Small wild cats. Breeds of wild cats: overview, features, types and interesting facts

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Everyone loves cats. Or almost everything.

We are in the editorial website we simply adore these graceful and majestic creatures that truly adorn our planet. Today we invite you to get acquainted with rare cats, many of which we have not even heard of. Until this day.

1. Black-footed cat

One of the smallest felines, the black-footed cat is native to southern Africa. Its weight rarely exceeds 2.5 kg, and its length, including the tail, is 50 cm. The lifestyle and habits of these cats are poorly understood, but it is known that they choose abandoned termite mounds and porcupine burrows as their home.

2. Fishing cat

Unlike most members of the family, the angler cat swims and catches fish very well. Their paws are also not like everyone else's - fishermen have membranes between their fingers, which help them swim well, but do not allow them to retract their claws. Although their body size is not so large - the length of the male rarely exceeds 1.2 m, these cats have gained a reputation as fighters: once a cat kept in one of the zoos broke out of the cage and killed the leopard.

3. Pyrenean lynx

The Iberian lynx is one of the rarest felines whose existence is threatened. Once these big cats inhabited all of Portugal and Spain, but today their habitat is practically limited to the Coto Doñana National Park. Despite the name, it is distantly related to the common lynx and is 2 times smaller in size.

4. Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi is one of the few felines that are diurnal. Jaguarundis live in Central and South America, but it is quite difficult to see them in the wild, which is why the animals are little studied. Scientists do not even have data on their life expectancy - it is only known that in captivity they live up to 15 years.

5. Chilean cat

The Chilean cat, which lives in the southern region of South America, spends most of its life in the dense canopy of trees, from where it tracks down its prey. Among the locals, the Chilean cat is considered a real vampire because of the two punctures from the fangs that she leaves on pets, which she fails to kill.

6. Long-tailed cat

A neighbor of the Chilean cat in South America, the long-tailed cat also spends most of its life in the crowns of trees. These cats have an amazing feature: they can jump from branch to branch and climb down from the tree head down - just like squirrels do. In addition, her hind legs are so strong that she can hang upside down on them for quite a long time.

7. Rusty cat

The rusty cat is one of the smallest representatives of the cat, whose weight reaches no more than 1.5 kg. These babies, whose population does not exceed 10 thousand individuals, live only in Ceylon and India, and if the "island" cats live in the humid jungle, then the "continental" ones live in arid open places. The meowing of these cats is very similar to the meowing of domestic ones, and it is quite easy to tame them.

8 Clouded Leopard

If the length of an ordinary leopard, excluding the tail, can reach 190 cm, then the smoky ones grow no more than 1 m. It is believed that this particular cat became the progenitor of all large modern cats, but its habits are in many ways similar to the behavior of domestic cats. A significant part of the time clouded leopards spend on trees, in addition, females use hollows as "maternity hospitals".

9. Oncilla

A miniature copy of the jaguar, the oncilla is one of the least studied species among cats. Little is known about their way of life - despite the fact that they are found in Brazil, Argentina and several other countries, it is difficult to see them in their natural habitat, because their color allows them to hide perfectly in the crowns of trees.

10. Dune cat

In addition to Central Asia, dune cats live in one of the most extreme places on our planet - in the arid Sahara Desert. These cats are the smallest representatives of wild cats, whose length is no more than 90 cm, of which almost half falls on the tail. Sand cats can live for a long time without water, getting its supplies from food.

11. Forest cat

Despite the significant difference in appearance, the forest cat is the closest relative of the dune cat. But in color they resemble ordinary striped domestic cats, and this is not surprising, because it was wild cats that 10 thousand years ago nailed to humans and became the ancestors of our pets. However, modern wild cats do not at all strive for closeness to humans and try to stay away from him.

12. Geoffroy's cat

The size of the Geoffroy cat, which lives in the southern part of the South American continent, is the same as that of an ordinary domestic cat, moreover, they are quite capable of interbreeding. However, unlike domestic cats, Geoffroy's cats can swim and can eat "hand-caught" fish. In addition, they are able to store food by arranging storage in the foliage of trees.

The variegated cat family, numbering 37 species, is divided into two groups according to size: large and small. The classification is based not on the height of the animal at the withers, but on the features of its anatomical structure. Therefore, biologists include both representatives of the subfamily of large and small cats to the largest wild cats.

10.

Of all the cats that inhabit European forests, the largest is the common lynx. The body weight of the male is about 29 kg, females are 4-6 kg lighter. The length of the body does not exceed 130 cm. Mammals live in Russia, Central Asia, Central and Northern Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, the extermination of predators led to the threat of their extinction. Today, lynx fishing is prohibited everywhere.

