Hey guys! It’s Samantha! From stripe-patterned cats to expert
climbers, these are the cutest wildcats on Earth!
11. Fishing Cat
The fishing cat is found in South and Southeast Asia and is the most sizable
of the Prionailurus genus, a group of small, spotted wildcats that are native to Asia;
they reach up to thirty-one inches in length and can weigh up to thirty-five pounds. They look like
tinier versions of leopards and have greyish fur with dark stripes and spots. Fishing cats also
have white patches on the backs of their ears. These animals are believed to be mostly nocturnal,
and they primarily hang out near the water… not surprising considering their name. Fishing cats
are also capable of swimming for extended distances and staying underwater for long
periods of time. Their primary source of food is fish… not shocking either… but,
they also eat insects, rodents, birds, reptiles, and pretty much anything small enough to eat
and easy enough to hunt. The fishing cat is West Bengal’s state animal. Unfortunately,
the existence of these creatures is threatened. The wetlands they live in and around are being
destroyed and polluted due to human settlements and agriculture. Some people also terminate
these wildcats because they get into fish stocks. However, hunting is prohibited in several Asian
countries to prevent the destruction of fishing cats. Breeding programs are established as well to
get their numbers up. Thankfully, the measures are helping these charming felines prosper once more.
10. Clouded Leopard
Another adorable wildcat is called the clouded leopard. Its fur is dark grey or orange-brown,
and they have large grey or black blotchy patches over the majority of their bodies.
The sizable blotches resemble clouds, which is how the clouded leopard got its name. They
also exhibit black spots on their heads and stripes near their eyes and on their cheeks,
necks, and shoulders. Clouded leopards are fairly small; they range from twenty-seven to
forty-three inches in length, not including their tails, and weigh up to fifty-one pounds. They are
native to the Himalayan foothills in Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, and various other
southeast Asian countries. Unfortunately, you may never see one of these majestic creatures because
they are difficult to come across. Clouded leopards are generally solitary, and they
spend a lot of time in trees. It is one of the best climbers regarding wildcats. They can also
steer themselves with their tails and can jump to almost four feet in the air. Although many of
these wildcats are hunted in various areas, there are areas where they are held in high regard. The
clouded leopard was even the mascot for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which was hosted in India.
9. Geoffroy’s Cat
You might mistake this tiny, adorable feline as domestic at first glance,
but it is just as wild as the rest of the cats on this list. The Geoffroy’s cat’s pattern looks
similar to a leopard; it has several dark spots over its entire body and black bands on its head,
neck, cheeks, tail, and legs. Its primary color varies from grey to brownish-yellow
with a white or cream-colored abdomen. However, some Geoffroy’s cats are entirely black. They
only grow up to twenty-four inches long and weigh up to eleven pounds on average,
with some getting up to seventeen pounds. They are native to Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile,
and Brazil and inhabit lowlands and savannahs in the Gran Chaco. These charming creatures
prey on small animals, including hares, rodents, lizards, insects, frogs, and fish.
8. Chinese Mountain Cat
Also known as the Chinese desert or Chinese steppe cat, this species is endemic to the western part
of China. Their fur is the color of sand with darker guard hairs, which make up the outer layer
of the cat’s coat. Chinese mountain cats also have black rings on their tails and legs. They only
grow up to thirty-three inches long, not including their tails, and weigh up to twenty pounds. Their
main source of food is birds, rodents, and pikas, small mammals that look similar to rabbits.
7. Canadian Lynx
This species of wildcat is native to North America, mainly in Canada and Alaska. These
creatures have a mystical appearance, with silvery fur that grows fairly long to protect
them from the frosty weather. The iconic features of the lynx are its long tufts of
black hair that protrude from the tips of its ears. The Canadian lynx also has long fur on
its cheeks that grow enough to cover its neck, giving the appearance of a ruffle. Their coats
also change color depending on the season; in the summer they are reddish-brown but turn more
of the signature grey color in winter months. Its tail exhibits dark rings with a solid black
tip. Canadian lynxes have four long canines as well that contain numerous nerves; so,
they know exactly where they are biting into their prey. They mainly hunt snowshoe hares,
which make up between thirty-five and ninety-seven percent of their diet. However,
they will also feed on grouse, ducks, and red squirrels, among other small prey. The Canadian
lynx spends most of its time in the forest. It was considered extinct in Colorado in the 1970s,
but it was successfully reintroduced to the state in 2010 after an eleven-year-long attempt.
6. Black-Footed Cat
There is no denying this cat’s adorable appearance. In fact, you might just want to pick
one up and take it home! But, refrain; these cats are just as untamed as the other species we’ve
discussed. They are also called small-spotted cats and are endemic to Southern Africa in dry
savannahs and are mostly found in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. They’re very small, only
reaching seventeen inches long and weighing up to five and a half pounds. The females are tinier
than the males. The black-footed cat’s fur can be various colors, including cinnamon and tawny, and
they have brown spots and rings on their necks, tails, and legs. Plus, the bottoms of its feet are
black… which you probably guessed from the name. Since they are nocturnal, they aren’t seen very
often. Black-footed cats spend their days napping in hollow termite mounds or empty the burrows of
other critters. They don’t drink much water; instead, they get the vast majority of their
moisture from the animals they eat, including small birds and rodents. These wildcats are
known for hunting up to fourteen animals in a single night; that’s a lot for such a little
cat! However, they require a lot of energy and eat about a sixth of their body weight per night.
