Types of Wild Cats Around the World

As usual, South America is well-known for its rich wildlife, which is present throughout the continent. These are the two most common wild cats in South America:

Geoffroy's cat

Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) is one of the most widely distributed felids in South America. There are five subspecies, which can be found from Western Bolivia and Southern Brazil to the Patagonian wilderness at the lower tip of the continent. These cats live in scrublands and woodlands, as they like to have places to hide.

Geoffroy's cat is like a beautiful leopard in miniature form. Their size is similar to that of a large domestic cat, and they have the special ability to stand on their hind legs like prairie dogs. Luckily, this wild cat is not a threatened species.

Geoffroy's cat has adapted remarkably to its environment and is known for its nocturnal habits. They are exceptional climbers and swimmers, which aids them in hunting and evading predators.

Pampas cat

The Pampas cat (Leopardus pajeros) lives on the Pacific side of South America, from Colombia to southern Chile and the Argentinean Pampa. Their possible habitats are quite wide, and include grasslands, shrublands and steppes.

It is the size of a large domestic cat, but bigger and full-bodied. You can recognize Pampas cats because they have two stripes on each cheek. Cases of melanism are common in this species; this means they can be completely black. This species is not endangered, but it is near threatened.

In addition to their distinct cheek stripes, Pampas cats have a diverse diet that includes rodents, birds, and even insects. Their adaptability to different environments is crucial for their survival as they face habitat changes.

Jaguarandi

The jaguarandi or eyra cat (Puma yagouaroundi) is a smaller South American wild cat. It is found in Northwestern South America, Central America and as north as Texas in the United States. They live in lowlands close to water sources.

The coats of jaguarandis are of a single solid color, usually grayish or red, although they may have markings on their face. Their tail is long, sometimes more than half their body length. This species is not threatened.

Jaguarandis are unique due to their elongated bodies and short legs, which make them agile hunters. They are often active during the day, unlike many other felids, and have a wide range of vocalizations used for communication.

Asia is known for being home to very well-known big cats like the tiger (Panthera tigris) or the snow leopard (Panthera uncia). However, in Asia there are also smaller felidae, including the following wild cats.

Asiatic wildcat

The Asiatic wildcat (Felis silvestris ornata), also called Asian steppe wildcat and Indian desert cat, is a subspecies of the wildcat (Felis silvestris), the ancestor of our domestic cats. They live in a wide range of habitats, including semi-desert areas, mountains, steppes and scrub deserts from the Caspian sea to China.

Asiatic wildcats differ from domestic cats in that they are more robust, have a bigger head and have a shorter, thicker tail. They usually have a brindle coat with a brown or grey background and their belly is usually russet, while the tip of their tail is always black. It is not considered a threatened species, but the population is declining.

Despite their declining numbers, Asiatic wildcats play an important role in controlling rodent populations in their habitats. They are solitary hunters and rely on stealth and speed to capture their prey.

Chinese mountain cat

The Chinese mountain cat (Felis bieti), also called Chinese mountain cat or Chinese steppe cat, lives in western China and Tibet. Chinese mountain cats live in high lands, like steppes, shrublands and forests.

They look similar to European wildcats, but their hair is denser and sand-colored, while the belly is off-white. Although they are protected by the Chinese government, they are in a vulnerable condition. This is because they hunt pikas - a kind of rodent - that are systematically poisoned to prevent them from becoming pests, accidentally getting poisoned themselves.

These cats are rarely seen due to their secretive nature and the remote areas they inhabit. Their survival is tightly linked to the preservation of their high-altitude ecosystems.

Other interesting Asian wild cats include:

• Caucasian wildcat (Felis silvestris caucasica)
• Himalayan jungle cat (Felis chaus affinis)
• Arabian or Gordon's wildcat (Felis silvestris gordonis)
• The jungle, reed or swamp cat (Felis chaus) lives in a wide range of wetlands from the Middle East to China
• The sand or sand dune cat (Felis margarita) lives in true deserts

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is the best-known wild cat of North America. There are 13 different subspecies of bobcat that inhabit different areas of the continent, from Canada to Mexico. Bobcats prefer woodlands, but they can also be found in mountains, deserts and even swamps.

It is smaller than other lynx species, but it doubles the size of a domestic cat. Bobcats look quite similar overall to the rest of lynxes, but besides being smaller it has shorter hair and its back is much redder. Its belly has dense white hair with black specks. It is not a vulnerable or threatened species.

Bobcats are highly adaptable animals and have a varied diet that includes small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their elusive nature and keen senses make them effective hunters.

In some areas of Texas and other areas of southwestern United States, we also find the ocelot, a beautiful wild cat with a similar coat to leopards that is also found in other countries of South America.

Ocelots are known for their striking coat patterns and are primarily nocturnal, hunting at night and resting during the day. They are solitary animals, with territories that they mark and defend against intruders.

Just like Asia, Africa is known for its bigger wild cats like the leopard (Panthera pardus) and the lion (Panthera leo). However, it is home to very interesting smaller wild cats.

African wildcat

The African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), also known as Near Eastern wildcat, is smaller than the rest of wildcat subspecies. They have a shorter coat than other wildcats, and they are sandy and gray to beige in color. African wildcats can be found in diverse habitats, from savannas to forests, steppes and pre-desert areas. They inhabit the entire continent, from South Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.

Experts have concluded that this subspecies of wildcat was domesticated by the inhabitants of the Middle and Near East thousands of years ago; African wildcats are the ancestors of domestic cats. It is not a threatened animal.

African wildcats are primarily nocturnal and have acute senses that help them navigate in the dark. They are solitary hunters with a strong territorial instinct.

Black-footed cat

The black-footed or small-spotted cat (Felis nigripes) is the smallest of all African wild cats. It inhabits Southern Africa, living in dry areas like savannas and semi deserts. Unlike most other felidae, black-footed cats do not climb trees.

As the name indicates, the pads of their feet are black. They have golden or light brown fur with black or brown markings, and their tail has a black tip. The black-footed cat is a vulnerable species.

Despite their small size, black-footed cats are fierce hunters, capable of taking down prey larger than themselves. Their keen sense of hearing and acute vision make them adept at hunting in low-light conditions.

Other African wild cats include:

• Southern African wildcat (Felis silvestris cafra)
• Sand or sand dune cat (Felis margarita) lives in true deserts

The European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is larger than the largest of domestic cats. Its coat is longer and they have a thicker, short tail which is rounded at the tip. They can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, the Balkans, central Europe and the Italian peninsula.

They prefer to live in deep forests, although they also live in coniferous forests, scrubland and moors. They are under pressure in certain areas due to constant human expansion.

European wildcats are solitary animals with a primarily carnivorous diet consisting of small mammals, birds, and other available prey. Their thick fur provides insulation against the cold climates they often inhabit.

Other interesting European wild cats include:

• Caucasian wildcat (Felis silvestris caucasica)
• Cretan wildcat (Felis silvestris cretensis), in Crete, Greece
• Corsican wildcat (Felis silvestris reyi), in Corsica, Italy
• Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia)

Australian wild cats are simply feral domestic cats. Over the decades, the descendants of these cats have spread throughout Australia. They still have the characteristic features of domestic cats, but have developed to a much bigger size.

The only truly Australian "cat" is called spotted-tailed dasyure or tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), but it has nothing to do with felines; it is actually a marsupial. At the moment their conservation is not threatened, but there is concern about it.

Feral cats in Australia have become a significant ecological problem as they predate on native wildlife, causing declines in local species populations. Conservation efforts are focused on mitigating their impact on the environment.

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