 Cats are a cosmopolitan species and are found across much of the world . Geneticist Stephen James O 'Brien , of the National Cancer Institute in Frederick , Maryland , remarked on how successful cats have been in evolutionary terms : " Cats are one of evolution 's most charismatic creatures . They can live on the highest mountains and in the hottest deserts . " They are extremely adaptable and are now present on all continents except Antarctica , and on 118 of the 131 main groups of islands — even on isolated islands such as the Kerguelen Islands . 
