The domestic cat
{ Posted on Sunday, August 02, 2009
by Speculative Biologist
}
The domestic cat (Felis catus) is one of the most widespread mammal species thanks to the activities of mankind in the Holocene epoch. It has been introduced to every continent except Antarctica and has successfully established feral populations in many regions. Its effect on local wildlife has been drastic, surely shaping the ecosystems of future Earth. The cat itself will surely be shaped as well, and here are some possible descendants of the house-dwelling feline.Apex predator
The cat is an adaptive predator and agile creature that could easily replace some of the top carnivore niches. In North America, it would certainly face competition from lynxes (or bobcats) and mountain lions, both adaptable and successful species. Still, they could easily outcompete both with their faster birthing rates and smaller bodies (both helpful in surviving extinctions). In Australia, there is also a good chance that the former house cats could become major predators. The local marsupial fauna could easily be pushed out of the way in favor of these placental predators. Cats and foxes would dominate the formerly marsupial-dominated environment. Such apex cats would likely be leopard-like or even lion-like predators (cats seem to be more social than some of their feline counterparts, possibly leading to a pride lifestyle).
Arboreal bird-catcher
Over the past few centuries, cats have made a major impact on the birdlife of the areas they've been introduced to. Perhaps this taste for avians could lead to specialization. The forest regions of North America and island chains such as the Galapagos and Hawaii would be perfect for species of cats adept to catching and preying on flighted birds. Cats have already shown to be skilled climbers and wild species, like the serval, are extremely capable of capturing birds while in flight. It is unlikely that such species would resemble the striger from After Man (as felines could not change their morphology so much as to be similar to a primate) and would also not evolve into gliding or flying forms.
Island monster
Islands seem like evolutionary machines, producing all sorts of unique creatures. Its likely that the descendants of domestic cats on islands would be far from their mainland counterparts, developing unique adaptations and specializations. With the process of island gigantism creating larger rodents and flightless birds on isles, the cats would be the best predators for such creatures. In fact, the descendants of cats could be instrumental in the development of anti-predatory defenses like sickle-claws on flightless birds (maybe even giant chickens!) or spines on giant isle rats. And of course such defenses would require adaptations on the part of the cats (a sort of biological cold war), perhaps leading to miniature versions of the prehistoric saber-toothed cats or even dropping cats (cats that are adapted to live in trees and drop down on top of large prey).
If you have suggestions for any more descendants, be sure to comment on this post.
A traveler of time and space, journeying the universe in search of intriguing ideas and scenarios for this blog. You can contact him at his deviantART profile: 
11 Response to "The domestic cat"
What about a cat descendent that became cheetah like? And something that went on the lines of a mink or an otter? (Otters are not everywhere, so a cat might as well specialise in that direction)
I think an aquatic fish-hunting cat would be an interesting evolutionary route, but I'm not entirely sure of its plausibility.
And as far as cheetah-like descendants, I don't think domestic cats would be the best choice. Perhaps pumas or some other species could take that niche.
Probably an australian or otherwise insular semi-aquatic species would make more sense
Perhaps South America could produce such a creature?
If yapoks don't produce marsupial otters
Maybe a Baryonyx-like fishing cat (no pun intended on the actual species). While not bipedal, this creature has long legs to wade in the water and a squat body to prevent currents from sending it flying downstream. It uses some kind of souped-up dewclaw or front claw to snag fish.
The arboreal huntercat sounds like an interesting idea, sort of an anti-primate/squirrel. Of course, it would clamber through the trees more like a xenarthran than a primate, but then again fishers do something similar.
Perhaps we should also take a look at the fact that a lot of the larger cat species (i.e. cougars and such), may not do so good if we get a whopping big extinction event. The domestic cat seems a good "reserve cat taxon" in that case.
I think the huntercat could actually be pretty agile. Leopards and other big cats are pretty much at-home in arboreal circumstances.
Sorry, I mean a xenarthan style of locomotion as compared to the more brachiating lifestyles of a primate. It wouldn't be moving exactly like a primate, but would be a swift predator, specialized to hunt down arboreal birds, primates, squirrels, and whatever else happened to climb up in the trees. Maybe even drop down on the occasional rabbit or small deer (a drop-cat). It would probably end up acting a lot like Dixon's striger, even though it would not be as primate-esque or branchiating as Dixon's taxon.
Ah, I see what you mean. That makes sense.
Depending on how adaptable the dewclaw of the cat is, I can see a Thylacoleo or spinosauroid-like sickle claw developing in the aquatic cats and the huntercats. If anyone wants to use these ideas, maybe the aquatic cats are derived offshoots of huntercats, initially adapting to the open margins of streams in forests.
As there are already cats that fish (look up the Fishing Cat), I believe that cats could easily take a course of action towards becoming fishers in a time without mankind. They could adapt to simply evolve sharp, harpoon-like claws that could stab fish and more muscles in their arms to make them faster. Of course, they could evolve into droppers or hunters. Ah, the concept of future evolution without man is vast, as thousands of paths can be taken in just one evolution situation.
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