Mammals · Carnivora · Procyonidae

Ringtail

Bassariscus astutus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Popularly known as the miner's cat, it was informally domesticated in the 19th century to keep rodents down. Its Spanish name comes from Nahuatl and means 'nimble thief', a nod to its skill at climbing by night.

Weight

800 g – 1.3 kg

Size

61 cm – 84 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertMountainOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Desert Mountain Mammal

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Fun facts

It was informally domesticated by 19th-century gold prospectors to keep rodents out of their cabins.
Its ringed tail, up to 44 cm long with 14 to 16 black and white bands, is almost as long as its body.
Its Spanish name comes from Nahuatl and means 'nimble thief'.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rocky country, canyons, woodland and arid scrub of the south-western United States and much of Mexico
Birth weight: 28 grams
Size at birth: Blind and all but helpless at birth
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 51-54 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 5 young per litter (most commonly 2-4)
Lifespan in captivity: A documented record of up to 16-24 years in captivity, depending on the subspecies

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; AnAge; Britannica; AnimalHub; American Society of Mammalogists; MSU Brain Museum; SDZWA Library Fact Sheet; The Animal Files