Rusty-spotted Cat

This diminutive feline rivals only the black-footed cat for the title of the smallest wild cat on Earth. Native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, the Rusty-spotted Cat is a lithe hunter measuring just 35 to 48 cm in length. It is easily identified by its short reddish grey coat marked with rusty spots across the back and flanks. Dark lines run over the eyes and forehead, while its pale belly and throat are patterned with small brownish dots. Its tail, which grows to between 15 and 30 cm, is notably bushy.

Preferring dense vegetation and rocky ground, these cats typically inhabit deciduous forests, grasslands and scrub. They are primarily nocturnal, though they occasionally show activity during the day. While they hunt mostly on the ground for rodents, birds, frogs and insects, they will retreat into trees to hide from larger predators. In the wild, females give birth to one or two kittens after a gestation of 65 to 70 days. These young weigh only 60 to 77 g at birth and lack the adult coat pattern until they reach maturity at 68 weeks.

The survival of the species is currently threatened by the destruction and loss of its primary forest habitats. As cultivation spreads across its range, the cats are forced into agricultural landscapes where their ability to persist long-term is uncertain. Additionally, people sometimes hunt them for food, for the skin trade, or because they are viewed as pests to livestock.