Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Rusty-Spotted Cat

Prionailurus rubiginosus

Near Threatened

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

The rusty-spotted cat is the smallest cat in the world: an adult weighs little more than a kilogram, roughly half as much as a domestic cat. It owes its name to the rust-coloured spots that fleck its grey coat. It is nocturnal, an outstanding climber, and hunts rodents, birds, frogs and insects. It lives in India, Sri Lanka and a small part of Nepal, often in farmed landscapes close to villages, where it has even been known to breed in barns and under roofs.

Weight

900 g – 1.6 kg

Size

35 cm – 48 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

Temperate forestGrasslandCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Feline Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

7countries 15parks39same family

Fun facts

GeneralThe smallest cat in the world, at between 1 and 1.6 kg, half the weight of a house cat.
It is the smallest cat on the planet: it fits in two cupped hands and weighs about as much as a couple of small water bottles.
Despite its size it is a bold hunter: it has been seen attacking prey larger than itself and fending off dogs with disproportionate aggression.