An animal with tassled ears and a short tail seems cute and harmless. But under a spotted thick coat hides a skillful and cunning hunter, able to smell prey at a distance of 2 km. Hares, foxes, birds, rodents and small ungulates such as roe deer and musk deer become its victims. The lynx never attacks people. Even an adult caught by a man is easily tamed and becomes a pet.

9. Snow Leopard

To date, the number of snow leopards is unknown. Irbis, living far from people, is the most poorly studied representative of the feline tribe. The muscular wild cat is found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia and Southern Siberia at an altitude of 1.5–5 thousand meters above sea level. Short thick paws, equipped with wide pads, are adapted for walking on loose snow, and the ability to make 8-meter jumps helps to overcome deep crevices.

The four-legged inhabitant of the mountain peaks resembles a leopard in posture and size. The growth of the male reaches 65 cm, weight - 55 kg. Fluffy gray-beige fur reliably protects from the cold and camouflages in snow-covered gorges. A distinctive feature of the exterior is a meter thick tail, which the snow leopard uses as a rudder when running and jumping.

8.

Despite the height at the withers, reaching 92 cm, and a weight of 65 kg, zoologists classify the cheetah as a subfamily of small cats. This is due to the peculiarities of the skeleton - the mammal has long thin limbs, a compact skull and an extremely flexible spine. This structure allows the animal to reach speeds of up to 120 km / h. In hunting, it is also assisted by a long tail, which serves as a balancer and helps to quickly change direction.

In appearance, the sprinter of the world of fauna resembles an elegant dog of the Russian Greyhound breed. Like dogs, giant cats do not retract their claws, cannot climb trees, do not ambush hunt, and are not inclined to eat carrion. The sounds they make are reminiscent of jerky yapping. Unlike most relatives, cheetahs quickly get used to humans. In Iran, India and Kievan Rus, tamed animals often helped people hunt.

7. Leopard

Muscular elongated body, strong legs and excellent eyesight make the leopard an ideal killer. Pursuing prey, a powerful flexible cat accelerates to 58 km / h and makes jumps 7 m long. With a body weight of up to 66 kg, it is able to kill a victim 3 times its mass. The hunter always raises the desired trophy on a tree for a subsequent meal.

The size of the predator directly depends on the geographical features of the range. So, the four-legged inhabitants of open spaces grow up to 75 cm, the inhabitants of forests - up to 67 cm. Decorated with a spotted pattern, short thick hair fits snugly to the body. The belly and the inside of the legs are light yellow, the rest of the body has a golden brown hue. Individuals with black color are called panthers.

6.

This representative of the cat family is the champion in the number of names. Residents of different countries know the cougar as a Mexican lion, panther, mountain screamer, red tiger, cougar ... In total, there are 83 definitions of an animal whose beauty and grace are combined with ruthlessness and composure.

The cougar's habitat is the forests and mountainous regions of America. The silhouette of the predator resembles a small lioness. The growth of the golden beauty is 60–85 cm, weight is about 90 kg. A distinctive feature of the character of the cougar is patience. Waiting for the prey, she sits in ambush for a long time, betraying her presence in no way. Once in a trap, the mammal calmly tries to get out of the grip. In case of failure, he falls into melancholy and motionlessly awaits a fatal outcome.

5.

The golden skin of this massive predator, whose height at the withers varies from 69 to 79 cm, and weight - from 68 to 135 kg, is painted with bright patterns - black spots and rings. The intricate coloring helps to perfectly camouflage among shrubs and trees. In the pursuit of prey, the jaguar has no equal. The hardy mammal travels tens of kilometers every day, it swims beautifully and runs fast. The hunter kills with one jump - a powerful paw strike can break the victim's spine.

The range of jaguars is Central and South America. The Olmec Indians, who inhabited these lands in the 2nd century BC. e., believed that people and huge spotted cats have common ancestors. Today, the graceful animal, once revered by man, is endangered and listed in the Red Book.

4. Leo

On the planet it is impossible to meet two absolutely identical lions. The features of the "face" of each animal are unique and are inherent in only one individual. The body length of the royal persons of the world of fauna is 1.7–2.5 m, height - up to 1.2 m, weight - 160–280 kg. The largest specimen lived in South Africa and weighed 313 kg.

In hunting, the lion is helped by 7-centimeter claws and vision, the sharpness of which is 6 times higher than that of a human. Running is not the strongest side of the predator. At short distances, the giant cat accelerates to 60 km / h, but after 200 m it gets tired and stops chasing prey. The lack of stamina causes the animal to approach the victim as close as possible and, in a swift jump, inflict a mortal blow. Lionesses are lighter and faster than males, and therefore, more successful in fishing.

