December 2018: Rusty-Spotted Cat

	Scientific Name	Prionailurus rubiginosus
	Alternate Name	Kitten (Young), Rusty Spotted Cat
	Collective Name	Litter (Young)

Near Threatened

Nocturnal

Solitary

Omnivore

Asia

Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Desert, Artifical/Terrestrial

						35-48 cm.	13-20 in.
			1-2 kg.	2-3.74 lb.		17-18 yr.	4 yr. (Generation)
Fore	Hind

The rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is the smallest feline in the world at about half the size of a domestic cat. This feline can only be found in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and mostly resides in dry, deciduous forests. With large eyes adapted to its nocturnal lifestyle, it hunts for small mammals, especially birds and rodents. Though mostly carnivorous, this feline is an opportunistic omnivore and will feast on fruits, grains, and vegetables, as well. Not much is known about the rusty-spotted cat and almost all information collected on this species has come from observation of captive individuals. This lack of knowledge may be harming the conservation efforts of the small cat as deforestation and habitat loss continue to threaten the species. The rusty-spotted cat is listed as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

FaunaFacts | Free-For-All

MEDIA

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Tambako the Jaguar (Emmanuel Keller)

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Tambako the Jaguar (Emmanuel Keller)

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Tambako the Jaguar (Emmanuel Keller)

David Raju

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard

Alma Leaper, Lead Photographer – The Big Cat Sanctuary

Tambako the Jaguar (Emmanuel Keller)

REFERENCES

• Anwar, M., Kumar, H., & Vattakavan, J. (2010, January). Range extension of rusty-spotted cat to the Indian Terai. Cat News, 53, 25-27.
• Athreya, V. (2010). Rusty-spotted cat more common than we think?. Cat News, 53, 27.
• Basak, K., Ahmed, M., Suraj, M., Sinha, C., Reddy, B. V., Yadav, O. P., & Mondal, K. (2018). First picture and temporal activity of rusty-spotted cat from Chhattisgarh, Central India. Cat News, 67, 27-28. Supporting Online Material.
• Behera, S. & Borah, J. (2010). Mammal mortality due to road vehicles in Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh, India. Mammalia, 74, 4, 427-430.
• Cat Specialist Group. Rusty-spotted cat. Species Survival Commission: Cat Specialist Group.
• Dmoch, R. (1997). Husbandry, breeding and population development of the Sri Lankan rusty-spotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus phillipsi. International Zoo Yearbook, 35, 115-120.
• Gavali, D., Lakhmapurkar, J., & Vyas, V. (2008). A threat to small mammals in central Gujarat. Cat News, 48, 11-12.
• Ghaskadbi, P., Habib, B., Mir, Z., Ray, R., Talukdar, G., Lyngdoh, S., Pandav, B., Nigam, P., & Kaur, A. (2016, April). Rusty-spotted cat in Kalesar National Park and Sanctuary, Haryana, India. Cat News, 63, 28-29.
• Kumara, H. & Singh M. (2005). Occurrence of the rustyspotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (Geoffroy) in Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 102(3), 336-337.
  • (2007). Small carnivores of Karnataka: Distribution and sight records. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 104(2), 153-160.
• Lamichhane, B. R., Kadariya, R., Subedi, N., Dhakal, B. K., Dhakal, M., Thapa, K., & Acharya, K. (2016, November). Rusty-spotted cat: 12th cat species discovered in Western Terai of Nepal. Cat News, 64, 30-33.
• Manakadan, R. & Sivakumar, S. (2005). Occurrence of the rustyspotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (Geoffroy) in Sriharikota, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 102(3), 336.
• Miles, D. (2013). “Prionailurus rubiginosus“. Animal Diversity Web.
• Mukherjee, S., Duckworth, J. W., Silva, A., Appel, A. & Kittle, A. (2016). Prionailurus rubiginosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T18149A50662471.
• Patel, K. (2006). Observations of rusty-spotted cat in eastern Gujarat, India. Cat News, 45, 27-28.
  • (2010). New distribution record data for rusty-spotted cat from Central India. Cat News, 53: 26-27.
• Pillay, R. (2008). Sighting of a rusty-spotted cat in the Varushanad Valley, India. Cat News, 49, 26-27.
• Sabapara, R. (1999). Multiple infection in a rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus). Zoos’ Print Journal, 14(7), 67.
• Schmidt, K., Nakanishi, N., Okamura, M., Doi, T., & Izawa, M. (2003). Movements and use of home range in the Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis). Journal of Zoology (London), 261(3), 273-283.
• Sunquist, M. & Sunquist, F. (2002). Wild Cats of the World. China: University of Chicago Press.
• Vyas, V., Lakhmapurkar, J., & Gavali, D. (2007). Sighting of rusty spotted cat from new localities in central Gujarat. Cat News, 46, 18.
• Vyas, R. & Upadhyay, K. (2014, December). Sightings and distribution of rusty-spotted cat in Gujarat State, India. Cat News, 61, 26-29.