[Animals] Size doesn't matter: How tall is the world's smallest wild cat?

[FNX Magokiler]

The rusty cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is the smallest member of the Felidae family that exists. Native to India and Sri Lanka, this tiny animal, 35 to 40 centimeters long and weighing approximately 1.6 kilos, competes in size only with the black-footed cat for the title of the smallest felid in the world.

Its short, light gray hair with reddish tints has small rust-colored spots, a characteristic that gives it its common name. In Sri Lanka they are dispersed in tropical forests, while in India they are located in dry grasslands, mountains and open forests.

Their diet is mainly based on rodents, birds, lizards, frogs and insects. It is an avid hunter and is capable of capturing its prey both on the ground and in the trees, where it is common to see them while they escape from their predators.

The rusty cat's small, cute appearance hides a ferocious nature, as it is capable of quick, precise movements to effectively hunt prey up to three times its size.

Curiosities of the smallest wild cat in the world

 

 

Its elusive nature and small size make it difficult to obtain data on wild specimens, however, certain patterns are known thanks to the observation and study of members in captivity.
The mating season is short-lived and the mating period is short, although it can be repeated several times in the same day. It is believed that the brevity is the result of an adaptation to avoid their predators, since they are extremely vulnerable during this period.
Females prepare a small den in a secluded place to give birth to one or two cats per litter. The gestation period lasts 65 to 70 days and newborn puppies weigh approximately 60 to 77 grams.
Rusty cats spray urine wherever they pass to mark their territory and warn other members of their species of their presence.
They reach sexual maturity at 68 weeks, at which time they fully develop their distinctive rust-colored spotted pattern.
Their lifespan in the wild is unknown, but there are records of members in captivity living up to 12 years.

 

https://www.infobae.com/mascotas/2023/12/27/el-tamano-no-importa-cuanto-mide-el-gato-salvaje-mas-pequeno-del-mundo/