Common names for animals and plants often create confusion because a single species may be known by many different regional names. To ensure scientists across the globe are discussing the exact same organism, biology utilizes a standardized naming system. This system provides a unique, two-part Latin name for every identified species, offering precision in communication that transcends language barriers. This universal scientific nomenclature allows for the accurate organization and classification of life forms, reflecting evolutionary relationships.
The Scientific Name for Domestic Cats
The precise scientific name for the common domestic cat is Felis catus. This designation was first formally proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, who is often called the father of modern taxonomy. While this name is the current and most widely accepted classification, the cat’s scientific naming has a complex history.
For a period, the domestic cat was sometimes classified as Felis silvestris catus, treating it as a subspecies of the wildcat (Felis silvestris). This reflected the close genetic relationship between the two animals. However, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) ultimately recommended the use of Felis catus to clearly distinguish the domesticated form from its wild relatives.
How Scientific Names Work
The system used to create these universal names is called binomial nomenclature, which translates to “two-name naming system.” Every scientific name consists of two parts: the genus and the species, both written in a form of modern Latin. This two-part structure is a hallmark of the classification system established by Linnaeus.
The first word in the scientific name, Felis, represents the genus and is always capitalized. A genus is a broader grouping of closely related organisms, such as different species of small cats. The second word, catus, is the specific descriptor for the species and is never capitalized.
When writing a scientific name, it must always be presented in italics, such as Felis catus. The italics indicate that the name is a scientific designation, differentiating it from surrounding text. If the name were to be handwritten, both parts would be underlined separately to achieve the same distinction.
The Cat’s Place in the Felidae Family
The genus Felis places the domestic cat within a larger group of small wildcats, reflecting its recent divergence from its wild ancestors. All cats, both small and large, belong to the Family Felidae, which is a major division within the Order Carnivora. This family includes everything from the smallest housecat to the largest lions and tigers.
Within the Felidae family, the domestic cat is part of the subfamily Felinae, which includes species that purr rather than roar. The domestic cat shares the Felis genus with several species of wildcats, including the European wildcat and the African wildcat.
Specifically, the domestic cat is considered to be descended from the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica). This ancestor is genetically very similar to the domestic cat and is readily able to interbreed with it.