Into the Americas

Part of the Series: The Story of Cats

We discover how cats first crossed from Asia into North America and how they went on to become the top predators of the continent. Today there are 13 feline species in the Americas - from the mighty jaguar, to the urban mountain lion, to the curious ocelot and from the Canada lynx to the nimble margay.

The story of how all these cats came to be is an epic tapestry of pioneering spirit, powerful natural forces, and a battle for supremacy with their age-old rivals, the Canids. Then a few brave wildcats moved into our villages in pursuit of the hungry mice that followed the farmers' grain. There are now more than 40 different breeds of domestic cat - from the exotic Siamese cat to the hairless Sphynx - who are still evolving.