There are some feral cat breeds that you may never have heard of. You may be familiar with the different types of domestic cats, but what about wild cats?
There are some breeds of wild cats you may have never heard of. You may be familiar with the different types of domestic cats, but what about wild cats?
No, we're not talking about big cats like tigers or lions but of particular cats that in some areas of the world live in direct contact with nature. Some feral cats are larger than domestic cats but still do not reach the size of a cougar or jaguar
Here 5 mysterious cats you may have never heard of.
Index
Pallas's cat
Il Pallas's cat he is considered the funniest and most expressive feline in the world. It is also known by the name of manul or di steppe cat. It is widespread in Central Asia. It has rather short legs, a feature that sets it apart from other cats, and it has a very long and thick coat. It lives in the Asian steppes up to 4000 meters above sea level. It feeds on rodents and small birds. In most of the areas where the Pallas cat is widespread, it is protected, since in the past it was hunted for its fur. As it hunts rodents, it is very popular with farmers.
Photo source: Wikipedia
Iriomote cat
It is a wild cat the size of a domestic cat that lives exclusively onJapanese island of Iriomote. Compared to its primitive form, not much has changed, in the opinion of scientists. The tail is bushy and its fur is dark brown in color. Its claws are not retractable. Its classification is still debated, according to some it could represent a subspecies of the leopard cat. It is a solitary cat, hunter and predator. He lives between the beaches and the cultivated lands of the island. Unfortunately, only about 100 specimens survive due to the destruction of the natural habitat.
Photo source: Wikipedia
Jaguarundi
It is a small wild cat native to Central and South America. It has short legs, a long tail, and a well-proportioned body. It lives mainly in Mexico and Texas. However, its presence in Uruguay is no longer so certain. In the past it has also been sighted in Florida, from which it would have reached Alabama in recent decades. It is now a rather rare cat, considered among the vulnerable species from the point of view of the risk of extinction.
Photo source: Wikipedia
Margay
Il Margay cat It is also known as Wied's cat. It is small to medium in size and lives in the Americas. It is larger than the domestic cat and its fur resembles the coat of the leopard, to which it is related. It has a slender body, long legs, long, bushy tail and large eyes with a dark brown iris. It lives in the humid tropical forest between Venezuela, Paraguay and Mexico.
Photo source: Wikipedia
Marbled cat
Il marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) is a small wild cat from South and Southeast Asia. The number of specimens currently present in Asia is about 10 thousand and this species is therefore considered vulnerable. Its size is similar to that of a domestic cat but its tail is longer and bushier. Its name derives from the appearance of its coat, which is characterized by spots and streaks reminiscent of the marble. It is widespread in China, Malaysia, Nepal and in the foothills of the Himalayas. It lives in tropical forests, among the thickets of trees, where it has only rarely been sighted by researchers. That is why, therefore, it is included among the least known wild cats in the world.
Fonte foto: Slide Share
Do you know of other little-known species of wild cats?
Marta Albè
Fonte photo: Kjetil Kolbjornsrud
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