In this article
Tiny kitty cat
With a length of only 35-48 cm (14-19 in.), the rusty-spotted cat is the smallest wild cat in Asia and rivals the black-footed cat and the kodkod for the title of smallest wild cat worldwide.
As the name suggests, this small kitty has rust-colored spots on their reddish-grey fur, which makes the rusty-spotted cat resemble a washed-out baby leopard with short legs, rounded ears, and an unmarked tail.
Because the small feline is very fast and has a characteristic gentle purr, they’re also called ‘the hummingbird’ of the cat family.
Spotting the rusty-spotted cat
The rusty-spotted cat can only be found in the wild in India, Sri Lanka, and in a small part of Nepal. While the tiny wildcat’s territory isn’t all that large, these kitties may inhabit moist as well as dry forests, grassland, dry scrubland, or even rocky mountainous terrain.
Did you know that some rusty-spotted cats have even taken up shelter in abandoned houses where they feast on tasty rodents?
The fiercest little hunter
While the rusty-spotted cat mainly hunts birds, rodents, and the odd frog, they have a reputation of being an extremely fierce and versatile hunter! Nineteenth century naturalist T. C. Jerdon owned a rusty-spotted cat as a pet, but the animal definitely wasn’t what you would call domesticated.
The tiny cat would hunt squirrels into the rafters of Jerdon’s house, and when introduced to a young gazelle, the rusty-spotted cat immediately seized the animal by the neck, only letting go after being pulled off by their owner!
Lifestyle
The rusty-spotted cat is mainly active at night and lives a solitary life. During the day, these kitties tend to hide in trees to stay safe from predators and have a well-deserved nap while avoiding the heat.
The reproductive cycle of the rusty-spotted cat is almost identical to that of the domestic cat, with a pregnancy that lasts approximately 67 days, and delivers a litter of 1 to 3 kittens.
Conservation and threats
Since 2016, the species is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The main threat to the survival of the species is habitat loss and destruction.
In addition, locals hunt the rusty-spotted cat for food and to prevent the felines from killing small livestock— not to mention they are mistaken for leopard cubs and get killed for their fur.
