Surely you have ever seen a newborn cat. Many of them could sleep peacefully in the palm of your hand, but when they grow, they reach an average of 23 to 25 centimeters in height and about 80 centimeters in length. Other species of felines can be huge like tigers or lions, but there is a wild cat that is considered the smallest in the world.
It is the rusty cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus). It takes the title of the smallest wild cat in the world with a weight of only 800 grams to 1.6 kg, a height of about 20 cm and a length of 35 to 48 cm including the tail, which is about half the total length. .
This cat that inhabits Sri Lanka and India, normally above 2,100 meters above sea level, has short gray fur over most of its body, with rust-colored spots on its back and sides.
His belly is white with large dark spots and he has six dark stripes on each side of his head, which extend over his cheeks and forehead. Because of its size, the rusty cat is known as “the hummingbird of the cat family.”
There are an estimated 10,000 rusty cats in the wild and the species is listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. Like other wild cats, the rusty cat is in decline, mainly due to habitat loss and hunting pressures (for its fur and even for food).
Personality-wise, rusty cats are quite active and playful. They prefer dense vegetation and rocky areas. It inhabits deciduous forests, as well as thickets and grasslands.
They are nocturnal felines that feed on small animals such as frogs, rodents, insects, small birds and reptiles. They are also known to prey on domestic poultry, sometimes leading to human-wildlife conflicts.
The rusty cat is a beautiful animal that unfortunately is suffering the consequences of hunting and the destruction of its habitat. Some fear that it could fall into the categories of “Endangered” or “Critically Endangered” if the appropriate measures are not taken.
Sources:
BBC One
Felidae Conservation Fund
Wild Cat Conservation