Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years

Leopardus tilcayo, a small spotted tiger cat from Bolivia's Yungas region, is the first new species in the cat family identified in over 100 years, according to a study published in Current Biology on 17 September 2026. Biologist and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz was called to a local wildlife sanctuary in 2017 about what staff described as a weird cat; genetic analysis by an international team later confirmed its distinct place on the cat family tree. The animal is about 18 inches from head to body and weighs around 3 pounds, smaller than an average domestic cat.