Rare species of cats. Feline genus - species of wild cats

There are a large number of members of the cat family. For the most part, when pronouncing such a phrase, images of tigers, lions or leopards appear in our heads. However, here we will talk about small wild cats, which are not inferior in beauty to their older brothers.

Larger felines usually have well-developed muscles, interesting coloration and high speed movement. But it is worth saying that small cats are unfairly deprived of attention. These representatives of the fauna live in different points the globe- from northern Africa to central Siberia. Scientists were able to detect 30 representatives of small cats. Of the greatest interest is a third of them. It is this beautiful part that we bring to your attention.

Despite the fact that their dimensions are commensurate with the parameters of a conventional domestic cat, the behavior of small wild cats different from those animals that we are used to seeing on our sofa.

Now let's talk in more detail about ten types of small representatives of the cat family:

Leopardus Guttulus (Southern oncillas)

For a long time this species remained in the shadows. The thing is that Brazilian experts could not find such cats for a long time because of their rapid extermination - Leopardus Guttulus fur is very expensive on the black market. With the help of molecular measurements and comparative analysis The DNA of this species has become known to the public.

In appearance, it resembles a small jaguar, since the coloring and mode of movement bears a significant resemblance to its big brother. The weight of the male can reach 3 kg, and the body length is 65 cm. The fur is very soft, but short, which allowed the cat to adapt to the climate of southeast Brazil and northern Argentina.

Margay (Long-tailed cat)

The body length of such a cat is only 60 cm, but the tail parameters are impressive - as much as 40 cm. Margay weighs a little less than 8 kg. Russian researchers know such animals as "long-tailed cat". Usually lives in the tropics, the length of which is from Mexico to Argentina. Food is provided by catching small primates, rodents and birds. They are able to rotate their ankle 180°, and their hind legs are strong enough to hang upside down like a common monkey. The gestation period is 84 days (almost 3 months). The maximum number of kittens that such a small cat can have is five tiger cats. It is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book.

Gilded cat Borneo (second name - Kalimantan)

Represents the increased attention of scientists due to the fact that the species is little studied. It was discovered 22 years ago, but the discovery turned out to be accidental - the body of such a cat was found in the trap of one of local residents, and only in 2002, a gilded cat was photographed in nature. It got its name from the place of the same name, which is located in Indonesia. This type of small cats can be found in the mountains, the jungle, rarely in the forests. The weight of the Borneo cat is about 4 kg, the length with the tail is 85 cm. It can have a color either gray or more familiar - orange-brown. Such a cat differs in the size of the teeth, as well as their characteristics: instead of a two-rooted system of teeth (like other representatives of this family), there is a single-rooted one.

Serval (Sahara cat)

Very aesthetic looking cats. Maximum length its body is more than 1 meter (135 cm), and the mass can reach 18 kg. This type of cat has some of the largest ears among its feline counterparts. The length of the tail does not exceed 45 cm.

Depending on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bresidence they have different types of color. In particular, cats of the Serval type, living in sparsely forested and steppe zones, have large spots on a light background. Those that live in the forests have darker coats. And in Kenya, they are generally found entirely in black.

Pallas (Manul)

It received its scientific name in honor of the German explorer P. Palas, who was able to discover it on the territory of the Caspian Sea in late XVIII century.

The body length of the manul is from 52 to 65 cm, the tail is up to 31 cm, the mass of such a cat does not exceed 5 kg. It is worth noting that the manul has the most fluffy tail among all wild cats. Short legs and a more massive body do not allow such a cat to be confused with a pet. According to statistics, there are 9,000 hairs per 1 m of wool of this type of cat, the length of which can exceed 7 cm. Despite its dense and thick fur, the habitat is located in Asian countries, where harsh winters are extremely rare (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, China).

Jaguarondi (Jaguarandi)

Jaguarandis can be found almost anywhere. South America, as well as in a small area North America, be it savannas, chaparrals or tropical rainforests. Even such cats like to settle near wetlands, near the shores of lakes, rivers and streams. They can also live in the mountains, the height of which can reach 3200 meters.

No one will ever be able to meet such cats together with their relatives, as they are mostly secretive animals and try to hunt alone. An unusual fact Jaguarandi is that, unlike all other cats, these like to get their own food exclusively during the day, and the peak of their activity can be observed at 11 am. They try to climb trees in case of urgent need and to a small height.

Sumatran cat

The body length of the Sumatran cat can reach about 81 cm, weight - up to 2.7 kg. It has short legs that help it feel confident in the water. The coat of such a cat is very thick and soft, and there are brown spots on the paws. Such representatives of the fauna were classified as especially rare species of cats primarily due to the inability to retract their claws. However, sharp teeth, which are referred to as pointed, allow Sumatran cats to hunt fish, frogs and other aquatic animals. Do not disdain to eat fruits and nutritious roots of some trees. The gestation period is 56 days (about two months). Such cats can give birth to up to four kittens.

Iriomote (Iriomote cat)

For a long time it was considered separate view, but after long discussions between researchers, it was decided to classify the Iriomote cat as a subspecies of the Bengal feline. It got its name in honor of the eponymous Japanese island located near the border with Taiwan. It was not possible to meet the Iriomote cat anywhere else. Such small wild animals weigh from 3 to 5 kg. They feed mainly on waterfowl, crabs and rodents. They hunt mainly at night. The duration of gestation of kittens, of which there can be no more than four, is 70-80 days.

dune cat

It is one of the smallest of its kind. The body length of a dune cat, or sand cat, is in the range from 65 to 90 cm, while 40% is the tail, the height of such a small animal is no more than 30 cm. Males can weigh from 2.1 to 3.4 kg, and females 1.5 times lighter. The ears are very large, but do not have tassels. Short and strong paws allow the dune cat to hunt various rodents and birds. Rigid hair on the paws protects the animal from the high temperature of the sand in Central Asia, where the area of ​​​​their distribution is observed.

