LEOPARD CATS: CHARACTERISTICS, BEHAVIOR, HABITAT

LEOPARD CATS


leopard cat in the Sunderban

Leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) are the most common wild cat in Asia. Smaller than a house cat and adapted to a number of habitats, they lives in tropical rain forests, scrub lands, semidesert and villages, and are found in South Asia, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and parts of mainland China and eastern Russia. Members of the Asia leopard cat lineage include the fishing cat, Iriomote cat, leopard cat and flat-headed cat.

The leopard cat lineage appeared in Asia about 6.5 million years ago. Today leopard cats are hunted for food, stuffed for tourist trophies and killed for its spotted pelts. Their coats are sold in gift shops in Asia and people eat them for food and purported health benefits. Leopard cats have been crossbred with domesticated cat to produce hybrids sold as “Bengal cats.”

Leopard cats are one of the most widespread carnivores. They can be found in eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, northern and coastal India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, Nepal, Korea, Cambodia, parts of the Philippines, and Eastern China. Leopard cats have been divided into a number of subspecies over its range that differ in coloration, fur, body length, and reproductive cycles. [Source: Cailey Miller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW)

Leopard cats are found in tropical and temperate forests, coniferous forests, shrub land habitat, and grasslands. Its distribution is limited to areas with less than 10 centimeters of snow annually, and it is not found in stepps or desert conditions. Leopard cats have a fairly diverse diet and is able to find food in most habitats. It seems relatively impervious to human disturbance as populations in secondary growth and disturbed areas are stable and it is often found near agricultural fields and rural settlements. Leopard cats are an exceptional swimmer, possibly explaining its distribution on islands, and avoids temperatures above 35 C, possibly explaining why they aren’t found central India. They are capable of living at elevations up to to 3000 meters (9843 feet) as long as there is a minimal amount of snow.

Their average lifespan of leopard cats in the wild is four years. Their lifespan in captivity is up to 20 years. The lifespan of captive individuals varies greatly as individuals may die from the stress of transport. When leopard cats are released into non-native environments by breeders, they usually die not long after.

Leopard Cat Characteristics

Leopard cats range in weight from three to seven kilograms (6.1 to 15.4 pounds) and range in length from 44.5 to 107 centimeters (17.52 to 42.1 inches). Their head to body length ranges from 44.5 to 107 centimeters, and their tail ranges from 23 to 44 centimeters. Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is not present: Both sexes are roughly equal in size and look similar. [Source: Cailey Miller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]


range of the leopard cat. ''Prionailurus bengalensis'' (blue and yellow) and ''Prionailurus javanensis'' (red and green)

Leopard cats have white markings around their eyes, stripes running down either side of their nose and white markings on their cheeks, chin and mouth. These markings help accentuate their facial displays. Leopard cats have a large variety of body colors and marking. Those in India usually have black marks and a yellowish background. Elsewhere in Asia, they sometimes have rufous, pale brown, or gray background color.. In Borneo, many have white underparts. In China they are sometimes called the “money cat” because their markings are said to look like Chinese coins.

Leopard cats are the size of large housecats. On average, they weigh between three and seven kilograms. In general, they have pale, tawny fur with a white belly. Their body and tail are covered with rosettes and their tail is often ringed at the tip. Four longitudinal bands run from their foreheads to their necks. Leopard cats have a small head with a short muzzle and round ears. There are differences in coat length and color based on local environmental conditions. At more northern latitudes their fur is longer and paler, and they typically weigh more. Their coloration varies with habitat. For example, individuals in snowy habitats have lighter fur than those in heavily forested habitats, which tend to have dark-tawny fur. Sexual segregation has not ben documented in this species. /=\

Leopard Cat Food and Eating Behavior

Leopard cats are primarily carnivores (mainly eat meat or animal parts) and mostly eat terrestrial vertebrates. They are also recognized as piscivores (eat fish), insectivore (eat insects). Animal foods include birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish carrion insects. [Source: Cailey Miller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Leopard cats feed on rodents, lizards, amphibians, birds, and fallen bats. Occasionally they take a small deer and are said to kill birds by dropping down on them from trees. In villages, they are regarded as both as an asset and a pest. They kill crop-eating rodents but also raid chicken coups and eat crops themselves.

Leopard cats occasionally eat snakes and insects. They usually eats mice and rats, with species depending on where they live. Large individuals are capable of catching larger prey, such as hares and young deer. Their broad distribution results in a highly variable diet throughout its geographic range. In the Philippines, leopard cats primarily preys upon house mice, Pacific rats, rice-field rats, and Tanezumi rats.

