Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Jungle Cat
Cats
Photo: Harshad Sharma · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Felis chaus
Basic stats
Diet
Rodents, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards, small snakes, insects and bird eggs
Habitat
Scrub, grassland, wetlands and dense vegetation; in Sri Lanka open and scrub forest, grassland, paddy fields and home gardens
Litter size
3-4 kittens
Gestation period
63-68 days
Size
58-76cm body, 21-27cm tail
Weight
5-9kg
The jungle cat 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. Its main prey is rodents, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards and small snakes (Cat Specialist Group).
In Sri Lanka the jungle cat prefers the drier parts of the island. A citizen-science effort collected 112 records in 2016 to 2019, against 21 in the 2012 National Red List, mostly from the dry regions, in open and scrub forest, grassland, paddy fields and home gardens (Miththapala 2022). It is most active around midnight but is also seen by day. Eight of the 112 records were road kills. Habitat destruction is the main threat. Nationally Near Threatened (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
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?
- Scrub, grassland, wetlands and dense vegetation; in Sri Lanka open and scrub forest, grassland, paddy fields and home gardens
- 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