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Domesticated cats are some of the most popular pets in the world, but did you know about the small cat range? When we think of wild felines, we often think of huge animals, and when we think of domestic cats, we think of small versions. But just as felines can be large, their wild cousins can be small, with some of them being as tiny as kittens even when they’re fully grown. In fact, over 80% of the world’s wild cat species are small and as large as their domestic counterparts. While the big cats get media attention because they are so intimidating, the little ones have other things to do. Here are 10 of the smallest cats in the world that you will be surprised and might want to see to believe, and not just because they are so cute.
# 10 Smallest cats: Pallas cat (Otocolobus manul)
The infamous “grumpy wildcat” is known for his facial expressions and both fierce but furry. It is shy and rarely found among the rough mountain meadows and shrubs of Central Asia, where its range includes Russia, Tibet, Mongolia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. His coat of long gray fur makes him look much bigger than he really is.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Head and body length: 46 to 65 cm (18 to 25 1⁄2 inches)
Tail length: 21 to 31 cm (8 1⁄2 to 12 inches).
Weight: 2.5 to 4.5 kg (5 lb 8 oz to 9 lb 15 oz)
# 9 Smallest Cats: Bay, Borneo, Bornean Bay, Red Bornean or Bornean Tabby Cat (Bay of Katopuma)
A rare small feral cat, fewer in number than other feral cats on her home island of Borneo, which is divided into Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. After the remains of one of them were mistaken for the remains of an Asian golden cat, but in fact they were much smaller in size, it was found that both had a common ancestor that diverged from 4.9 to 5.3 million years. – long before Borneo separated geologically from mainland Asia. Both are also related to the marbled cat, and rather than the bay cat and the Asian golden cat. Katopuma, it was proposed to attribute them to the genus Parfodelis with a marble cat.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Head and body length: 49.5 to 67 cm (19.5 to 26.4 in)
Tail length: 30.0 to 40.3 cm.
Weight: 3-4 kg (6.6-8.8 lbs)
# 8 The smallest cats: Margai (Leopard Wiedii)
This native of Central and South America is one of the most acrobatic feral cats, featuring an extra long tail for balancing on branches and flexible ankles to allow head-forward descending. It can also mimic the cries of a variegated tamarin (small monkey) in an attempt to ambush in the same way as its prey. This small, camouflaged cat spends most of its life in trees and is very difficult to spot in its natural habitat from Mexico to Brazil to Paraguay.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Threatened
Head and body length: 48 to 79 cm (19 to 31 inches)
Tail length: 33 to 51 cm (13 to 20 inches).
Weight: 2.6 to 4 kg (5.7 to 8.8 lb)
# 7 Smallest cats: Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
This leopard cat happens to be a separate species from the Sunda leopard cat in Borneo and Sumatra, so it is not as common in its natural habitat in South, Southeast and East Asia, including Russia, China, India and Pakistan. The mainly tree-dwelling cat preys on rodents and insects and is the third largest feral cat in Asia.
Population status: stable.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Head and body length: 38.8-66 cm (15.3-26.0 in)
Tail length: 17.2-31 cm (6.8-12.2 in).
Weight: 0.55-3.8kg (1.2-8.4lbs)
# 6 Smallest Cats: Sand Dune Cat (feliz margarita)
A very shy and mysterious little wildcat, the sandy cat is the only wildcat that lives in the real desert, namely in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. It has been recorded in Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Chad and Egypt. Although its prey is mainly small rodents and birds, it can kill poisonous snakes such as vipers. Thick sandy fur not only serves as a camouflage, but also protects from the cold at night, while black paw hair protects toes from the scorching sand, and its long, low-set ears provide excellent hearing.
Population status: stable.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Head and body length: 39-52 cm (15-20 inches).
Tail length: 23-31 cm (9.1-12.2 in).
Weight: 1.5-3.4 kg (3.3-7.5 lbs)
# 5 Smallest cats: Oncilla or Little Spotted Cat (Leopard tigrinus)
This special spotted wildcat’s range extends from Costa Rica and Panama in Central America to southern Brazil. Compared to other small wild species, it preys on small mammals, birds and reptiles, but prefers to do so on the ground rather than in trees. It is the second largest species in America after Guiña or Kodkod. Northern and southern oncilla are different from each other and do not interbreed with each other.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Head and body length: 38 to 59 cm (15 to 23 inches).
Tail length: 20 to 42 cm (7.9 to 16
.5
inches).
Weight: 1.5 to 3 kg (3.3 to 6.6 lb)
# 4 Smallest cats: Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps)
This particular species owes its strange appearance due to its physical adaptation to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, with a flattened forehead, partially webbed feet, and very long, sharp canines. Unfortunately, this is one of the most endangered cats in Southeast Asia.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Head and body length: 41 to 50 cm (16 to 20 inches)
Tail length: 13 to 15 cm (5.1 to 5.9 in)
Weight: 1.5 to 2.5 kg (3.3 to 5.5 lb)
# 3 Smallest cats: Guiña or Kodkod (Sea leopard)
It is the smallest cat in North and South America, and its habitat is Central and South Chile, as well as the surrounding areas of Argentina. Although a dexterous climber, he prefers land hunting for small mammals, birds, lizards and insects.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Head and body length: 37 to 51 cm (15 to 20 inches)
Tail length: 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in).
Weight: 2 to 2.5 kg (4.4 to 5.5 lb)
This native of South Africa is the smallest of its kind on the entire continent. Known for having the highest hunting success rate of any cat, it was once considered “the deadliest cat on earth” and can eat up to 14 prey items in one night.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Head and body length: females 33.7–36.8 cm (13.3–14.5 in); men 42.5 and 50 cm (16.7 and 19.7 in)
Tail Length: Females 15.7 to 17 cm (6.2 to 6.7 in); males 15-20 cm (5.9-7.9 inches)
Weight: Women 1.1 to 1.65 kg (2.4 to 3.6 lb) men 1.6 to 2.45 kg (3.5 to 5.4 lb)
# 1 Smallest Cats: Rusty Spotted Cat (Life: rusty)
A rusty-spotted cat competes with a blackfoot in tiny sizes and wins a prize. He is about the size of an 8 week old kitten. Both were mistaken for blurry versions of the leopard cat and the smaller domestic cat. Native to the deciduous forests of India and Sri Lanka, it is known for its large eyes, tiny mobile body and 50/50 lifestyle on the ground and in trees.
Population status: Decrease
IUCN Red List Status: Threatened
Head and body length: 35 to 48 cm (14 to 19 inches)
Tail length: 15 to 30 cm (5.9 to 11.8 inches)
Weight: 0.9 to 1.6 kg (2.0 to 3.5 lb)
Conclusion
Bigger size isn’t everything, and the smallest cats in the world prove it. Not only are the kittens tiny; some felines are naturally very small, indicating the diversity of the feline. While most people focus on them because they are cute, there are certain benefits to being shy, withdrawn, small, and even tiny in the harsh outdoor environment, and that is the ability to hide, be mobile, and fit for a diet. abundant insects and rodents. Whether adorable pets or wild survival experts, small cats do as well, if not better than their larger cousins.
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