Pussidae

Pussidae is a taxonomic term that has appeared in some classifications to designate a clade or family of small, cat-like carnivorans commonly referred to as puss cats. It is not widely recognized as a valid rank in major modern systems. In many contemporary treatments, species historically assigned to Pussidae are placed within Felidae, typically in the subfamily Felinae, or distributed across related lineages. As a result, Pussidae is often described as an informal, historical, or disputed name rather than an accepted taxon in current taxonomy.

Described members of Pussidae are usually small to medium-sized feliforms with agile bodies, sharp senses, and nocturnal or crepuscular activity patterns. They are primarily carnivorous, hunting small vertebrates and invertebrates. Morphological traits commonly cited include keen eyesight, sensitive whiskers, and, in many species, retractile claws; however, claw morphology varies among included taxa. Behavior ranges from solitary and territorial to pair-based or small-family groups, depending on species. The geographic distribution of species historically associated with Pussidae spans Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas, with habitats from forests and scrublands to urban edges.

In terms of classification, molecular phylogenies have shown that groups once labeled Pussidae are nested within Felidae, rendering Pussidae redundant or non-monophyletic under current understanding. Consequently, most authoritative references do not recognize Pussidae as a valid standalone taxon. See also Felidae and Carnivora.