Research overview: comparative genomics and felid classification

The sequencing of cat genomes, beginning with the domestic cat and extending to tiger, lion, snow leopard, cheetah, and others, transformed felid systematics. This overview surveys how whole-genome data resolve relationships that single genes could not, quantify introgression, reveal genes under selection, and improve divergence dating. It explains the shift from a few markers to genome-wide sampling, which exposes the reticulate, introgression-laced history of cats and refines species boundaries. The piece also notes practical taxonomic payoffs: genomic SNP panels now help diagnose hybrids, assign individuals to populations, and define conservation units. It cautions that genomes from rare and elusive cats remain scarce, so coverage is uneven, leaving some taxonomic questions, especially among small Asian and Neotropical cats, awaiting adequate sampling.