The domestic cat is a species of African wild cat (Felis libyca). They are still widespread in Africa and Southwest Asia today and freely interbreed with modern domestic cats. Domesticated cats gradually spread from Egypt to the rest of the world. Cats have long had a special role in religion and magic. The Egyptians had a cat-headed goddess named Bast. Thousands of cat mummies have been found in Egypt. Black cats have long been considered to possess supernatural powers. Cats are well known in children's rhymes and stories. Cats are sacred animals in Hinduism and for killing cats there is an atonement rule of donating a golden cat idol.

34 species of cats are distributed all over the world except the Australian territory, Madagascar and Pacific islands. The distribution of cat species is highest in Southeast Asia, where 7 species of cats are found together in one area. There are 7 native cat species in the United States and 4 in Europe.

There are 8 species in Bangladesh, 6 of which are under various threats. Among the 6 endangered species, golden cat, cheetah, leopard and tiger are critically endangered and wildcat and wild cat are endangered.