Travel through certain jungles around the world and you’re likely to come across lions, jaguars, and many other ferocious cats. If you find yourself walking through the rainforests, caves, or scrubland of Sri Lanka or India, you might encounter the remarkable cat featured in this YouTube video. Surprised at what you see? We don’t blame you. That’s the rusty spotted cat. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it’s not a friendly house cat. We’ll explain everything as we dive deeper into the details of this tiny feline with a big personality.
What Is the Rusty Spotted Cat?
Fully grown rusty spotted cats can be mistaken for kittens even when they’re fully grown.
©Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock.com
If you look at a picture of a fully grown rusty spotted cat, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re looking at a kitten. That’s because an adult rusty spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) will grow to a maximum of 3.5 pounds (give or take) and will typically reach up to 19 inches in length. Males are typically larger than females, but not by much. What’s even more remarkable is that this small critter can be found exploring the wild forests of India and Sri Lanka, which are also home to much larger predators.
Their name gives a good indication of their appearance: they have reddish spots on a grey-brown coat, somewhat similar to a small leopard. Like many other cats, they also have a white underbelly and orangeish eyes. The cat’s fur is also incredibly soft and short. All these seemingly lovely features explain why many people have tried to domesticate them over the years, but it’s not recommended; they are actually incredibly stealthy and relentless hunters.
Reproduction
As far as reproduction goes, the mating period is pretty brief without a lot of fanfare. Once pregnant, the female prepares a den, and after a gestation period of about 65-70 days, she gives birth to a small litter of one or two kittens. Baby rusty spotted cats are very small, typically coming in at around 60 grams. Unlike their parents, the kittens do not have the rusty appearance; instead, they have a row of black spots. While they are still young, the mother will begin to teach them many of the hunting strategies for which the cats are famous.
Diet
The primary diet of the rusty spotted cat consists of small animals, including toads, squirrels, small reptiles, small birds, and invertebrates. However, they sometimes attempt to take on larger prey that are up to three times their size.
A Skilled Hunter
Though they’re small in stature, rusty spotted cats are incredible hunters.
©shivaram subramaniam/Shutterstock.com
It would be understandable for most casual observers to believe that, due to the rusty spotted cat’s size, it is easily pushed around in its native habitat, but that would be a major fallacy.
Though they’re not the primary threat in the jungle, they can definitely hold their own through a variety of clever hunting tactics. For one, this species is nocturnal. Their eyesight is six times more powerful than that of a human, allowing them to see in conditions where other animals cannot. As a result, their prey often never sees them coming.
Rusty spotted cats are also stealthy hunters. After marking their territory with urine, they’ll often hide in thick bushes and wait to pounce. They are also very good at climbing trees, so they may wait in the branches until their prey is in the perfect spot. Then, they jump from above and land on their prey, using their claws and sharp teeth to finish the job. The rusty spotted cat is also very curious. It may explore different parts of the forest and caves, finding prey that other predators might miss.
With that said, this species is far from the king of the jungle. Threats to the rusty spotted cat population include larger predators, such as golden jackals and leopards. The population is also at risk due to deforestation, hunting, and the illegal pet trade.
Little Is Known About This Elusive Creature
There’s still much to learn about these amazing felines.
©Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock.com
Despite the facts listed here, the reality is that, due to the small stature and elusiveness of the rusty spotted cat, there is still much to learn about these fascinating creatures. It’s unknown how many exist in the wild, although estimates suggest that there are at least 10,000 mature individuals. Still, the species is considered to be “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Given these threats, conservation practices are currently in effect, including a ban on hunting the cats.
Much of their mating behavior is also a mystery. However, it’s believed that the cats may be monogamous and likely care for their young in a manner similar to domestic cats. Finally, it’s believed that the breed can live up to 12 years in captivity. While there’s more to discover about this breed, there’s no disputing the strength and agility of the world’s smallest cat.
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