Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Marbled Cat

Pardofelis marmorata

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The marbled cat is a small cat of South-East Asia with a marbled coat of large irregular blotches that recalls a clouded leopard in miniature. It is one of the most arboreal cats there is: it has the longest tail in proportion to the body of the whole family, short broad legs and very flexible ankles. It hunts squirrels, birds and reptiles in the canopy. It is so elusive and so scarce that almost everything known about it comes from camera traps and a few radio-tagged animals.

Weight

2 kg – 5 kg

Size

45 cm – 62 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Feline Rainforest Mammal

17countries 27parks39same family

Fun facts

GeneralIt has the longest tail relative to its body of any cat.
Its tail can be as long as the rest of its body, the greatest proportion of any cat: it uses it as a counterweight on the thin branches of the canopy.
It can rotate its ankles and come down a tree head first, an ability it shares among the cats only with the clouded leopard and the margay.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Canopy of primary tropical rainforest and secondary forest of South-East Asia
Sexual maturity: 2.6 years
Gestation / incubation: 3.2 months
Litter / clutch size: 2

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardofelis_marmorata