3.

On the territory of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, the royal representative of the panther genus, the Bengal tiger, lives. In Russia, its population is 5 individuals. The predatory mammal is one of the largest cats in the world. The growth of a tropical forest dweller reaches 115 cm, weight - 275 kg. An intimidating roar is heard at a distance of 3 km. Deadly fangs grow up to 10 cm. The record weight of a male killed in an Indian forest in 1967 was 388.7 kg.

Among the Bengal tigers, there are amazing creatures whose snow-white coat is covered with brown stripes. All white individuals have one ancestor - the male Mohan, who was born in 1951 as a result of a gene mutation.

2.

The largest wild cat found in its natural habitat lives on the territory of Russia, in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories and the mountainous regions of Sikhote-Alin. Outside the Russian Federation, the beast is found only in the northeast of China.

The smallest representative of the tiger brotherhood has the following characteristics:

• body length -1.7–2.8 m, tail - 1.1 m;
• height at the withers - 110–120 cm;
• weight - 167–280 kg;
• fangs length - 8 cm.

Like all cats (except lions), Amur tigers lead a solitary life, protecting their territory from competitors. The animal hunts alone. He is an absolute predator - a huge hungry cat can even attack a bear.

Now the number of animals does not exceed 800 individuals, half of which are kept in zoos. The endangered species is listed in the Red Book, its extermination is prosecuted by law. In China, killing a striped beast is punishable by death.

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The result of the love of Isla the tigress and Arthur the lion, who shared a common enclosure at the American theme park Jungle Island, was a kitten, who was later destined to lead the ranking of the largest cats on the planet. Having reached maturity, the liger Hercules surpassed the size of its parents. His height is 186 cm, weight - 410 kg. Standing on its hind legs, the giant reaches the roof of a double-decker bus. The gaping mouth is not inferior in width to the shoulder girdle of an adult male.

Hercules is not the only representative of the hybrid genus. In 1973, the Guinness Book of Records added an entry about a giant weighing 798 kg from a South African natural park. In 2004, a female was born in the Novosibirsk Zoo - the result of crossing an African lion and a Bengal tigress. Under natural conditions, it is impossible to meet a liger - tigers and lions have different habitats.

The cat family is divided into 2 subfamilies (large and small cats), which, in turn, are divided into genera and species. In total, there are 14 genera and 35-38 species in the family. The division into subfamilies of large and small cats occurs not by size, but by morphological features, in particular, by the structure of the hyoid bone. Because of this, large cats such as puma and cheetah do not belong to big cats.

8 species of the cat family live in Russia: leopard, tiger, snow leopard, common lynx, jungle cat, Far Eastern cat (a subspecies of the Bengal cat), manul and two subspecies of the European forest cat (Felis silvestris silvestris and Felis silvestris lybica). Wild cats are common on all continents and large islands, except for Australia, Antarctica, the islands of New Guinea, Sulawesi, Greenland and Madagascar. In Europe and North America, by now, most species of the cat family have been exterminated. Many species of the cat family are threatened with extinction. All types of wild cats are listed in the International Red Book.

a lion- one of the largest predators, only the tiger competes with it. The lion is very strong. With a paw strike, he knocks down a heavy zebra or buffalo, and at the same time, his flexible body easily soars to a three-meter height - a lion is capable of huge jumps, sometimes up to ten meters.

The length of the lion is on average up to three meters, the weight is about two hundred kilograms, the lionesses are smaller, more graceful, slimmer. Unlike other cats in a lion pair, it is easy to distinguish a male from a female.

Lions inhabit mainly savannahs. Unlike other felines, they tend not to live alone, in prides. A pride usually consists of related females, their offspring and 1-2 adult males. Lion cubs are born small, about 30 cm long. Only by the age of two do they become completely independent and able to feed themselves. The leader, as a rule, expels the matured young lions from the pride and can live alone or in pairs for some time. Lionesses and older males can also lead a solitary life, for one reason or another, having fought off the pride.

Lions prey mainly on large ungulates such as wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes and warthogs. They can attack elephants and hippos, as well as other predators - leopards, cheetahs, hyena dogs. Lions hunt in a group, and males, as a rule, almost do not participate in hunting.

The lioness is a self-possessed and patient huntress, waiting for her prey for hours not far from the watering hole. In one jump, a predatory cat is on the back of an unlucky animal. Well, then it's a matter of technology - sharp claws and fangs are used.

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Since the time of Ancient Egypt, the lion has been a symbol of power; its image has adorned the coats of arms and banners of ancient Roman and European rulers. The highest praise for the noble knights was a comparison with a lion, and Richard the Lionheart became the embodiment of the best qualities of medieval chivalry.

