Leopard cat

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The Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis, sometimes Felis bengalensis) is a small wild cat of Southeast Asia. On average it is as large as a domestic cat, but there are considerable regional differences: in Indonesia the average size is 45 cm, plus 20 cm tail, while it is 60 cm/40 cm in the Amur region. The fur is also quite variable: it is yellow in the southern populations, but silver-grey in the northern ones. The chest and the lower part of the head are white. Leopard Cats bear black markings, that may be - dependent on the subspecies - spots or rosettes. It is a nocturnal animal, and usually eats rodents, birds, fish, reptiles, small mammals. It is usually a solitary animal except for the mating season. It has litters of 2 to 4 kittens and the gestation period can vary from 65 to 70 days.

The habitat of this cat is forests and rainforest both in low and mountainous areas, usually not arid areas. It lives close to watercourses and may be found in heights up to 3000 m. The Leopard Cat can climb trees skilfully. It is also able to swim, but will seldom do so.

The Leopard Cat is a nocturnal animal hunting for rodents, hares, birds and even bats. When entering villages, they may become dangerous for the poultry.

Subspecies

Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis, India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asian mainland, Yunnan
Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis, Borneo
Prionailurus bengalensis chinensis, China, Taiwan
Prionailurus bengalensis euptailura, eastern Siberia, Mongolia
Prionailurus bengalensis horsfieldi, Himalaya
Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis, Iriomote
Prionailurus bengalensis javaensis, Java
Prionailurus bengalensis manchurica, Manchuria
Prionailurus bengalensis minutus, Philippines
Prionailurus bengalensis sumatranus, Sumatra
Prionailurus bengalensis trevelyani, eastern Pakistan

The Japanese island subspecies are of special interest. The Iriomote Cat (P. b. iriomotensis) lives exclusively on the tiny island of Iriomote. When it was discovered in 1967, it was regarded as a survivor of an extinct line of felines and placed in a separate genus Mayailurus. This view is still being discussed, some authorities still claim to classify the Iriomote Cat as a separate species, since it looks quite different from the mainland Leopard Cats: It has dark brown fur, a bushy tail, and it is not able to sheath its claws. They are also known as Yamamayaa (means "mountain cat") or Yamapikaryaa ("mountain sparkling-eyed") or Pingiimayaa ("escaped cat") to the islanders of Iriomote. The Iriomote cat is the most threatened subspecies with an estimated population of less than 100 individuals.

The Tsushima Cat was not discovered before 1988. First it was regarded as a separate species as well, then as a subspecies of the Leopard Cat, and now as a variety of the Manchurian subspecies (P. b. manchurica).

The Leopard Cat is sometimes captured and interbred with domestic cats to create a domesticated Bengal Cat with an appearance and behavior similar to the Leopard Cat while remaining safe for domestication. [link]

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