feline, (family Felidae), any of 37 cat species that among others include the cheetah, puma, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, tiger, and domestic cat. Cats are native to almost every region on Earth, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica.

How many felines species are in the world?

From the biggest to the smallest, there are 38 cat species found worldwide.

Why are cats called felines?

The Latin root felinus means "of or belonging to a cat," from feles, "cat."