The white lion, like the white tiger, has long been considered a mythological creature. Only at the end of the 20th century did scientists manage to see white lions and observe them in African national parks.

Back in the Middle Ages, lions inhabited the entire territory of Africa, except for the Sahara and tropical forests, India, the Middle East, Iran, and southern Europe. In particular, lions could be found in the south of Russia and in Greece. In Europe, lions disappeared in the early Middle Ages. By the end of the 19th century, the lion was exterminated in Turkey and Northern India, by the middle of the 20th century. - in Iran. Now in Africa, the lion lives only south of the Sahara, the range looks like scattered islands. In 2002-2004, the number of African lions was estimated at 16-47 thousand individuals. The Asiatic lion survived only in the Gir forest in the Indian state of Gujarat (about 320 individuals).

Tigers- the largest and most powerful wild cats. Of these, the Amur and Bengal tigers are endowed with a particularly powerful article. The strength of the tiger is incredible - with a paw strike, he knocks down a buffalo or antelope, but he can also fight with an elephant. Cases are described when tigers defeated large male elephants with huge fighting tusks.

Tigers are very hardy and mobile. They are able to travel great distances and develop high speed. In a short distance, a tiger can show results up to 70 km / h. And in the long jump, he has few equals - almost 10 meters with almost no run-up.

The tiger is always recognizable. In the vast majority of animals, the skin has characteristic black stripes on a reddish-red or yellow-rusty background. But in the same litter, along with cubs of the usual color, a white or golden-pink tiger cub can be born. The coat of a tiger living in northern latitudes is noticeably longer and lighter than that of its southern counterpart. A rich orange color with a clear pattern is good in the variegation of tropical vegetation, and in the snowy taiga, other equipment is needed.

13.

Hunting for tigers has been completely banned since the middle of the last century, but poachers continue their dirty work. In oriental medicine, the organs and body parts of this magnificent beast are still used for medicinal purposes, and the skin is used for souvenirs.

14.

White tigers are not albinos because their eyes are blue instead of red, and their fur is not radically white, but with clearly defined stripes of dark gray or light brown. White color interferes with hunting, because. too noticeable, so white tigers rarely survive in nature. For zoos and circuses, they are specially bred by crossing the descendants of a white tiger caught in India in the last century.

16. Golden Tiger (Siky Ranch Zoo)

Jaguar lives in the territory from Mexico to Argentina. In terms of strength and power, the jaguar ranks third, after the lion and tiger, in the cat family. In the United States, the jaguar was almost exterminated by the beginning of the 20th century. The jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas (tigers and lions are not found in America).

Jaguars are sometimes confused with cheetahs and leopards. In cheetahs, spots on the body do not form rosettes, the cheetah is thinner and slimmer than the leopard. The physique and color of the jaguar is very similar to the leopard, but the jaguar is larger and the rosettes on its skin have a dark spot in the middle.

Jaguars come out to hunt at dusk, before sunrise or after sunset. Everything that moves, a variety of small and large animals, becomes their prey. Few people manage to escape from its powerful paws and deadly teeth. The jaguar preys mainly on ungulates, but can also eat rodents, birds, monkeys, foxes, snakes, and turtles.

The jaguar doesn't care where he lives. And impenetrable thickets, and steppes, and the sea coast - everywhere he feels great. An agile cat moves equally well on the ground, climbs trees, and swims well. It is impossible to hide from such an enemy.

Leopard amazingly handsome. A slender body, harmonious proportions, and most importantly - magnificent golden fur, covered with an original pattern of dark spots, rings and rosettes. Fine fur became the reason for the merciless hunting of animals.

The area of ​​​​the range of the leopard is larger than the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe range of any other member of the cat family. The leopard lives in forests, steppes and mountains throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. There are relatively many leopards in Africa and hunting for them is allowed. In Asia, this species is threatened with extinction. In Russia, the leopard is found in the Primorsky Territory, is listed in the Red Book.

The leopard feeds mainly on ungulates: antelopes, deer, roe deer, it can also eat rodents, monkeys, birds. The leopard climbs trees well, in the heat it often sleeps on branches. He often drags the carcasses of dead ungulates into trees to protect them from hyenas and jackals.

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Black Panther- this is not a separate species of wild cats, but a leopard or less often a jaguar, in which melanism takes place - a hereditary change, as a result of which the coat has acquired a dark color.

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clouded leopard- not the result of a mutation of an ordinary leopard, which it looks a bit like, but another species of the cat family. The size of a sheepdog lives in the rainforests of Southeast Asia and Indonesia.