The fur of desert cats is soft and fluffy, which saves them from hypothermia at night when temperatures can drop below zero degrees Celsius. Coloring can be different - gray-brown or light gray.

wild forest cat

In appearance, it resembles an ordinary cat. It is believed that about 10,000 years ago, all domestic cat representatives descended from them. Over time, the difference between wild and domestic cats became more pronounced. A long tail and powerful paws can indicate significant differences with our usual pets. Body size - from 45 to 80 cm, weight can reach 8 kg. The height of a forest cat can reach 35 cm, the length of the tail does not exceed 30 cm. Such animals can be found in Europe, as well as in North Africa and Asia.

All of the above little cats never cease to amaze with their abilities. Since some of them have become known to mankind relatively recently, we have the hope that in the near future we will be able to see no less beautiful small wild cats that amaze the imagination.

All domestic cats have instincts and habits inherent in their untamed counterparts. It cannot be otherwise, because they have one ancestor - a wild cat. Now many of them are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book. The most famous breeds of wild cats are presented in this article.

It lives at an altitude of 3500m to 5000m in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, beyond the forest line. Difficult survival conditions - melting snow as the only source of water and rodents - as a source of food - require human efforts to preserve this breed. The breed is poorly studied and very small in number. There are no more than 2.5 thousand individuals.

Dimensions are small: body length 57-64cm, tail 35-48cm, height at the withers 36cm. The coat is very thick, long and fluffy. Reaches 4 cm.

The tail is especially prominent. Firstly, it makes up 70% of the body, and secondly, it is very fluffy, which allows it to be used instead of a blanket in cold times.

The color of the fur is gray-silver with ashy specks on the back. The tummy and chest are lighter. All over the body there are diagonal spots, black on the legs, brown on the body, orange on the back. The soles are brownish grey. The color of the tail is usually lighter than that of the body. The decoration is 9 dark brown rings. The tip is black. Ears are grey.

dune or desert

Area - North Africa, Arabia, Iran, South Morocco and middle Asia. As the name implies, these cats live in the desert. Ideally adapted to difficult conditions, they have no big size: the body is from 65 cm to 90 cm, and up to 40% is occupied by the tail. The head is short, broad, flattened, with whiskers. They are nocturnal animals that hunt by ear. Therefore, they have very large and wide hearing organs. They don't have tassels. The eyes are yellow, very sharp, with a slit-like pupil.

The paws are large and strong. In search of prey, these desert dwellers travel up to 8 square meters. km per night. On the paw pads there is a dense coat that saves the hostess from burns on hot sand. The color of the Central Asian species is somewhat different from the African. In summer it is yellowish, and by winter it changes to gray. The coat thickens and lengthens so that the animal is warm in winter frosts.

On the body there are inconspicuous stripes of a gray-brown color. A more contrasting pattern of stripes is on the head and legs. And the tip of the tail is usually dark, down to black. The underside of the body is lighter than the top.

The main food is birds, rodents, non-venomous snakes. The main method of hunting is an ambush attack: the victim is grabbed by the neck and shaken vigorously. A feature of this type of cat is the ability to do without water for a long time: they get the necessary moisture from food.

Golden

There are two types: African and Asian.

African

lives in the tropics of Africa, in the rain forests.

She is twice as big as a normal cat. Size -72-94cm, average weight 11-14kg. Powerful legs, hind legs are longer than the front ones. The color is very diverse: red, chestnut, gray-brown, bluish-gray, even black. The inner surface of the legs, tummy, chest, chin and cheeks are white, the bottom of the tail is slightly colored. There are two stripes of dark color on the cheeks. Blackish speckles are present on the abdomen.

On the inside of the paws are wide transverse stripes. The eyes are outlined with a light border. The head is small. The organs of hearing are rounded, dark on the outside.

Like many felines, the golden is nocturnal. Excellent hearing, sharp eyesight, excellent flair allows her to hunt antelopes, goats and even buffaloes.

Asian

Another name is the wild cat Temminka. Lives in the jungle of South East Asia. Asian ones are slightly larger than African ones. Dimensions 75-105cm, weight 8-11kg. Although there are instances of 11-16kg.

The color of the fur is juicy golden, sometimes reddish. On the belly and flanks, the coat brightens to white. There are individuals of gray color.

The color can be monophonic, or it can be speckled with a light brown color. Behind the ears are clear gray speckles.

The Asian hunts during the day for hares, lambs, goats, small deer and birds. They are excellent at climbing trees. But the time of pregnancy and childbirth arrange hollows in them.

Angler or speckled (fish)

By name it is clear that they live near the water, eating caught fish. Although, frogs with lizards, even small mammals, can become prey. The range of anglers is Southeast Asia: small areas of China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Sumatra.

The weight of an adult cat is 11-15 kg, females are twice as light - 6-7 kg. The size of the animal is 96.5-119.3 cm, the height at the withers is 38.1-40.6 cm. They are tough, strong animals. The muzzle is short and wide, practically without a bridge of the nose. The neck is short. The organs of hearing are located on the sides, small and rounded. The jaw is round, the lower one is more developed, very strong. The limbs and tail are short. It is thick at the base, tapering towards the tip. Anglers are able to use it as a steering wheel to change direction while swimming and balancing on the water.

