Rusty Spotted Cat

Rusty Spotted Cat Latest News

Recently, for the first time in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and Haryana, a rusty-spotted cat has been photographed.

About Rusty Spotted Cat

• It is the world’s smallest and lightest known cat.
• Appearance
  • It weighs less than 1.5 kilograms and is 20 to 29 inches in length, about half the size of a domestic cat.
  • Its large eyes may be an adaptation to its nocturnal behaviour.
• Habitat: It prefers moist and dry deciduous forests, scrublands, grasslands, and rocky areas.
• Distribution: It is found in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In India, its range extends from Tamil Nadu to Jammu and Kashmir, including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha.
• Characteristics
  • It is a very active and agile and extremely fierce cat.
  • It is primarily nocturnal, resting in dense cover during the daytime.
  • Like other cats, Rusty-spotted cats mark their territory with urine.
  • It is an excellent climber, which allows it to catch birds.
  • Diet: It also preys on rodents, lizards, frogs and insects.
• Threats: Habitat loss, farm expansion, and industrial growth threaten nearly 75% of its range.
• Conservation Status

• • IUCN: Near Threatened
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Source: TH

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