Wildlifeof Vietnam
Jungle Cat
Cats
Photo: Harshad Sharma · CC BY 4.0
Felis chaus
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Diet
Rodents, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards, small snakes, insects and bird eggs
Habitat
Wetlands, swamps, riverbanks and dense vegetation, also scrub and grassland
Litter size
3-4 kittens
Gestation period
63-68 days
Size
58-76cm body, 21-27cm tail
Weight
5-9kg
The jungle cat, also called reed cat and swamp cat, is a medium-sized cat native from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus to parts of Central, South and Southeast Asia. It is closely related to the domestic cat, with tufted ears, long limbs and a short tail. Its coat is sandy brown, reddish or grey, with light stripes on the legs and throat. Adults measure 58 to 76 cm in body length with a 21 to 27 cm tail and weigh 5 to 9 kg (Wikipedia, general species account; Cat Specialist Group).
It inhabits foremost wetlands such as swamps, littoral and riparian areas with dense vegetation. Its main prey is rodents, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards and small snakes. Gestation is 63 to 68 days, with three to four kittens. It is most active around midnight but is also seen by day, and is mainly threatened by destruction of wetlands and trapping.
Quick answers
- What does the Jungle Cat eat?
- Rodents, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards, small snakes, insects and bird eggs
- What habitat does the Jungle Cat live in?
- Wetlands, swamps, riverbanks and dense vegetation, also scrub and grassland
- What is the litter size of the Jungle Cat?
- 3-4 kittens
- How long is the gestation period of the Jungle Cat?
- 63-68 days
- How big is the Jungle Cat?
- 58-76cm body, 21-27cm tail
- How much does the Jungle Cat weigh?
- 5-9kg