The color of the fur coat is brownish-grayish with black specks on the body. The forehead and nape are decorated with longitudinal stripes. There are several dark rings on the tail.

Golden yellow eyes. The ears are black with white specks behind them. In case of aggression, when the angler presses them, they emphasize the angry expression on the muzzle.

A unique feature of anglers is the presence of webbing between the toes of the front paws. On the one hand, they interfere with retracting the claws, but on the other hand, they are indispensable when catching fish. The fisherman sits on the shore and carefully watches the water. As soon as the victim, i.e., the fish, enters the field of view, a lightning strike with a paw follows. If necessary, these hunters are able to dive deep in pursuit of prey.

Chinese (Gobi)

The range is the mountainous and steppe regions of the north-west of China, the south of Mongolia. These are areas with severe climatic conditions: intense heat in summer and severe frosts in winter. Dry or damp winds blow throughout the year.

Compared to domestic ones, Chinese ones are slightly larger. The size is 97.7 cm, and a third of it is occupied by the tail - from 29 cm to 35 cm. Height at the shoulders 30-35 cm. Weigh from 4.5kg to 5.9kg. In appearance, they resemble European and at the same time look like a reed cat.

The head of the Chinese is wide, the ears are large, with tassels up to 2.5 cm. The fur is long and dense, with a thick undercoat. On the paw pads there are "sandals" - a layer of wool. The tail is thick, with transverse rings at the bottom.

The coat is yellow-gray in summer, becoming darker in winter, acquiring a brownish tint. Winter fur is thicker and longer than summer fur.

Specks and stripes are poorly visible, they are better seen on the sides. tummy in summer time almost white, yellowish in winter. The tail is blackish at the tip.

The main food is small mammals and rodents: rats, rabbits. Does not shun hunting for birds, such as pheasants.

Irimoto - Japanese wild cat

Lives on the island of Irimoto (Japan), part of the territory of which has been turned into national park. Everything is done there to make these rare wild cats feel comfortable and safe. For the life of the irimoto, they choose the rainforests of the subtropics, coasts with mangrove trees.

The size of the irimoto is from 70 cm to 90 cm, of which approximately 18 cm is a thick tail. Height - 25cm. These are small animals. They weigh 3-7 kg, on average 4.5 kg. The paws of the irimoto are low, the claws do not retract completely, there are membranes between the fingers. The coloring of the fur is dark brown with small darkish specks over the entire surface. The tail is also with darkish spots on the fluffy coat. The organs of hearing are dark with a white spot, rounded.

Confirmation ancient origin of this breed is the absence of one premolar tooth on the upper jaw. Therefore, irimoto, like a cheetah, has only 28 teeth.

And, like a cheetah, they have clear black stripes along the wings of the nose, coming from the corners of the eyes.

Irimoto's menu is very varied. Lots of rodents, fish, water birds, crabs, insects. Excellent hunters, these nocturnal predators freely enter the water, swim well, easily climb branches.

Manul or pallas cat

First discovered on the coast of the Caspian Sea in the 18th century. Lives in the steppe and semi-desert regions of the mountains. It is very similar to the Persian cat, only larger. Dimensions 70-96cm, weigh 3.0-4.5kg. The constitution is dense, the limbs are low, stable. The head is wide, small in size. The organs of hearing are small, round, located on the sides. But the eyes are very large, yellow color. The pupils are round, as opposed to the vertical pupils of most felines. This wild cat is the record holder for fluffiness: manul has up to 9000 hairs in 1 sq. cm. Their length is up to 7 cm. And in the winter cold, the manul also acquires a chic undercoat.

The color of the coat is gray-reddish with small white specks. On the muzzle there are two blackish stripes: from the ears to the eyes.

Because of the low legs, the manul is not adapted for running. Therefore, it hunts, waiting for the victim in ambush: it sits near the holes. At the same time, he can perfectly disguise himself, hear and see remarkably. The sense of smell is less developed. The main food is pikas and mouse-like rodents, occasionally gophers, birds. This is a very silent and cautious creature: even during mating games, manuls do not emit loud cries, like most felines.

European wild cat

Lives in Western Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Moldova, southern Ukraine. It prefers forests (hence its second name is forest), thickets of shrubs and reeds at a distance from humans. Although, sometimes settles in the attics of houses.

The European cat has such an unremarkable appearance that a non-specialist can easily confuse it with an ordinary mongrel street murka. Forest from 50 to 90 cm in length, half of which is the tail, fluffy and powerful, chopped off at the end. Males weigh 7-8 kg, females are lighter. The limbs are low, the body is elongated, the head is large, the hearing organs are without tassels. The eyes are large and expressive.

Wool coloring - different shades gray with yellow. There are dark specks and transverse stripes on the body.

They hunt in the evening and at night with a short break in the middle of the night. These are very dexterous hunters, they easily climb branches, jump from branch to branch, and even swim perfectly in water bodies.

Jungle cat or swamp lynx, or -house

The range is very large: Asia, Transcaucasia, Dagestan, North Africa, Thailand. Prefers thickets, avoiding open areas. This largest wild cat looks like a domestic cat. Length 75 - 125cm. A third falls on a thin and pointed tail, decorated with blackish rings. Hausa weighs up to 15kg. The limbs of animals are very long. Growth ranges from short, like domestic cats in Thailand, to high - in the Caucasus and Palestine. There are nine varieties of swamp lynx.

Northern, living near the Aral, are dressed in a thick fur coat. Asian - have a bright reddish brown coat. African - painted in desert gray tones.

