Proailurus, the ancestor of all felines
Proailurus: This genus, which appeared around 30 million years ago, is often regarded as one of the earliest true felines. Fossils of Proailurus have been found in Europe, indicating that this region played a significant role in the early evolution of felines.
Evolutionary Radiation: After the emergence of Proailurus, felines underwent an evolutionary radiation, leading to the development of various species, including both small and large felines. This process involved migration and adaptation to different environments across the globe.
The oldest known fossil of a true big feline is from a species named Panthera blytheae, which lived approximately 4.4 to 6 million years ago. This discovery was made in Tibet and is significant because it fills a gap in the fossil record regarding the evolution of big felines.
The existence of Panthera blytheae indicates that the lineage
of big felines is older than previously estimated, with molecular
studies suggesting that the divergence of big cats from their closest
relatives occurred around 10.8 million years ago. It also indicates that its origin is Asia (although the oldest ancestors of felines originated in Europe).
The above data indicates that Europe is the origin, then the big feline species RADIATED from Europe into Asia, etc.