Pictures and facts about the Rusty-spotted cat

Rusty-spotted cat

Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Subfamily : Felinae
Species : Prionailurus rubiginosus

The Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is indigenous to the following places: South of India- Jammu, Gujarat, Kashmir and Sri Lanka, but as of late, Central India joined the list. There are two kinds of populations, the first kind in Southern India while the second kind is the Sri Lankan type. The latter moves in the thick tropical forests at high altitudes, while at Central India, they could be seen on dry grass grounds and forests (open).

Rusty-spotted Cats are among the smallest wild cats. The tail itself is around 50% of the overall body length. Its name is derived from its appearance of course, rust colored spots traversing the upper parts of the body. The underside are light though, and a couple of dark lines run along the head of this cat. Some people say that the Rusty-spotted Cat is a "washed out" variant of its cousin, the Leopard cat, but that I suppose, this is just a matter of opinion.

A Rusty-spotted Cat's gestation season is close to 70 days, pups are born in April, usually one to two.

Most of the time, the Rusty-spotted Cat is nocturnal, contented to rest in hollow logs during the day hours. Experts strongly believe that they are above-average climbers, and they leave urine elements within their established "turf'.

Their diet consists mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. They could also go after frogs, right after a rainfall.

Picture of the Rusty Spotted Cat by Alessio Marruccik, licensed under GFDL

Facts about the rusty-spotted cat

Location: The Rusty Spotted Cat is native only to Central and Southern India and to Sri Lanka.

Rusty-spotted cats are incredibly small.

Rusty-spotted cats are solitary animals, with a tendency to climb trees.

Rusty Spotted Cats are fond of prowling when it's just finished raining to take advantage of the virtual smorgasbord offered up by dry river beds after a rain. (Full text)

The Rusty Spotted Cat is quite rare. (Full text)

Rusty-spotted cats are nocturnal and are found mainly in dry grasslands, scrub lands, but some are even found in open forests. (Full text)

As far as rusty-spotted cats are concerned, it is not known if populations can persist in cultivated landscapes, and individuals which take poultry are vulnerable to persecution (J. (Full text)

The rusty-spotted cat is the cat family’s smallest member. (Full text)

Nasal bones of rusty-spotted cats are distinctly narrowed, in comparison to those of the leopard cat. (Full text)

The rusty-spotted cat is one of the smallest species of cat in the world. (Full text)

Behaviour Rusty-spotted cats are thought to be nocturnal but very little (Full text)

The Rusty-spotted Cat is named after its specific markings. (Full text)

Behaviour Rusty-spotted cats are thought to be nocturnal but very little is known of their habits. (Full text)

The Rusty-spotted cat, is an extremely rare cat of southern India and Sri Lanka, with a small population in Jammu and Gujarat. (Full text)

Rusty-Spotted Cat Rusty-Spotted CatCommon Name(s): Rusty-Spotted Cat Scientific Name: Felis [Prionailurus] Rubiginosa Weight: 6-9 pounds Head/Body: 17 inches Tail: 7 inches Subspecies: 2 Gestation: ~67 days Status: Unknown Estimated World Population: No information availableThe rusty-spotted cat is a small cat with small round ears and a short tail. (Full text)

Physical Appearance The rusty spotted cat is one of the smallest cats in the world, being about the size of a black-footed cat. (Full text)

As far as rusty-spotted cats are concerned, it is not known if populations can persist in cultivated landscapes, and individuals which take poultry are vulnerable to persecution (Nowell and Jackson 1996). (Full text)

The rusty-spotted cat is found only in India and Sri Lanka. (Full text)

Rusty Spotted Cats are both arboreal and terrestrial inhabiting forest biomes in southern India and have been (Full text)