Clouded leopards are excellent tree climbers. The structure of the hind legs allows them to descend from the trees upside down. Among cats, except for smoky leopards, only long-tailed cats have this ability. Like long-tailed cats, clouded leopards can hang upside down from a tree, holding only their hind legs. They feed on deer, monkeys, porcupines and birds. They track down their prey, hiding in the branches of trees, and, seizing the moment, suddenly rush at their prey from above.

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The fangs in relation to the body size of the clouded leopard are the longest among all cats and can reach 5 cm, like a tiger.

Kalimantan clouded leopard previously considered a subspecies of the clouded leopard, however, DNA studies conducted in 2006-2008 showed that these are two different species. The Kalimantan clouded leopard, like its close relative, the clouded leopard, is the smallest species among the big cats.

The Kalimantan clouded leopard lives on the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra. On the island of Kalimantan, where there are no other large predators, it is more common. In general, this is a rare and little studied species.

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puma, she is a mountain lion, she is a deer tiger, she is a cougar - many more names are given to this magnificent cat, a resident of the New World. Beauty and grace are combined in it with composure, prudence and ruthlessness.

Puma is a loner in the cat family. One hunts, one brings up cubs. Lives away from people, in wild places with impenetrable forest thickets, moss-covered rocks and caves.

The color of the puma varies depending on the habitat. The inhabitants of tropical regions have a reddish-sand-colored fur, while the northerners have gray tones. A special sign is white wool on the muzzle, as if the cat had just lapped milk.

The war that the farmers have declared on the cougar is caused by its devastating attacks on livestock. Once in the corral, the cougar kills many more animals than it eats, leaving behind a mountain of corpses.

The cougar kitten does not look like a mother at all, except for a white muzzle. The cubs are born spotted, but as they grow up, they become monochromatic.

Cheetah stands apart in the cat family, differing from the rest in body structure and behavior. But scientists have proven its close relationship with the North American cougar, with which he had a common ancestor who lived three million years ago.

The cheetah's body is built to run. A lean body, long legs, a flexible arched back, a small head with high-set small ears are ideal data for rushing after prey like a bullet.

Cheetahs, unlike lions, hunt during daylight hours or early dusk. Thanks to their excellent eyesight, they see the desired target from afar - an antelope, a gazelle or a hare. The cheetah first cautiously sneaks up on the victim, and then makes a swift throw. The cheetah does not continue the high-speed run for long, no more than twenty seconds. The heart and lungs of a fleet-footed animal do not have time to fill the blood with oxygen, and if during this time the prey is not overtaken, the chase stops.

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Cheetahs that have grown up among people become completely tame. In past centuries, hunting with cheetahs was common. They were led on a leash, and some of the animals sat on a horse behind the owner.

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Irbis- second name snow leopard, it is no less beautiful than the first. Irbis live high in the mountains, prey on roe deer, mountain goats and other large ungulates. But they do not disdain a hare or other trifle that gets in the way.

In nature, nothing is in vain. It would seem that the snow leopard does not need a long fluffy tail. But in severe frosts, the mother, like a warm blanket, covers little kittens sleeping next to her with her tail.

Snow leopards live up to their name. Their favorite entertainment is to wallow in a deep snowdrift or slide down an ice slide on their backs, having time to roll over at the last moment to fall on all fours, as a cat should.

Serval, or otherwise - bush cat - belongs to a large cat family. Servals are found on only one continent - they are common in Africa, except for the Sahara desert, the extreme south of Africa and equatorial forests.

There are 14 types of servals, they differ in geography of residence and skin color. In Algeria, Morocco, these animals are extremely rare in our time. Most bush cats live in Tanzania, the Ngoro-Ngoro crater, there are about 40 individuals per 100 square meters. kilometers.

The closest relatives of the serval (taking into account the peculiarities of morphology) are caracal and lynx, but in color it most of all resembles a cheetah. Of all the cats, the serval has the longest legs and the largest ears - when compared with the size of the whole body, but the head is very small.

The length of the body of a bush cat reaches 90-135 centimeters, the height at the withers is up to 65 centimeters, it weighs an average of 8 to 18 kilograms. The main color is yellowish-gray, dark spots and stripes are scattered on it. But, although the serval's legs are long and strong, it cannot pursue its prey for a long time. His hunting tactics are similar to those of a croak - he sneaks up on prey in the grass, focusing on hearing, and can make high jumps up to three meters, knocking down birds on takeoff.

Thanks to their large ears and excellent hearing, it is easy for them to track down their prey at dusk, and their long legs facilitate movement in the grass of the savannah. Servals are loners, rarely conflict with each other. If they are in danger, they hide or flee, suddenly changing direction or jumping out of the grass, in extreme cases they are saved in trees.

