Think all the cats of the wild are ferocious and as large as the lion? Think again. As it turns out, this little critter known as the rusty-spotted cat is the smallest member of the feline world period. Oh yeah, and he stalks the forests ferociously.
Of course I’m kidding, about the ferocious business, but he does stalk the forest as efficiently as any of the larger and more dominant felines known to be out there in the jungles and forests the world over.
According to Wikipedia, records of its presence are narrowed down to only a few locations: Sri Lanka and India. However, later the species, known as the Prionailurus rubiginosus, scientifically, was heard of inhabiting the forests of Terai and Nepal as well, according to the same aforementioned source.
Meet the rusty-spotted cat
Sadly it is considered to be endangered or rather at risk of being endangered as of a 2016 closer look at the population.
To look at the little critter, you’d think it would rather be cozy and asleep by the fire, right there in your living room or perhaps chasing a ball of yarn; maybe even fighting with your dog, but no, the wild forest is its natural home, the deciduous forest to be specific, and when that natural home is kept safe and secure from the hands of man, the tiny cat does quite nicely for itself.
According to matadornetwork.com, the feline is a total of 19 inches long and weighs 3.5 pounds at its apparent heaviest. They are hunters however, so watch out. They hunt smaller critters than they, and yes, smaller animals than they do exist…wild mice and birds, and they are apparently quite adept at hunting and stalking their prey.
They do however still look like your very own house cat when he’s chasing one of his or her toy mice, but a hunter these little critters do remain, rest assured. Remember: Ferocious!
And if you thought that all other wild cats were huge, think again, dear readers. As it turns out, there are quite a few tiny species of cats in the wild. Other than little, old rusty over here. Some include: the margay, the black-footed cat, and of course the sand cat—all of them more adorable than the other.
Sadly many of these species—wild cats in general—are in threat of being endangered and that’s a definite cause for concern, and that goes for the bigger cats as well.
Panthera is an organization that helps keep felines safe from poachers, climate conditions and a plethora of other threats. If you would like to donate and support the rusty-spotted cat, you can do so HERE.