

The Smilodon is not directly related to tigers, lions, leopards, or jaguars.  It was one of the last Machairodontinae, an extinct branch of the cat family tree.

The cat was over 3 feet tall, with a body length of nearly 6 feet, and weighed 350 to over 600 lbs. It had a short tail, and canine teeth extending up to 11 inches in length. The Smilodon had strong muscles and was a good jumper.

Smilodon prey included bison, camels that lived on the continent then, deer, and tapirs.

American Lion (Panthera atrox)

The American lion was the largest extinct cat to live in North America during the Pleistocene era. It was between 5 and 8 feet long and nearly 4 feet in height. Its weight is estimated at 500-800 pounds, up to over 1,000 pounds.

It now appears that the American lion was a distinct species, not related to tigers, jaguars, or African lions, but related to the extinct Eurasian cave lion.

American lion prey included mammoths, deer, horses, camels, bison, and tapirs.

Wild Cats in the U.S.A. Today

Today, the U.S.A. is home to the cougar, Florida panther, jaguar, ocelot, Canada lynx, bobcat, and jaguarundi.

Cougar (Puma concolor)

Can be found in North, Central and South America. One of the most widely distributed wild cats in the world.

Conservation Status:  Least Concern

Florida Panther (P.c. couguar)

A subspecies of the mountain lion (cougar), that once inhabited Florida, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Today only around 120 remain in southwest Florida.

Conservation status: Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

A big cat that is sometimes seen in Arizona. The third biggest wild cat in the world after tigers and lions.

Conservation status: Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Ocelot  (Leopardus pardalis)

A medium-sized wild cat that can be found in the United States, Mexico, Central and South America and Caribbean islands. Usually found in rainforests or brushlands. Only a small population remains in the state of Texas.

Conservation status: Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

One of the four species of lynx. A medium-sized wild cat with long thick fur. Found in Canada and, in the U.S.A. – Alaska and states around the Great Lakes and New England. Mostly lives in forested areas.

Conservation Status: Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

It can be found in southern Canada, across the United States, and through most of Mexico. Looks similar to the Canadian lynx and is about twice the size of a domesticated cat.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Mostly inhabits Central and South America, but can be found in southern Texas around the Rio Grande Valley.

Conservation Status: Least Concern