There are around 41 living species of wild cats in the family Felidae when biologists talk about species , plus the domestic cat as part of that group.

Quick scoop: why the number can change

  • Modern checklists like the IUCN Cat Specialist Group recognize 41 species of wild cats (including the domestic cat) , split into big cats and small cats.
  • Some sources say 36–40 because a few populations are sometimes grouped together or split apart depending on the taxonomy used.

So if someone asks “how many species of cats are there,” the most up‑to‑date and commonly cited scientific answer is 41 species in the cat family today , including lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, lynx, ocelots, and the domestic cat.

In casual online discussions and older articles, you’ll still see numbers like 36, 38 or “around 40” cat species, but these are usually just using a slightly different taxonomic list.

Breeds vs. species (easy mix‑up)

A lot of forum and “latest news” posts mix up cat breeds (Siamese, Maine Coon, etc.) with cat species (lion, tiger, jaguar, etc.).

  • Cat breeds : Cat associations recognize roughly 45–75 breeds , depending on the registry.
  • Cat species : Wild + domestic cats together make up about 41 species in Felidae.

So:

  • “How many species of cats are there?” → ~41.
  • “How many breeds of domestic cats are there?” → a few dozen to around 70+, depending on the organization.

Mini FAQ style wrap‑up

  • Q: Is it 38, 40 or 41?
    A: Different taxonomic lists give slightly different totals, but the modern conservation‑focused lists land at 41 species.
  • Q: Does that include my house cat?
    A: Yes, the domestic cat is one of the recognized species in the family Felidae.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.