Rusty Spotted Cat - Prionailurus rubiginosus phillipsi

One of the world’s smallest cat species, rusty spotted cats are living proof of the saying that good things come in small packages! Nimble, dainty and active, this cat packs a large ball of energy into a tiny bundle of fur.

HABITAT: Rusty-spotted cats are only found in India and Sri Lanka. In India they are mostly found in the south in scrub and dry grassland habitats, but in Sri Lanka they are found in humid mountain forests and around waterways and settlements.

CHARACTERISTICS:  Their rusty spotted cat has a grey coat with a reddish tinge marked with the rust coloured blotches that give this tiny cat its name. It has large and striking amber eyes and short rounded ears.

BIOLOGY: Their diet consists of small mammals, birds and frogs. One or two kittens are born after a gestation period of 67 days. Being nocturnal and shy, very little is known the rusty-spotted cat in the wild and the species may be at greater risk than originally thought.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Currently classified as Vulnerable, deforestation and hybridisation with domestic cats are the main threats facing this species.