Rusty-Spotted Cat - Five Sisters Zoo

One of the smallest wild cat species, individuals have short brown coats with tones of red and grey throughout with rown spots arranged in lines on their backs, shoulders and head, and white fur on their chest, abdomen and legs. They have reddish streaks on their cheeks and a white line on the inner edge of their eyes. A very secretive and nocturnal species, much is still unknown about these cats.

Facts

Diet: Carnivore; small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, also some invertebrates.

Weight:  1-1.6 kg

Height: 50-78 cm

Habitat: India, Sri Lanka and Nepal; forest, shrubland, savanna and grassland

Life Span: 12-18 years under human care, unknown in the wild

Adapted to survive

  • A cat’s whiskers are highly sensitive to movement and help guide the cat while hunting and when taking down prey
  • A high variety in their diet allows them to find prey and survive in a variety of habitats

Threats

  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Habitat loss by deforestation, degradation and fragmentation
  • Populations are isolated, making them more vulnerable

IUCN Conservation Status

Near Threatened

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