“The Story of Cats”

[EspressoBuzz]

Rumour is they have footage of a New York State cougar!

The two-part mini-series “The Story of Cats” premieres  November 2 & 9, 2016 at 8 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).

Cats are among the most feared and revered creatures on the planet.  Their power, strength, and enigmatic nature have fascinated us for centuries.  They’ve dominated human culture since the dawn of civilization.  Go from the rainforests, to the savannah, to the mountain peaks all the way into the comfort of our homes.  Get an in-depth look at this unique species and the evolutionary tricks and adaptations that truly make a cat, a cat.

Part 1: Asia to Africa

In the first episode, we discover how the first cats arose in the forests of Asia, how they spread across the continent, and later came to conquer Africa.  We reveal how they evolved flexible limbs to climb, giant bodies to survive in the cold, and super senses to catch prey.  Ultimately we discover how becoming social made the lion, king of the savannah.  Also featured in this episode are other larger cats such as the clouded, snow and African leopards, the Bengal and Siberian tigers, and the cheetah.  However, the introductions of smaller and lesser-known species like the serval, the caracal, and the fishing, Pallas’s and sand cats are just as fascinating.

Part 2: Into the Americas

In this conclusion, 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.  “The Story of Cats” continues.