Long before modern big cats roamed the Earth, Proailurus—the world’s first true cat—prowled the ancient forests. Living around 25 million years ago, this small, agile predator is believed to be the ...

Proailurus is often described as the world’s first cat, appearing during the Oligocene epoch and spreading across large parts of the ancient world. Fossil evidence suggests it shared key traits with ...

From the tall grass savanna of Kenya to the forested slopes of the Rockies, from the steaming jungles of Indonesia and the crags of the Himalayas to your very own living room, cats prowl our planet.

Proailurus is regarded as the common ancestor of all modern felines. Their physique was similar to that of a cougar, featuring a long tail, large eyes, and sharp claws and teeth. Smilodon was a ...