The Magnum Double Release the Beast commercial has a black panther, a tiger, a jaguar, and a male and female lion.And a different sort of Panther, Tiger and Leopard found in Germany at various times comes under the heading of Tank Goodness. While this trope is about big cats, it should not be confused with Mega Neko, which is about cats that are exceptionally large for their species.Īlso not to be confused with the metal group Pantera, which is indeed awesome, but not feline. By the by, these are the animals that produce the famous 'poop coffee.' It is not, despite what some people think, cat poop coffee!). Civets are also sometimes called 'civet cats' despite belonging to an entirely separate family (although they do belong to the suborder Feliformia, making them at least somewhat related to cats). See Great White Feline for when this applies to big cats with white fur that are positioned as powerful, heroic, important or mysterious.ĭespite the popular name, the Tasmanian tiger (also called the Tasmanian wolf or thylacine) is not a cat, but a marsupial. Also note Our Gryphons Are Different, when big cats (specially lions) are mixed with other awe-inspiring creatures, the birds of prey. Lions also get their own page as the King of Beasts. See Horse of a Different Colour and Chariot Pulled by Cats.

Regular cats and big cats like lions, tigers, or leopards and panthers (not a separate species, since panthers are merely black leopards) are an extremely popular choice as mounts or chariot pullers in fairy-tales and fantasy settings. See Cool Cat for when this applies to regular cats. See its Analysis page for ways this trope applies to specific cats. And, obviously, they have a profound impact on humans and the fiction they produce. Their pelts are gorgeous and carry with them a sense of awe. They've become the symbols of kings, empires, even gods and demons. Ever since the first anthropoid was dragged off and eaten by a sabertooth, the large cats have invoked fear and awe in the hearts of humans.

They make things cuter, they complement schemes to take over the world, their ears and tails are often added to the human form (and indeed, the feline face itself has long been described as vaguely humanoid in appearance), but there's another class of cat altogether. Let's face it: Cats are a huge part of the human experience.

Panther prowling black mountain lion