Leopard Cat Behavior

Leopard cats are terricolous (live on the ground), nocturnal (active at night), crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary), sedentary (remain in the same area) and solitary. They are good swimmers and have swum considerably distances to occupy remote islands.[Source: Cailey Miller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Generally, leopard cats occupy ranges of 2.0 to 12.7 square kilometers, with their average territory size being 2.5 to 5.4 square kilometers. The home range of leopard cats varies greatly and is not well known. Their ranges are often limited by the amount of available habitat and competition for resources. Typically there are sources of flowing water and forested areas within a home range. /=\


Bengal cat: a cross between a leopard cat and a domesticated cat

Leopard cats are ambush predators and prefer a forested habitat close to water. According to Animal Diversity Web: Although classified as nocturnal they are occasionally sighted during the day. Their primary prey consists of small terrestrial vertebrates, but they are excellent swimmers and attack aquatic prey when they encounter it. Leopard cats are solitary and roam throughout their home ranges while hunting. They are difficult to observe as they are elusive and small. They are exceptional climbers, which allows them to occasionally prey upon birds and bats. However, they usually are found on the ground. They are not known to interact with people, often fleeing when encountered. However, leopard cats are frequently found on the outskirts of rural and agricultural areas./=\

Leopard cats sense using vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected with smell. They communicate with vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected by smelling. They also employ pheromones (chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species) and scent marks produced by special glands and placed so others can smell and taste them. Leopard cats use scat and urine to mark territories and communicate with other leopard cats. As ambush hunters and generally very quiet and rely on sight, sound, and smell to hunt. They are known to purr and cry in a similar way to domestic cats.

Leopard Cat Mating, Reproduction and Offspring

Leopard cats are polygynous (males have more than one female as a mate at one time). They are iteroparous. This means that offspring are produced in groups such as litters multiple times in successive annual or seasonal cycles. They engage in seasonal breeding and year-round breeding. Leopard cats can breed yearly depending on environmental conditions Breeding season varies with local conditions. Leopard cats mates year round in southeastern Asia. In more northern latitude, it breeds in January through March and gives birth in May. The number of offspring ranges from one to four, with the average number of offspring being two to three.[Source: Cailey Miller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Little is known of the mating system of leopard cats. Male territories often overlap with those of multiple females, with whom the male tries to mate with. The mating system of the leopard cat has not been extensively studied, which may have to do with their low relative abundance and their solitary, nocturnal night), tendencies./=\

The gestation period ranges from 62 to 75 days, with independence occurring on average at eight months. If a litter is lost (e.g., predation), females can become pregnant again within four to five months. Females reach sexual or reproductive maturity as early 10 months but on average do so at 18 months. Males reach sexual or reproductive maturity as early eight months but on average do so at 18 months.

Leopard cats females are the primary caregivers. Cubs are born semi-altricial (relatively helpless) and furred with their eyes closed. They weigh between 75 and 120 grams at birth and can open their eyes within 10 days. Mother leopard cats make their dens in tree hollows, birrows, rock crevices, small caves and holes beneath the roots of fallen trees. The cubs are raised there until they are ready to leave. Males may help care for young but the extent of paternal care is unknown. /=\

Leopard Cats, Humans and Conservation

Leopard cats are widespread and abundant throughout their geographic range. On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, leopard cats are classified as a species of “Least Concern”. On the US Federal List they are classified as Endangered. In CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild) they are in Appendix I, which lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. Several distinct island subspecies are experiencing significant population declines. /=\ [Source: Cailey Miller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Humans utilize leopard cats in the pet trade and for food; their body parts are source of valuable material. They help control pests. According to Animal Diversity Web: Leopard cats are excellent hunters and prey upon small vertebrate pests in rural and agricultural areas. By controlling local rodent populations, they likely help humans in disease control and regulating the abundance of agricultural pests. Their fur and meat are popular in China. Leopard cats are considered poultry pests and retaliatory killings are not uncommon. The sale of leopard cat skins is likely impacting local populations. They are popular in the pet trade industry, as they are often bred with domestic cats to create Bengal cats. Restrictions on their capture and trade are being increased.

Natural predators include birds of prey and large felids such as tigers and leopards. Leopard are very quiet and this and their small size and cryptic coloration helps them to avoid potential predators. On islands, they are often the only primarily carnivorous species present. Leopard cats are carriers of potentially fatal domestic cat diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Areas with high proportions of infected domestic cats also have high proportions of infected leopard cats. /=\

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org ; National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, David Attenborough books, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.

Last updated January 2025


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