If the snow leopard is the highest mountain cat, then the usual lynx- the northernmost. She normally feels in the winter taiga at temperatures below 50 degrees. Wonderful thick, long and warm fur, which no other cat has, saves her from any frost.

The trademark of the lynx is the tassels on the ears formed by long hairs. Thanks to the brushes, it is easily recognizable among other wild cats. Like all its relatives, the lynx sees in the dark and climbs trees very well, the branches of which serve as shelter during the hunt.

Despite the relationship, the lynx and the domestic cat have many differences. Cats cannot walk in the snow - they fall through. The lynx, thanks to its wide paws with thick hair, runs through the snowdrifts like on skis.

Eurasian lynx- the largest of all lynxes. The length of her body is 80-130 cm, the height at the withers is 70 cm. Males weigh 18-30 kg, females average 18 kg. 90% of Eurasian lynxes live in the Siberian taiga. This type of lynx can also be found in Central and East Asia (China, Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Asian republics of the CIS).

The range of the Eurasian lynx extends far to the north, lynxes live even beyond the Arctic Circle. Other species of the cat family prefer warmer climates.

Canadian or North American lynx outwardly it is very similar to the Eurasian one, only lives in the North American taiga and is half the size of the Eurasian one: its body length is 80-100 cm, height at the withers is 60-65 cm; weight 8-14 kg. The color is grayish-brown, the tips of the hairs are white. In summer, the coat fades under the sun and acquires a reddish tint.

57.

Pyrenean lynx(Iberian lynx, pardovy lynx, Spanish lynx) is half the size of the Eurasian lynx and is unusually similar to it, previously considered its subspecies. The color of the Pyrenean lynx is more contrasting: clear dark spots are located on a light sandy background. The coat is shorter and not as thick - this type of lynx lives south of the rest.

Due to its relatively small size, the Iberian lynx hunts mainly for small game - hares and rodents. The Iberian lynx once inhabited the entire Iberian Peninsula. Now it is found only in the south-west of Spain, mainly in the Coto Doñana National Park.

Bobcat or red lynx- a species of lynx that since ancient times has developed on the American continent in parallel with our usual European lynx. The red lynx is the smallest of the four lynx species. The length of her body is 60-90 cm, the height at the withers is 30-50 cm, and the weight is 7-18 kg. The color is reddish, with small dark spots. On the inside of the tip of the tail there is a white mark, while in other lynxes the tip is completely black.

The color and size of the bobcat varies depending on the habitat. The red lynx lives throughout North America. Her fur is not as thick and warm as that of the European lynx, the brushes are shorter and she herself is smaller. But the habits and habits are the same as those of a European relative.

The red lynx climbs trees well and swims well, but still tries to avoid water. The main prey is the American rabbit; as well as mice, rats, ground squirrels and porcupines, sometimes birds, including chickens. A hungry red lynx can also attack a white-tailed deer.

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The red lynx is found in the extreme south of Canada, throughout the United States and as far south as central Mexico. Unlike other lynxes, the red lynx lives not only in forests, but also in the swampy lowlands of Florida and in the arid desert regions of Texas.

Caracal, or steppe lynx- a separate genus of wild cats, as determined by geneticists. He has an outward resemblance to a lynx, but the color of the caracal looks like a cougar. It has all the abilities of a cat and an extraordinary speed of reaction - it manages to grab a flying bird with sharp claws in a jump.

Caracal lives in the savannas, deserts and foothills of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Asia Minor and Central Asia. In Africa, especially South Africa, there are many caracals. On the territory of the CIS, caracal is occasionally found in the deserts of southern Turkmenistan, along the coast of the Caspian Sea, in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan.

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The main prey of the caracal are rodents (gerbils, jerboas, ground squirrels), hares, small antelopes, in Turkmenistan - gazelles. Like a leopard, the caracal drags the killed prey up the trees to protect it from other predators.

Caracals are easily tamed. In India and Persia, hand caracals were used to hunt hares, pheasants, peacocks and small antelopes.

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Asian golden cat, or the Temminka cat, in comparison with other members of the cat family, has an average size: body length 90 cm, tail 50 cm. Thus, it is about twice as large as an ordinary domestic cat. The color is usually golden, but there are gray and black individuals. Spots on the coat, depending on the region, may be more or less noticeable. The cat lives in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. The habitat stretches from the Himalayas and southern China to the Indochina Peninsula and about. Sumatra. Temmink cats prey on mice, hares, deer and birds.

