Tyson on Cats

Not always a fan of Neal deGreaase Tyson’s style, he comes across at times as pedantic and arrogant. But he usually knows what he’s talking about. And he likes cats.

He tells us that “Evolutionary biology reveals cats are near-perfect hunters whose design has barely changed for millions of years. From lions to housecats, felines have evolved into a nearly flawless design—at least, according to evolutionary biologist Anjali Goswami.

Cats, she argues, are “evolutionarily perfect” because of their consistency: while other animals diversify and adapt in myriad ways, cats have mastered one ecological role—being sleek, solitary, hyper-efficient predators—and stuck to it. Whether it's a Bengal kitten or a Bengal tiger, the differences are mostly in size, not function or form. Even their skulls are virtually indistinguishable across species, signaling just how little cats have needed to change over millions of years.

This evolutionary stasis isn’t a sign of limitation—it’s a sign of success. In contrast to animals like bears, which have splintered into niche lifestyles from panda to polar bear, cats simply refine one model that works astonishingly well. Despite global habitat shifts and the emergence of rivals, few creatures can match their effectiveness. 

Evolution, Goswami says, doesn’t always reward variety. Sometimes, perfection is just doing one thing better than anyone else—for millions of years.”