Research overview: complete mitochondrial genomes across the Felidae

Complete mitochondrial genomes have been sequenced for most cat species, providing a standardized dataset for phylogenetics, phylogeography, and species identification. This overview surveys the assembly of this family-wide mitogenomic resource, its use in resolving relationships, dating divergences, and detecting nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes that can confound analyses, and its application in forensic species identification of seized samples. It discusses how mitogenomes complement nuclear and whole-genome data, the value of complete versus partial mitochondrial sequences, and how a comprehensive mitochondrial reference for the cat family supports both evolutionary research and the practical genetic identification of cats in conservation and law enforcement.