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The first new cat species discovered in 100 years

379 points · 148 comments · ohjeez

autoexec · 1789671867 · focus · HN ↗
It's Leopardus tilcayo aka 'tilcayo tiger cat' and it's very cute. Wikipedia doesn't have a page dedicated to it yet.
Bonus pics: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEI_312819149.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://www.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEI_...
<a href="https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/73a4cafd69e9e86312a459e0206a1469.png" rel="nofollow">https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/73a4cafd69e9e863...
<a href="https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/1fea354ba7a8db696e3bc8750e32dca0.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/1fea354ba7a8db69...
<a href="https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/get/maximage/20260917_1789662761-615.jpeg?1789662761" rel="nofollow">https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/get/maximage/20260917_17896627...
1. cromka · 1789689002 · focus · HN ↗
  Looks like a house cat, I am betting it's a matter of months before someone starts selling the crossbreds, like they do with Bengal.
  Also, they're only 3-4 lbs!
  1. BeetleB · 1789762068 · focus · HN ↗
    Let's see if it (or crossbreeds) can be tamed.
    This particular one was actually being kept in a house because someone confused it for a "pretty housecat". After a while, the owner realized it didn't want to be tamed and contacted someone for help.
    Also, it's the only known one in existence. Hard to start a breeding program unless they find more.
    shevy-java · 1789764178 · focus · HN ↗
    I mean, taming animals is trivial. Look at the lion whisperer. People before that thought that lions are always wild.
    Some animals are just harder to tame and remain ferocious more than others. But behaviour of animals is adaptable and most animals learn.
    sscaryterry · 1789775754 · focus · HN ↗
    The only reason my house cat has not murdered me is because he is 4kg, and I'm not. He loves me though.
    WalterBright · 1789776127 · focus · HN ↗
    My cat always looked at me like "if only you were smaller..."
    sscaryterry · 1789776338 · focus · HN ↗
    I'd be getting scared when a cat reaches the 20kg threshold. I'm about 90kg, so thats a 4.5x ratio :)
    Cats are the perfect killing machines (apart from maybe sharks) :)
    WalterBright · 1789776595 · focus · HN ↗
    There's a bobcat that lives around here. He's on my porch now and then, and I also see its tracks in the snow.
    It doesn't look like it wants to be petted. I stay clear.
    jstrieb · 1789789549 · focus · HN ↗
    Many people don't know that Craigslist has a "best of" which includes this (relevant) post that makes me laugh every time I read it:
    <a href="https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/ric/6881185958.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/ric/6881185958.html
    WalterBright · 1789795321 · focus · HN ↗
    Yep, a bobcat. But much smaller than the one around here.

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