What Is the Scientific Name for the Cat?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 05, 2023

Cats have different scientific names, depending on their specific kind, but the domestic cat is called Felis catus. The common cat belongs to the Felidae family and Felinae subfamily.

There are several other types of small cats that belong to the Felinae subfamily, each particular type having a different name. For example, the European wild cat is called Felis silvestris and the leopard cat, commonly found in India and Pakistan, is called Felis bengalensis. The fishing cat is scientifically referred to as Felis viverrina, while the jungle cat is called Felis chaus. Other types of felines from this subfamily include: the sand cat (Felis margarita), the serval (Felis serval) and the ocelot (Felis pardalis).