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In China, Temminka cat meat is considered a delicacy, and the bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine. In Thailand, there are many legends around the Temminka cat. It is believed that burning the fur of Temminka's cat drives away tigers from the surroundings, and carrying at least one hair from her wool, according to local signs, protects against tiger attacks.

On the American continent, there are several varieties of small wild cats that are very similar to each other. Margay looks like an oncilla, which looks like Geoffroy's cat, and together they look like ocelot. An ocelot is about twice the size of a domestic cat.

The ocelot is found in Central America and northern and central parts of South America. The northernmost region where ocelots live is in the US state of Texas. Ocelot lives in tropical forests, he avoids open spaces.

Ocelots are excellent tree climbers, during the heat of the day they like to hide in hollows, but prefer to hunt on the ground. Ocelots eat small mammals and birds, but do not disdain snakes.

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In the 20th century Ocelots were hunted because of their beautiful skin, as a result, the ocelot has become an extremely rare animal. In 1972-1996 the hunting of the ocelot, as well as the sale of any products made from ocelots, were banned. Due to this, it was possible to slightly increase the number of this species.

Agile and active margai lives in the tropical forest thickets of South America. The tree forest cat hunts at night, its prey is everything with whom it can cope - birds, lizards, monkeys and other small animals. Belongs to the genus Leopardus, whose representatives live only on the American continent.

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Margai, like a squirrel, jumps along branches, and can descend from a tree upside down due to the special structure of its hind legs. They can turn around in the joint, due to which the cat clings to the trunk with its claws and does not slip.

And these are portraits of smaller fellow wild cats))

(more details about them - http://site/index-1358909265.php)

71. Geoffrey's cat.

72. Oncilla

73. Asian cat-fisherman.

74. African wild cat.

75. British wild cat.

76. Andean cat.

77. Pampas cat.

78. Norwegian forest cat.

79. Manul.

80. Dune (sandy) cat.

81. Black-footed cat.

82. Reed cat.

83. European forest cat.

Keeping a wild cat at home is very difficult. Tigers, lions, jaguars look harmless and cute as babies, but they grow up and become dangerous for their owners. Of course, if you are a circus trainer or an Arab sheikh, then in the first case you will have enough experience, and in the second - money for such a whim. But what if you just love wild cats? How not to expose animals to suffering, and yourself to danger? As if specifically for this occasion, there are breeds of cats that look like wild counterparts.

toyger cat

Can you imagine a small tame tiger? A sort of beautiful short-haired toy with a recognizable striped brindle color. By using the word "toy", we do not want to offend a beautiful animal. When breeding the breed, Judy Sugden set out to create a mini-tiger from the genotype of a domestic cat, crossed with a Bengal cat. The name of the breed is made up of two English words: "toy" and "tiger".

Toyger introduced in 1993. To date, the breed has been recognized by several international associations, but the process is not yet complete. According to the breed standard, a cat should have an elongated low body, dense shiny fur with a clear striped pattern.

The toyger's head should be decorated with circular marks, which ordinary ones do not have.

Special requirements are put forward for the color of the fur. The background color should be brown, orange brown, or golden brown. Stripes are required to decorate not only the back, but also the stomach, chest, head, and even ears. A prerequisite is the absence of longitudinal stripes on the body of the animal. The toyger fur should feel like plush to the touch. Ideally, the sides of the muzzle are decorated with sideburns. The shape of the ears of this breed is rounded, the eyes are medium-sized. They are slightly covered by overhanging eyelids.

Despite the wild appearance, the toyger is a very playful pet. He is sociable and non-aggressive, while he is strongly attached not only to the house in which he lives, but also to the owners.

Marble cat

Pardofelis marmorata, or marble cat, is a wild breed. This feline in appearance resembles a clouded leopard, although it is slightly larger in size than a domestic cat. According to genetic examinations, the direct relatives are the Kalimantan cat and the Asian golden cat. In 2002, it was listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

Appearance description:

• The marble cat has a brown-gray color with a reddish tint. The wool is decorated with black stripes.
• The shape of the head is rounded, short. The forehead is wide.
• The cat has large brown eyes.
• The legs are short, while the paw is rather wide.
• The tail is very fluffy, of great length, sometimes it can exceed the size of the body and head.

Ocicat breed

Not all rare breeds of wild cats can boast of real predatory ancestors. For example, representatives of the Ocicat breed are insanely similar to wild ocelots. But they do not have the genes of these predators. The breed is bred entirely on the basis of pets. In a long list of progenitors, you can find the Siamese, Abyssinian, American Shorthair cat.

