Weight: 16-30 pounds
Head/Body: 24-30 inches
Tail: 9-12 inches
Subspecies: 9
The Jungle cat is found across a wide geographic area, ranging from Egypt, the Middle East, parts of Southern Asia to western China. The population of Jungle cats is significant in India (and adjacent nations), but is recognized by just a singular historical specimen from Vietnam or Cambodia. In Indochina, all of the other small/medium cats are noted more often than the Jungle Cats. Habitat survival in other areas would allow a better conservation status if human hunting could be cut down considerably. Sadly, they are frequently killed by humans, as these cats are known to kill livestock.
The Jungle Cat is active during the day, but will take refuge in daylight if a rest is needed. Breeding season for the Jungle Cat depends on the range. In the northern areas they mate during the winter days, but if they are in the southern areas, they will mate at any time within the year. When gestatation is complete (2 months), one to six kittens result. When the newborn reaches 8 weeks old, they are weaned, and then mature at about 6 months old. In the mating season, a male will bark, in a dog-like fashion. These cats are solitary by nature, and when resting it will twist the forefeet and put them under its body.
The Jungle Cat's feeding habits include small mammals, hares, snakes, birds, frogs and lizards. Eating or not, they are often located near water. The moist territories give them the best habitat cover of grasslands and reeds. Present-day scientists hypothesize that domestic cats hold similar genetic links to this cat, but that has yet to be proven.
The Jungle cat, reed cat, or swamp cat is listed as Least Concern. It does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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