5. Leopard Cat
The leopard cat is native to East, Southeast, and Southern Asia and is around the same size
as a domestic cat, like the black-footed one we discussed previously. However, these little
felines have longer legs and are more slender. Plus, they have distinguishable webs between their
toes. It has two dark bold stripes on its head, and its muzzle is short, narrow, and white. They
only grow up to twenty-six inches long with tails that are around twelve inches long, and they weigh
up to sixteen pounds. Leopard cats usually roam around by themselves outside of breeding season.
Some of them are active during the daytime, but they primarily hunt at night. They’re also adept
at climbing and stay in trees pretty often. Some of these cats have been seen stalking small prey,
like beetles and rodents, from thirteen feet above the ground. Since they are so tiny,
it shouldn’t be surprising that the majority of their diets consists of minuscule prey, also
including lizards, mammals, amphibians, insects, and birds. Sometimes they feed on eggs and grass
as well. Unfortunately, these creatures are often hunted for their fur. Two hundred thousand skins
were exported every year from 1984 to 1989. But, people also hunt them for food or because
they get into people’s chicken coops. Luckily, they’ve been the focus of conservation efforts
since they were placed on the Japanese Red List of Endangered Species around 1995.
4. Manul
Also known as the Pallas’s cat, this tiny wildcat can be found the Tibetan Plateau in Central Asia,
meaning they live in elevations up to sixteen thousand five hundred seventy feet. Chances are
that you’ll probably never see one. They usually stay by themselves and spend their days hiding in
burrows, crevices, and caves. Generally speaking, they don’t come out until late in the afternoon,
when they start hunting. Since they’re so small, they eat little animals as well, including pikas,
gerbils, young marmots, and partridges. The manul is different from other cats, not only because of
its unusual coat but also because its pupils are round instead of vertical slits. These felines
grow up to twenty-six inches long, and their tails reach up to about twelve inches. They only weigh
up to ten pounds; however, they look much larger than this because of their fur. During the winter,
the manul’s coat turns more grey and has less of a pattern. In the summertime, it is more of an
orange hue. They have white cheeks and slender black stripes that run down from the corners of
their eyes. This cat also has a short face, round, accentuated eyes, short legs, and low-set ears.
Due to the extreme climate they live in, breeding season for the manul is relatively short. The
manul has its babies in a covered den that they line with warm materials, including feathers, fur,
and dry vegetation. These cats don’t take long to mature and begin hunting at just four months old.
3. Serval
There’s no denying this wildcat’s charm. It is native to Africa, especially in sub-Saharan
nations that aren’t within the rainforest. It is the Leptailurus genus’ only member,
which was proposed by Nikolai Severtzov in 1858. Some believe the name was created from the
Medieval Greek words for “fine” and “delicate.” However, it could come from Medieval Latin terms
that translate to “deer-like wolf.” There are other theories as well; but, either way, this
cat is adorable. It stands about two feet tall and is roughly thirty-nine inches long and weighs up
to forty pounds. It is easily recognizable and has the longest legs out of any cat compared with the
size of its body. Its coat is usually golden, and it has black spots all over its body along with
stripes. These patterns vary in size, and some of the cats are entirely black. Servals have brown or
green eyes and sizable ears compared to the size of their heads. Overall, this wildcat looks a lot
like a cheetah regarding its build and coat; but, they’re definitely not the same size. The serval
is active during the night and day, but its most active times are at twilight and midnight. When
it’s hot outside, they spend time in the shade resting and grooming themselves. They’re usually
alone when it’s not mating season. However, cubs won’t leave their mother until they’re about a
year old. Servals hunt small creatures, including rodents, frogs, birds, reptiles, and insects.
2. Margay
This adorable cat is native to South and Central America and lives in deciduous and
evergreen forests. It has nearly the same appearance of an ocelot, which is a larger
wildcat that lives in Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States. But,
the margay only grows up to thirty-one inches long with a twenty-inch tail, and it weighs just
under nine pounds full-grown. They are brown with dark brown or black spots and streaks. Its tail
is covered in black bands and has a black tip. This wildcat is an extremely skilled climber and
is sometimes referred to as a “tree ocelot.” They can spend their entire lives in trees,
chasing monkeys and birds. The margay can even climb down trees head first due to their ankles,
which can turn up to one hundred eighty degrees… ouch! They are nocturnal,
but they have been seen hunting during the day. They have also been observed hunting prey by
mimicking their sounds. The first recorded case of a margay using this technique was in 2005.
Scientists in the Amazon rainforest heard one mocking a baby pied tamarin monkey. Apparently,
the call wasn’t the best imitation; but, it was close enough to make the adult monkeys
check out the situation. These cats usually eat little mammals, eggs, birds, frogs, and lizards.
1. Flat-Headed Cat
This wildcat is native to Sumatra, Borneo, and the Thai-Malay Peninsula, and it lives
primarily in wetlands. The most unique feature of this cat is… you guessed it… its flat head!
Its skull has a significant depression that is easily seen from the side. Its body is slender,
and it has delicate-looking legs. The flat-headed cat has reddish-brown fur on the top of its head
and dark brown fur over the majority of its body. Its abdomen is mostly white,
and its face is generally lighter than its body. Plus, its chin and muzzle are white. Most of the
time, these cats are by themselves. They were originally thought to be nocturnal; however,
a female that was held in captivity was recorded as crepuscular, meaning she was most active during
twilight hours. Flat-headed cats mostly feed on fish, and their teeth are designed to hold
onto slippery prey. But, these wildcats will eat crustaceans, frogs, chickens, and rats if they
need to. They only grow up to twenty inches long and weigh up to five and a half pounds.
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