Research overview: climate change vulnerability of felids

Climate change poses varied threats to the world's cats, and assessing which species and populations are most vulnerable is increasingly important for prioritization. This overview surveys research on climate vulnerability across felids, examining exposure to changing temperatures, precipitation, sea level, and habitat shifts, alongside the sensitivity and adaptive capacity of different species. Studies highlight cats facing acute climate risk, such as Sundarbans tigers threatened by sea-level rise and snow leopards facing alpine habitat contraction, and model how ranges may shift. Researchers integrate climate projections into conservation planning to identify resilient habitats and necessary corridors. The overview frames climate vulnerability assessment as a forward-looking layer of prioritization, ensuring that conservation strategies anticipate future conditions rather than only present threats. It matters because protecting big cats over the coming century requires identifying which populations are most exposed to climate change and planning now to safeguard the habitats and connectivity they will need.