Hunts for rodents, hares, pheasants, cubs of artiodactyls. When hunting for waterfowl and small mammals that live near water, the Hausa are very helpful with their long legs. They do not allow the wool on the tummy to get wet. In addition, these predators swim remarkably, so fish is also included in their diet.

Longtail, or margay

Habitat: north of South America - to Mexico. Found in Texas. Margal is a tree cat. The long-tailed is called so because it has a long tail, which allows the margay to balance when climbing thin branches.

The length of the margay is 90-120 cm, almost half of which is the tail. Weighs 2.5 - 4kg. Limbs are long. Unique Ability margay - they can turn their hind legs by 180. Being ideal climbers, margals can hang on branches, clinging to it with one paw. The auditory organs are rounded, darkish on the outside and with a white spot in the middle. The eyes are large, like those of all nocturnal animals. Color - dark brown. The pupils are oval.

The coloration of the upper body is yellow, from light to darkish. The inside of the legs, belly, chin, throat and chest are white with transverse patterns of black or dark brown.

The spots are uneven in color intensity: darker towards the edges.

It hunts small mammals living on branches, birds, lizards, frogs, insects. Even small monkeys become prey for margay.

blackfoot

Lives in southern Africa. Moreover, one of its varieties - a lighter color - lives in the Kalahari Desert. The second, colored brighter, inhabits grassy areas.

This is a relatively small predator, size 0.48-0.56m. 16 cm of it is a tail - thin and pointed. The black-legged weighs from 1.5 to 2.5 kg.

These are stocky animals with a wide, developed head in proportion to the body. The hearing aid has a round shape and a large size. The eyes are expressive and round.

The color of the fur is mostly yellow, sandy, light brown tones. Animals have a very intense pattern of stripes and spots. By winter, he turns pale. But the tail has contrasting rings, and the tip is always dark.

The name of the animal is due to the presence of four blackish stripes on the soles. The soles are covered with fur, which protects the animal from the hot sand of the desert.

The diet of these felines consists of jerboas, hares, gerbils, locusts, grasshoppers, and birds. In general, blackfoots are very voracious, they can eat portions of food equal to a third of their weight.

They practically do not drink water, getting it from food.

Marble

Range: Southeast Asia. This is the north of India, Nepal, Thailand, Burma. The length of the predator is from 80cm to 115cm. The tail of them accounts for 40 cm. It is thick and plays an important role: it serves as a balancer when the hostess climbs the upper branches of trees. For this, the low legs and feet of the predator are adapted.

The coat is dense, spotted: a golden background with a large black pattern, similar to the coloring of a smoky leopard. According to this characteristic coloring, the name of this wild predator came about.

The tummy and breast are colored lighter, the ears are black, with a white speck at the back.

These nocturnal predators most life is spent on branches. They eat proteins bats, frogs, reptiles, birds and insects.

Rusty, or spotted red

Found in the southern states of India, Sri Lanka. Inhabits moist forests, although a presence has been documented in the dry tropical forest of northern India. Representatives of this breed are one of the smallest cats. The rusty wild cat is slender, has an elongated body, a short tail. The legs are small. The head is round, with small ears. The eyes are disproportionately large, amber to brownish-gray in color. On their inner corners are white stripes.

The fur of spotted red is soft, short, gray color. On the body on the back and on the outer surface of the legs - brownish - rusty spots. The inside of the legs and belly are white, but also spotted.

Llama pads are black. There are two dark stripes on the muzzle, and four more stretched from the top of the head to the back of the head.

This is a night hunter. Prefers to spend time in trees. And food is obtained by wild rusty both on the ground and on twigs. It hunts, like many cats, for rodents, birds, and occasionally for lizards. Even frogs can become prey.

Borneo, or Kalimantan

This beauty lives on the Indonesian island of Borneo, from which she borrowed her name. It is found in the jungle and in mountainous areas on the border with forests.

The dimensions are approaching the dimensions of an ordinary homemade pussy. The maximum length is up to 80cm. The tail occupies a large part - up to 70%. The height at the withers is approximately 28cm. Weight from 2.3kg to 4.5kg. The ears of the Kalimantan are rounded and short. It has a special structure of teeth that is different from the cat's: the first molars on the upper jaw are smaller and single-rooted. And the rest of these teeth have two roots.

The color of representatives of this species comes in two colors: gray and the more common brown-reddish. In the belly area, the coat is lighter and has dark spots on it. The head is usually dark brownish grey.

The bottom of the chin is light, two light brown stripes start from the corners of the eyes and go down the cheeks. On the back of the head, the marking in the form of the letter "M" is visible. The ears are a rich black-brown color. The tail tapers towards the tip, the lower part is yellowish at the base, turns white towards the end. And the tip is with a black spot.

Excellent hunters, the Kalimantai feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. They will not refuse to fall. They can even attack monkeys.

Concod, or Chilean

A population exists in Chile and western Argentina. They prefer moderately moist coniferous or mixed forests, especially places near water bodies.

Dimensions concod 56-76cm, tail -17-23cm. The weight of the animal is about 2.2 kg. Its large feet and claws are adapted for climbing tree branches, where the concod mainly lives. The head is short, broad and convex.

The fur has a brownish-gray color. Blackish speckles are scattered all over the body, merging into stripes on the back and tail.

This coloring is a wonderful natural disguise that helps in hunting. Rarely, but there are completely black individuals.

The animal gets food mainly at night, but under favorable conditions they are active during the day. They feed on rodents, birds, insects, and reptiles.

