Wildlife
Leopard cats are only the size of domestic cats, considerably smaller than the African big cats after which they're named. It's primarily the spotted coat that suggests 'leopard', though they don't disappoint in other likenesses. They pounce on and kill all sorts of small animals and - unsually for small cats - go straight in for the kill rather than toying with their prey. These small wild cats are also great climbers and, with hunting taking place largely at night, days are spent resting in tree hollows and caves. They are widely distributed throughout the forests of Asia.
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Simply purrfect
In his search for large cats, Gordon Buchanan finds the forest's smallest - the leopard cat.
In his search for large cats, Gordon Buchanan finds the forest's smallest - the leopard cat.
The Leopard cat can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, China, Himalayas, Indian subcontinent, Russia. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Leopard cat distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Stable
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat of South and East Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern by IUCN as it is widely distributed but threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range. There are twelve leopard cat subspecies, which differ widely in appearance.
The leopard cat's name is derived from the leopard-like spots prevalent in all subspecies, but its relation to the leopard is distant.
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Farmland
Tropical coniferous forest
Tropical dry forest
Tropical grassland
Rainforest
Helpless young
Adapted to swimming
Camouflage
Carnivorous
Tactile sense
Acoustic communication
Nocturnal
Predator
Adapted to running
Chemical communication
Territorial
Viviparous