how many species of cats are there

There are 41 recognized species of wild cats in the world, including the well- known big cats like lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards, as well as many smaller wild cat species. This count includes the domestic cat as well within the Felidae family. In contrast, the number of recognized domestic cat breeds varies depending on the association, with numbers ranging from about 15 to 75 breeds, depending on the cat registry or classification system consulted. So, for wild species specifically, there are 41 species in the Felidae family. For domestic breeds, recognized breed counts range from 15 to 75 depending on the source.