Geoffroy

Named after the French professor of zoology Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, who first described this species.
The area is the eastern part of South America. It lives in wooded upland areas, pampas and swamps, in alpine salt deserts. In priority - places with undersized dense vegetation.

Geoffreys are small - from 70 cm to 110 cm, of which 3/8 falls on the tail. Height at the shoulders - 23cm. Average weight cats 4.8 kg, females - 4.2 kg.

Geoffroy has large, low-set eyes and semi-circular ears.

The color of the majority is yellow-golden, with black spots-specks all over the body. On the muzzle from the corners of the eyes and mouth to the ears, as well as vertically along the forehead, there are black stripes.

Ears are rounded, blackish on the outside with a white spot in the center. The blackish tail is decorated with transverse spots or rings. There is also a transverse pattern on the abdomen.

These nocturnal dwellers prefer to forage on the ground and near water, or in trees. Small hares, rats, guinea pigs become prey. Excellent swimmers, they swim across fast rivers more than 30m wide without any problems, they catch fish. They try to hide food supplies on the branches of trees.

Caracal, he is a desert lynx

Range: Africa, including Sahara, Asia Minor and Central Asia. Prefers rain forests. Although it is also found in dry areas. And on the Arabian Peninsula, it generally lives in the desert.

Reminiscent of a lynx, its dimensions are 65-82 cm (one third of the tail), on the shoulders -45 cm. Weighs 11-13kg. The coat is thick and short.

The coloration is yellow-sandy or brown-reddish above, whitish below. There are white spots around the eyes. On the chin - also light hair. There are tassels up to 5 cm on the ears, they are black in color.

The caracal is active at night. True, in winter and spring it gets food during the day. They eat mongooses, hedgehogs, antelopes, lizards, plants. They attack small livestock.

Ocelot

Found in Central and South America. Chooses dense subtropical and tropical forests, shrubs.

Dimensions 135-150cm (tail 30-40cm). The ocelot is a beautiful, slender, powerful animal. Excellent moves through the trees, swims. He has a massive head.

Coloring - sandy yellow, golden brown with gray tint. Along it are longitudinal darkish stripes, stains and specks.

Powerful jaws, honed incisors allow you to grab and butcher prey. But they are not adapted to chewing.

The ocelot is active at night. Gets food on the ground, on trees. Rabbits, rodents, snakes, even monkeys become prey.

Serval

It lives in Africa, in tropical rainforests.

Reaches 90-135 cm (one third - on the tail), height 65 cm at the withers. Their weight is from 13kg to 16kg. Large, disproportionate ears provide the owner with heightened hearing. Outside, the ears are black with transverse yellow dots. The pupils are round.

Servals have long, well-developed legs. Excellent high-jumping (up to 3 m), these hunters are able to catch prey in the air.

There are spots on the fur. It forages mainly during the day and at dusk.

A feature of the serval is that it is able to adapt and live with a person. But problems still exist: servals are monogamous, attached to a single owner. They live for about 20 years. And this must be taken into account.

Jaguarundi, they are airs

They live from the southern states of the USA to Northern Argentina, on the coast of Mexico, southern Brazil, a small number lives in southern Texas. They live in savannahs, in tropical rainforests. Often they choose places near water, on the banks of lakes, rivers, streams.

Animals are 55-70 cm long (a huge tail is half), 25-35 cm high, weigh from 4 kg to 8 kg. They have a round head, small semicircular ears, a short muzzle, an elongated body on strong short legs.

The coat is short, monophonic or finely speckled. The main color is grayish-brown or red, in adult animals there is almost no pattern.

The jaguarundi is a diurnal predator. Its prey are rodents, hares, insects. Can attack poultry. With pleasure they eat fruits - grapes, bananas, figs.

How to tame a wild cat

In short, no way. Domestication of such animals is impossible in principle. We are not talking about circus training, there are completely different conditions for keeping animals. And to “domesticate” them, turning them into a cute kitty, is very problematic. And there are a number of reasons for this. Small and big cats are mostly loners. They do not recognize either competitors or partners nearby. Couples are created only for the period of procreation, and relations with the rest of the animal world are divided into two options: they are either a threat or prey. And the person does not fit into this scheme. He can be seen as a competitor and treated accordingly. And other pets are simply doomed.

And even an attempt to take a savage into the family - a kitten does not save from the natural aggressiveness of the beast. Growing up, a cute kitten will run wild and eventually begin to establish itself in a new team.

Very strong, much stronger than their domestic relatives, "savages" pose a serious danger to everyone around.

Food is also not easy. A "domesticated" predator will require a special diet that is 100% identical to the natural one. Violation of it is fraught with a failure in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, softening of the bones. The result may be their curvature, even a fracture. The treatment of such injuries is very difficult, because 80% of these cats do not tolerate anesthesia. In addition, a veterinarian specializing in the health of such animals is a rarity.

Another serious problem is that the "savages" do not at all recognize trays, pots with filler. And they will spoil where they want, that is, everywhere. Given the strong, pungent smell of cat feces, imagine what your home could become.

In addition, there are a sufficient number of special breeds. They are bred by crossing different types feline. These are Savannah, Tiger, Asian, Chausie, Serengeti. Your pet will look like a savage, but at the same time have a wonderful character and manners.

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Everyone knows that cats can be divided into two groups: wild and domestic. You see the latter every day and know firsthand about them. But the representatives of the cat, which can be called a "wild cat" ... You probably heard relatively little about them. Today we will study these cats in detail.

1. African wild cat

It lives in the steppe, desert and in some places mountainous regions of Western, Central and Central Asia, Africa, Northern India, Kazakhstan and Transcaucasia. It is very common in its habitats.

