‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

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. shevy-java · · 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.

          1. sscaryterry · · focus · HN ↗
            The only reason my house cat has not murdered me is because he is 4kg, and I&#x27;m not. He loves me though.
            1. ghaff · · focus · HN ↗
              Cats are not really domesticated. I&#x27;ve heard various terms but semi-domesticated probably serves. They&#x27;re very adaptable but not pack animals. You&#x27;re sort of safe with house cats because they&#x27;re small. You get less safe as the body weight goes up the scale.
              1. antonkochubey · · focus · HN ↗
                I have never felt safer around any other animal than a 11 kg Maine Coon that I happened to share a couple of years of my life with
Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.