In this article
The jungle cat’s home
Jungle cats can be found in large regions across South and Southeast Asia, as well as in more scattered areas in the Middle East. While this wild kitty can thrive in many different places, the jungle cat is not typically found in – well – the jungle! The cats much prefer wetlands such as swamps, grasslands, and shrubs, and feel most comfortable near rivers, where they can hide in reeds and tall grasses. This is why the jungle cat is also known as “reed cat” or “swamp cat”.
Pretty cat colors
The jungle cat has a speckled sandy coat with a lighter belly and throat, although black and albino individuals also exist. Kittens look different from adult jungle cats, as the little ones are born striped and spotted, and may retain some of these markings when they grow older, like rings on the forelegs and on the black-tipped tail. Thanks to their color, long legs, short tail, and tufted ears, the jungle cat is sometimes said to look like a medium-sized lynx.
Fruit-eating cats
While the jungle cat is primarily a carnivore, they don’t mind snacking on fruit – especially in winter when food is scarcer. When plenty of food is available, the jungle cat prefers small mammals, though they also enjoy birds, fish, frogs, insects, and even small snakes. While most cats hunt during dusk and dawn, or even at night, the jungle cat prefers to hunt during the day. To secure their prey, this cute killer has several techniques: they will usually stalk their prey, followed by a sprint, though they can also leap in the air, climb trees, run at up to 32 km/h or 20 mph, plunge into the water to catch fish, and swim up to 1.5 km or 0.93 mi to reach new grounds.
Barking cats
The jungle cat is solitary in nature and will only look for company during the mating season. While in search for a partner, the male jungle cat makes a bark-like noise that sounds surprisingly similar to the bark of a large dog. Normally, though, jungle cats just meow, much like house cats do, only a lot louder. When they feel threatened, jungle cats may let out various small roars before attacking, which is very unusual behavior for a cat of any size. As we said: the jungle cat is truly something special!