2. Bengal dwarf cat

Lives in East and South Asia. It is under the threat of extinction, but in some places it has already become a rare species.

It lives on the island of Kalimantan. It is a rare and understudied species.

Few people have not heard of the cheetah. This is the fastest wild cat and, in general, a land animal in the world. In the Middle Ages, cheetahs were distributed throughout Asia, Africa and even Europe. But due to their subsequent mass extermination, today the habitats of cheetahs are only deaf and protected places in Africa.

5. Gobi cat

It lives in the grassy steppes in the northwest of the Gobi Desert. Like the Borneo cat, it is a little-studied species.

6. Forest wild cat

The habitat of these cats is broad-leaved and mixed forests. Due to deforestation in many European countries, this species has completely disappeared. Today there is a struggle to preserve the unique forest wild cats.

7. Geoffroy's cat

It lives throughout the territory from southern Brazil to Patagonia. It is not known whether she has enemies, and scientists are also in the dark about her reproduction. The specific epithet in the name of this cat is given in honor of the zoologist Etienne Geoffroy.

8. Golden cat

It lives mainly in the Congo basin and in the surrounding areas. Due to forest degradation Equatorial Africa in 1996, only 10,000 adults remained in the world. Now hunting for golden cats is prohibited in all countries.

Lives in Central and South Asia. Estimates of the abundance of this species due to its secretive lifestyle and hard-to-reach habitat are indicative, but it is reliably known that due to poaching, its numbers are decreasing every year.

10. Iriomote cat

It lives only on the island of Iriomote, which is located at a distance of 200 km east of Taiwan. Due to its small population (less than a hundred) and small habitat, this subspecies of the Bengal cat is listed in the International Red Book.

11. Reed cat

Distributed throughout Asia. Adapted to living in thickets of reeds and thorny bushes. It was listed in the Red Book of Russia.

12. Caracal

It is found in the deserts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Turkmenistan. Caracals have excellent hearing and hunt rodents, reptiles and small mammals at night. The Asian subspecies of caracals are very rare and are considered endangered.

Who does not know the lion - the king of beasts? Males of this species can be distinguished by the long mane framing its neck. Lions are the only wild cats that do not live alone, but in special groups- prides. Due to their declining numbers, lions are a vulnerable species.

14. Leopard

Lives in Africa and East Asia. The leopard has long been considered a hybrid of a lion and a panther. Listed in the Red Book of the IUCN and Russia as an endangered species.

15 Clouded Leopard

Distributed in southeast Asia. Clouded leopards live alone and in thickets. This species is endangered - only three of its four subspecies remain.

Distributed in Central and Central Asia. In different territories, it belongs to rare, extremely rare and endangered animals.

Lives in moist dense evergreen forests of South and Central America. Margas are endangered. Hunting for them is prohibited everywhere.

18. Oncilla

It is found in the northeast of mainland South America. It is not under protection, but its number is very small.

19. Pampas cat

Lives in the plains of South America. It hunts mainly at night for rodents, birds and lizards.

Lives in the USA and Canada. Four subspecies of the cougar are listed in the IUCN Red List.

21. Dune cat

Lives in Western Europe and Central Asia. Their total population is not known. Due to frequent hunting and deforestation, where they live, it is listed in the IUCN Red Book.

22. Fishing cat

It is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. He is good at swimming and fishing.

Lives in Scandinavia and beyond the Arctic Circle. It is under protection because of hunting for its beautiful skins.

24. Serval

Distributed throughout Africa. It is an endangered species.

25. Temminka the cat

It lives in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. This is a rare cat species that is endangered.

It is exclusively Asian. Hunting for tigers today is prohibited everywhere. This is the largest cat in the world.

Lives in Central America. Today this species is almost extinct.

28. Jaguarundi

Found in Central and South America. It is not a protected species, although it has become rare in the southern United States.

That's all kinds of wild cats. As I said, the largest of them is the tiger. "How much does a cat weigh?" - you ask. Answer: up to 320 kg. Imagine what a giant it is! But the vast majority of wild cats are on the brink of extinction. And if you want your descendants to live in the same era with them, try to save these majestic animals that bear the proud title of "wild cat".

The cat family includes great amount representatives. It has three main subfamilies - small cats, big cats, saber-toothed cats. Unfortunately, the species of saber-toothed cats has become extinct. According to genetic lines, cat species are divided into 8 main types:

In each group there are many varieties, only domestic cats have about 250 breeds.

Big cats are divided into the following subgroups: smoky leopards, panthers and snow leopards.

A lion. Lions live mainly in Central Africa, also in some parts of India and in the Gir forests. Lions - large predators. The length of their body is 150-240 centimeters, the weight of a cat is about 180-250 kilograms. In nature, lions prey on ungulates - antelopes, zebras. An adult lion can even attack a young elephant or hippopotamus. In the absence of large game, lions can hunt even small rodents. The mating period for these cats is not clearly defined. Mating games are cruel, males arrange bloody battles for the right to a female. Contrary to the stereotype, the king of beasts is not the largest member of the cat family. The lion belongs to the big cats, the panther genus.

Leopard. The quintessence of feline grace is inherent in a leopard. This is a taut downed animal with a remarkable color. Leopards live in almost all of Africa, excluding the Sahara, as well as in southern Asia, they prefer subtropical forests. They hunt mainly ungulates. Leopards are very fast, but by nature they are sprinters, long distance runs, long chases are very exhausting for the animal. The leopard also belongs to the panther family.

