Felidae Oligocene, about 25 million years ago, with the appearance of "Proailurus" and "Pseudaelurus". The latter species complex was ancestral to two main lines of felids, the cats in the extant subfamilies and a third major group of extinct cats, which are assigned to the subfamily Machairodontinae. The machairodonts included the saber-toothed cats such as the "Smilodon". The "false sabre toothed cats", the Barbourofelidae and Nimravidae, are not true cats, but are closely related and together with Felidae and other cat-like carnivores (hyaenas, viverrids and mongooses) make up the feliform carnivores. Results of mitochondrial analysis indicates that all the Felidae descended
Zimbabwe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Zimbabwe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Zimbabwe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (usually referred to as the ZNSPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the abuse of animals. Animal welfare in Zimbabwe was initiated over 80 years ago, some 100 years after the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was launched in the United Kingdom in 1824. This followed the first anti-cruelty bill which was introduced by Richard Martin MP which provided protection for cattle, horses and sheep. The first prosecutions date back to 1832 when 181 convictions were recorded. In