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The first new cat species discovered in 100 years

379 points · 148 comments · ohjeez

  1. autoexec · · 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:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.newscientist.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2026&#x2F;09&#x2F;SEI_312819149.jpg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.newscientist.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2026&#x2F;09&#x2F;SEI_...

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;media.zenfs.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;live_science_953&#x2F;73a4cafd69e9e86312a459e0206a1469.png" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;media.zenfs.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;live_science_953&#x2F;73a4cafd69e9e863...

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;media.zenfs.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;live_science_953&#x2F;1fea354ba7a8db696e3bc8750e32dca0.jpg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;media.zenfs.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;live_science_953&#x2F;1fea354ba7a8db69...

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thepeninsulaqatar.com&#x2F;get&#x2F;maximage&#x2F;20260917_1789662761-615.jpeg?1789662761" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thepeninsulaqatar.com&#x2F;get&#x2F;maximage&#x2F;20260917_17896627...

    1. cromka · · focus · HN ↗
      Looks like a house cat, I am betting it&#x27;s a matter of months before someone starts selling the crossbreds, like they do with Bengal.

      Also, they&#x27;re only 3-4 lbs!

      1. BeetleB · · focus · HN ↗
        Let&#x27;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 &quot;pretty housecat&quot;. After a while, the owner realized it didn&#x27;t want to be tamed and contacted someone for help.

        Also, it&#x27;s the only known one in existence. Hard to start a breeding program unless they find more.

        1. avadodin · · focus · HN ↗
          The &quot;owner&quot; clearly hasn&#x27;t interacted with real cats.

          If you don&#x27;t raise them with humans since they are born, they can&#x27;t be tamed.

          1. wolvoleo · · focus · HN ↗
            That&#x27;s not always the case. Some feral cats from colonies that are TNRed are found to be very receptive to humans and instead of returned sometimes offered for adoption instead of returned (the R in TNR)

            However these come from a centuries-long bloodline of house cats of course. A species that&#x27;s never been domesticated is very different.

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