Jaguar. A large predator that lives in Central, South America and parts of North. Unlike its counterparts, it does not have large populations of livestock nearby for hunting. It hunts mainly near water bodies. The body weight of large representatives of the species reaches 140 kg. By the way, the famous black panther or melanistic jaguar is a subspecies of the jaguar. Predator from the panther family.

Tiger. The tiger is rightfully the largest animal in the wild cat family today. Individuals reach a weight of 300 kg and 300 centimeters in length. The habitat of huge predators is incredibly wide. Tigers live in the Far East, in Iran, Afghanistan, Hindustan, Burma, Nepal, Indochina, Bali, Java. Tigers also prey on ungulates. However, they can eat crocodile, turtle, fish or crabs.

Ligers. A liger is an artificial breeding of a lion and a tigress. That is, this kind of cat is bred by man. These cats have surpassed the tigers in the title: the largest wild cat in the world. A set of genes, when the male is a lion and the female is a tigress, allow ligers to reach incredible sizes. The liger Hercules is recognized as the largest representative of the cat. This cat weighs about 400 kilograms, despite the fact that he does not suffer overweight, is very mobile and can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. In the nature of such big cats unfortunately it does not happen, since the habitat of tigers and lions varies.

Snow Leopard. Leopard or Irbis lives in the mountains of Mongolia, the Himalayas, Tibet. These cats live high up on the snow line. In winter, they are forced to descend from the mountains lower after the prey. These cats are small, with an average weight of 20-40 kilograms.

Small wild cats

Applying the concept of "small cats" does not mean that among them there are no large species, such as, for example, a cougar. One of hallmarks is that big cats, unlike small ones, can growl. Consider what are the small class cats.

Small wild cats include the following species:

Domestic cats: types

There are a lot of varieties of domestic cats, no one will answer the question of how many breeds of cats in the world. All new breeds of pets are being bred, there are about 250 breeds of domestic cats. Wild domestic cats have become fashionable exotics. So what are the breeds of cats, we note the most popular of them.

domesticated wild cats

Representatives of small wild cats recent times often domesticated. Popular breeds of wild cats today are Savannah (Serval), Arabian sand or barkhan cat, Asian leopard cat.

Savannah. Savannah or Ashera is a cat obtained by crossing a wild American serval and a domestic cat. Allocate kittens with the F1 gene and with the F2, F3 genes. The difference is that cats with the first gene are direct descendants of wild servals, they are poorly tamed, self-willed and mobile. These rare cats reach a weight of up to 15 kilograms.

Such cats are quite crowded in the apartment, wild genes require movement and space, cats can be walked on a harness.

Arabian sand cat or dune cat. The smallest representative of wild cats. The weight of males rarely reaches four kilograms, females are less. In appearance, cats are very pretty - the muzzle of an adult cat looks naive, like a kitten. Such cats are well tamed, in captivity they live up to 13 years. To buy a dune cat, you will have to look for a suitable breeder for a long time, as this is a rare breed. Some have been looking for dune cats for years, but there are only a few tamed specimens, the price of an Arabian sand cat is approximately $ 6,000.

Asian leopard cat. This is an absolutely wild cat, it is poorly tamed. Often these cats are kept in enclosures. If the cat still lives indoors, it must be walked on a harness. Wild cats are accustomed to hunting and natural diet. The feeding of such a cat must be strictly rationed in order to avoid obesity and, as a result, various diseases. According to rumors, the price of an Asian leopard cat is about 300,000 rubles.

domestic cats

Varieties of domestic cats include more than 250 different breeds. So what are the breeds of cats today? And how to find out the breed of a cat if it was purchased without a passport and pedigree? Only an expert felinologist can accurately indicate the breed. The most common cat in appearance may be very similar to a thoroughbred, but not meet the requirements. This is called the phenotype. There are ordinary outbred cats that are close to the breed, for example, the phenotypic British is a cat similar to the British, but does not meet all the nuances of the breed.

Consider the most common, most beautiful cat breeds for home maintenance. The most common cat breeds are described below.

Abyssinians and Somali. Abiki are very gentle sociable cats, strongly attached to the owner, small, lean, refined. Colors according to the standard are different: wild, blue, fawn, sorrel. Abyssinians are distinguished by short hair, Somali are called long-haired cats.

Bengal cats. Such cats are very popular due to their spotted wild color. The distant ancestors of Bengals are Asian leopard cats. However, thanks to the long-term existence of the breed, there are few wild things left in these cats. These are very playful sociable children who constantly require attention and communication.

Burmese. Short-haired cats with heavy knocked down bones. Burmese are quite self-willed and very loyal. Burma is very original, both in appearance and in behavior, has a characteristic penetrating look of hazel eyes.

Oriental cats. Orientals include Siamese, Orientals, Bolines and Javanese. These are amazing sophisticated creatures. They have chiseled outlines, like figurines of Egyptian cats, they have an elongated muzzle and large ears. These animals are shorthaired.

Oriental cats are incredibly sociable, they comment on almost every action with their voice and constantly strive to “talk” with the owner.

Devon rex. These cats are often referred to as little elves and have a triangular head and large ears. The coat of the Devons is very short and curls nicely. These are cat breeds without undercoat, they are ideal for allergy sufferers.

American curls. When choosing a breed, you should find out what a Curl cat looks like. Distinctive feature rocks are outward-curling lugs. Curls come in semi-longhair and shorthair.

