As the carrier and transmitter of genetic information, the chromosome is the most important component in eukaryotic cells. Karyotype analysis is an intuitive way to understand characters of chromosomes in eukaryote. Understanding karyotypes of fish is of great significance for studies on genetics, variation, classification, systematic evolution, sex determination, cross breeding and environmental pollution monitoring. As an important aquaculture fish family in China, Siluriformes are the good models to study evolution of fish chromosomes and differentiation of sex chromosomes. In the present study, progresses of karyotype studies on 35 catfishes in China, including their hybrids and polyploids, were reviewed when characteristics of the karyotypes and evolutionary relationships of chromosomes among different taxa were analyzed. Finally, development trends of catfish karyotype studies were forecasted. The number of chromosomes in Siluriformes varied from 24 to 100, with 30 of the 35 catfishes owning chromosome numbers in the range of 48~60, and chromosome polymorphisms were reported in five fishes. Moreover, visible sex chromosomes were detected in seven of the 35 fishes. This study will provide useful references for future chromosomal and genomic studies on Siluriformes, and will also be helpful for evolutionary studies of teleost.