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The Top 10 Smallest Wild Cats in the World

Published on 09/20/2024
By: scouthoward
17
370
Nature
10
Domesticated cats are some of the most popular pets in the world, but did you know about the range of small cats? We often think of huge beasts when we think of wild felines and small versions when we think of domesticated cats. But just as house felines can be big, their wild counterparts can be small, with some being as tiny as kittens even when they're fully grown. AZ Animals is the source for this short two-part series.
1. Pallas's Cat (Otocolobus manual): The infamous "grumpy wildcat" is known for its facial expressions and being fierce yet fluffy at the same time. It is shy and rarely seen among the rough montane grasslands and shrublands of Central Asia, where its habitat range includes Russia, Tibet, Mongolia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Its coat of long grey fur makes it appear much larger than it actually is. Have you ever heard of Pallas's Cats?

Pallas's Cat (Otocolobus manual): The infamous
2. Bay, Borneo, Bornean Bay, Bornean Red or Bornean Marbled Cat (Catopuma badia): Bornean Marbled Cats are among the smallest wild cats in the world. They're a rare small wild species that are outnumbered by other wild cats on their native island of Borneo, which is divided into Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. With the remains of one first mistaken for those of an Asian golden cat, but actually much smaller in size, it was determined that both had a common ancestor that diverged from 4.9 to 5.3 million years ago— way before Borneo geologically separated from mainland Asia. Both are also related to the marbled cat and rather than classifying the bay and Asian golden cat in the genus Catopuma, it was suggested to classify them in the genus Parfodelis with the marbled species. Are you familiar with these beautiful little wild cats?

Bay, Borneo, Bornean Bay, Bornean Red or Bornean Marbled Cat (Catopuma badia): Bornean Marbled Cats are among the smallest wild cats in the world. They're a rare small wild species that are outnumbered by other wild cats on their native island of Borneo, which is divided into Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. With the remains of one first mistaken for those of an Asian golden cat, but actually much smaller in size, it was determined that both had a common ancestor that diverged from 4.9 to 5.3 million years ago— way before Borneo geologically separated from mainland Asia. Both are also related to the marbled cat and rather than classifying the bay and Asian golden cat in the genus Catopuma, it was suggested to classify them in the genus Parfodelis with the marbled species. Are you familiar with these beautiful little wild cats?
3. Margay (Leopardus wiedii): This cat, native to Central and South America, is not only among the smallest wild cats, but the Margay is one of the most acrobatic species out there. It has a very long tail for balancing on branches and flexible ankle joints to allow it to descend head-first. It can also mimic the calls of the pied tamarin (a small monkey) while seeking to ambush the same as its prey. With camouflaged coloring, this small animal spends the majority of its life in trees and is very hard to spot in its native habitat ranges from Mexico to Brazil and Paraguay. Have you ever seen a Margay?

Margay (Leopardus wiedii): This cat, native to Central and South America, is not only among the smallest wild cats, but the Margay is one of the most acrobatic species out there. It has a very long tail for balancing on branches and flexible ankle joints to allow it to descend head-first. It can also mimic the calls of the pied tamarin (a small monkey) while seeking to ambush the same as its prey. With camouflaged coloring, this small animal spends the majority of its life in trees and is very hard to spot in its native habitat ranges from Mexico to Brazil and Paraguay. Have you ever seen a Margay?
4. Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis): The leopard cat turns out to be a separate species from the Sunda Leopard Cat on Borneo and Sumatra, so it's not as common to its native habitat in South, Southeast, and East Asia, with countries including Russia, China, India, and Pakistan. The leopard cat is about the size of a domestic cat, but more slender, with longer legs and well-defined webs between its toes. Its small head is marked with two prominent dark stripes and a short and narrow white muzzle. The largely tree-dwelling species hunts rodents and insects and is the third smallest wild cat in Asia. Before today's survey, were you familiar with Leopard Cats?

Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis): The leopard cat turns out to be a separate species from the Sunda Leopard Cat on Borneo and Sumatra, so it's not as common to its native habitat in South, Southeast, and East Asia, with countries including Russia, China, India, and Pakistan. The leopard cat is about the size of a domestic cat, but more slender, with longer legs and well-defined webs between its toes. Its small head is marked with two prominent dark stripes and a short and narrow white muzzle. The largely tree-dwelling species hunts rodents and insects and is the third smallest wild cat in Asia. Before today's survey, were you familiar with Leopard Cats?
5. Sand or Sand Dune Cat (Felis margarita): A very shy and mysterious small wild animal, the sand cat is the only species that lives in the true desert — namely, those in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It's been recorded in Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Chad, and Egypt. Although its prey is mostly small rodents and birds, it can kill venomous snakes like sand vipers. Its thick, sand-colored fur serves not only as camouflage but protects it from the cold at night, while the black hairs on its feet shield its toes from the scorching sand and its long, low-set ears give them excellent hearing. Are you familiar with Sand Dune Cats?

Sand or Sand Dune Cat (Felis margarita): A very shy and mysterious small wild animal, the sand cat is the only species that lives in the true desert — namely, those in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It's been recorded in Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Chad, and Egypt. Although its prey is mostly small rodents and birds, it can kill venomous snakes like sand vipers. Its thick, sand-colored fur serves not only as camouflage but protects it from the cold at night, while the black hairs on its feet shield its toes from the scorching sand and its long, low-set ears give them excellent hearing. Are you familiar with Sand Dune Cats?
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