The largest representatives of domestic cats. Large males reach a weight of 15 kg. Usually the weight of cats varies from 6 to 10 kg. These are long-haired cats with a severe muzzle and tassels on the ears. However appearance deceptive. These are incredibly kind and simple-minded creatures. You can safely start a Coon, having small children at home, the cat is not aggressive and is not able to intentionally offend someone.

Persians and Exotics. The most popular breeds today. cute sofa cushions. Persians are long-haired cats with a very short nose and a blunt muzzle. The nose of extreme Persians is at eye level. Exotics are short-haired varieties of Persians.

Sphynx - cats with no hair, full or partial. Sphinxes are Don and Canadian.

When choosing a cat, you need to take into account temperament, different breeds of cats have various features character and behaviour. A wide range of varieties of cats will allow you to choose true friend for many years.

Tigers, lions, cougars, panthers, leopards are considered one of the largest animals among the cat family living in the wild. Everyone knows about them. In our top biggest wild cats in the world entered less known species which also deserve due attention.

1. manul opens the ranking of the largest wild cats in the world. The animal resembles the usual domestic "purrs", but is somewhat larger than them. The body length of the predator, excluding the tail, is 52-65 cm, and with it - about 1 meter. The largest representatives of this species can gain weight up to 5 kg. The predator lives mainly in Central and Central Asia. But it is also found in other regions, including Russia. Its diet consists of mice, ground squirrels, partridges, lizards and other medium-sized animals. On average, manul lives 12 years.

1. The ninth place of the top is occupied by pampas cat, other name - grass cat. The length of her body is on average 76 cm, and together with the tail, about 1 m. At the withers, the animal can reach 35 cm. The weight does not exceed 7 kg. The cat lives in the grassy plains of South America, feeding mainly on small rodents, birds and eggs. Fear of large predators. Life expectancy is 12 years on average.

1. long-tailed cat or margai occupies the eighth position among the largest wild cats in the world. She is a relative of the ocelot, but much smaller than him. The body length of margayya is 60-80 cm, and taking into account the tail - 1-1.2 m. By weight, this is a rather miniature cat weighing up to 8 kg. The predator prefers to live in dense green forests of Central and South America. It feeds on birds, small mammals, lizards and frogs. Sometimes it can eat porcupines and sloths. On average, the animal lives for about 10 years.

1. reed cat or marsh lynx confidently among the ten largest of the breed of feline wild animals. The predatory mammal has quite impressive dimensions compared to the domestic cat. The length of its body without a tail can reach 60-90 cm. In mass, the predator gains up to 12 kg. The habitat is quite wide: Asia Minor, Central Asia, Transcaucasia, Dagestan, etc. Despite this, the reed cat is a very rare species that is on the verge of extinction, and is listed in the Red Book of Russia. The animal prefers to hide in reed beds and bypasses open areas. The predator, like many of its relatives, feeds on rodents, hares, ducks, pheasants, cubs of artiodactyls. He is also a good swimmer who is not averse to hunting for fish.

1. Far Eastern (Amur) forest cat ranks sixth in the ranking of the largest wild cats in the world. The body, excluding the tail, is 0.75-0.9 m long, the tail is 35-37 cm. The weight of the predator most often does not exceed 6 kg. The animal chose the habitat Far East and the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan. The main delicacy of the Amur cat are small rodents, birds, their eggs, chipmunks and hares. Also, a large predator is not averse to hunting roe deer. Average life expectancy is 10-12 years.

1. Representative of the forests of Equatorial Africa golden cat is one of the largest among its closest relatives. Her body, together with the tail, is 0.9-1.2 m long and 50 cm high at the withers. Males are larger and can weigh up to 14 kg. This is a rather rare species of the cat family, which prefers to exist alone. At night, the predator goes hunting, and in daylight hours rests for days in the crown of a tree.

1. spotted cat or cat angler ranks fourth among the largest wild representatives of the cat breed. The length of his body is 0.96-1.2 m, and the height at the withers is 40.6 cm. The animal weighs no more than 15 kg. The predator received the second nickname because of its virtuoso ability to catch fish. An excellent swimmer and fisherman, he has a very powerful and strong physique, and is quite capable of coping with cubs of artiodactyls.

1. The top three largest cats in the world opens serval or bush cat. This graceful long-legged animal reaches 65 cm at the withers, and the body has a length of 0.9-1.35 m. During the hunt, the serval is capable of jumping up to 3 meters in height. These are born hunters who are able to extract food from underground, water, and catch it in the air, making high soaring jumps. The lynx is considered close relatives of the predator. The population is distributed almost throughout Africa. A feature of servals is that, unlike their close wild relatives, they are easily tamed and able to live in captivity. Males can mate with common domestic cats. As a result of this, the Savannah hybrid appeared, which is considered the largest among domestic cats.

1. Second place in the top is Gobi (Chinese) cat. This species can be found exclusively in China in the highlands. The length of the animal with a tail is 0.98-1.4 m, and the weight reaches 9 kg. The height at the withers can reach 35 cm. Outwardly, the predator is somewhat reminiscent of a lynx due to small tassels on the ears. It is one of the rarest animals: the population is estimated at 10 thousand individuals. Its diet includes not only small animals, but also larger rodents - moles, rabbits, zokors. Also, these individuals can eat reptiles and birds. The average life expectancy is 12 years.

1. Top 10 is headed by the largest wild cat in the world ocelot. Its dimensions are very impressive: the length of the animal reaches 1-1.4 m and about half a meter at the withers. An adult weighs about 16 kg. The habitat of the population is the tropical forests of America. The main diet of ocelots is small mammals, birds, reptiles and even snakes. The largest predators are able to cope with a pig and even a donkey.