Ocicats have a light brownish-gray coat with elongated dark spots. The base of the tail, neck and head are decorated with rings and stripes.

bengal cat

This cat breed is amazingly beautiful. She resembles a small leopard not only in appearance, but also in habits. The creation of this hybrid was painstakingly worked in America. The first attempt to cross a wild Bengal cat with an ordinary domestic "Murchik" occurred in 1961. American Jeanne Mill brought a wild kitten from a trip to Bangkok. Very beautiful offspring were born from him, but most of them died of leukemia. This happened in every litter. Around 1976, the University of California took up the issue of breeding a new breed. Here they managed to achieve the emergence of a viable breed of wild cats for home keeping.

The Bengal cat turned out to be a little larger than the usual domestic breeds. She is agile, strong and graceful. But the most important quality for the owners is an extraordinary mind. The animal is considered the most intelligent cat breed. The Bengal cat has rounded paws and a smooth, medium-length tail. The muzzle of the cat is wide, and the large oval eyes are set wide apart. Eye color can be anything, but if you are offered a colored cat with blue eyes, then this is not a Bengal breed. Only the snow bengal has blue eyes. This is the name of the silver color, which is the rarest and most expensive in this domestic breed of wild cats. The ears of the animal are medium, but they are slightly tilted forward, which is also considered a sign of the breed.

The coat of the Bengal cat is dense and short. It shines like it was rubbed with a special tool. Regardless of the main color, clear spots or rosettes go through the coat, the color of which can be either brown or black.

Savannah

This is another hybrid obtained by crossing a predatory shrub with domestic breeds. Savannah was bred around 1986. The work was carried out by lovers of the breed of big wild cats, so the result is larger than ordinary pets. The first kittens were bred by Patrick Kelly and Joyce Sroufe. Breed standards are approved by the international association, but they are recognized only in 2001.

At the withers, the savannah can exceed 60 cm, and a unique pet weighs up to 15 kg. And in this case, we are not talking about overfed, beloved pets, but about active, lean animals. The body of these cats is elongated, the neck is elongated, and the paws are rather long. and round, because of them the head seems somewhat small. The coat is short, pleasant to the touch and very thick. Colors can be quite varied. There are brown, chocolate, golden and silver savannahs. The coat of the representatives of the breed is covered with numerous spots.

Wild domestic cat (Savannah breed) is a bright representative of the struggle of opposites. She is active and calm at the same time. The cat needs to move, she spends a lot of time on the street. But at the same time, dog-like devoted to the owner. And savannahs are not at all afraid of water.

Usher cat

In 2007, the wild breed of Ashera cats was introduced to specialists. She was positioned as a large hypoallergenic pet, bred on the genetic basis of African servals, Asian Bengal cats and domestic breeds. The price of a kitten reached 27 thousand dollars, an adult cat could be bought for 6 thousand dollars.

Later it turned out that the new breed was not so new. The enterprising swindler was just trying to cash in on his love for unusual pets. Breeder Chris Shirk suggested that the wild cat breed, whose name is Ashera, does not exist, and the specimens presented are savannah cats from his cattery. To prove his assumption, the breeder demanded a DNA test. Official examination exposed the swindler.

Serval

Several hybrids have already been bred by crossing with other breeds. But it turns out that wild predatory servals can be kept at home in a pure, rather than a hybrid form. If a serval is taken into the house as a kitten, then it is well domesticated. But with such a pet you need to be careful. Although the animal becomes a devoted and affectionate pet, it does not lose the reflexes and habits of predatory ancestors. By the way, servals are excellent swimmers. They are not afraid of water at all.

dune cat

We have described breeds of domestic cats similar to wild ones. But our story was about large animals. Now imagine an adult fluffy animal that looks like a kitten all its life. This dune is the smallest representative of wild cats. The body length of the baby along with the tail is about 80 cm. The maximum weight of an adult male is 3.5 kg, females are somewhat smaller.

Dune cats are well domesticated. They make pretty fluffy pets with curious wide muzzles. The head of the animal seems to be a little flattened, and beautiful sideburns grow on the sides. The ears of the dune cat are large, slightly pointed. The animal has excellent hearing.

pixie bob

Many breeds of wild cats look funny, not aggressive. These include a pixie-bob obtained by crossing domestic cats with a short-tailed forest cat. Outwardly, the pixie bob looks like a wild lynx. The breed is often confused with the Maine Coon and the domestic lynx, but there is a slight difference - a short tail and a special look. The eyes of cats are set deep, their shape is similar to a closed triangle.

Among the features of the breed are polydactyl paws. Animals with such a deviation are even allowed to show.

The pixie bob is very similar in character to a dog. This is a smart and loyal animal, amenable to training. He is attached to the host family and participates in her life, while not making any special demands on the content.

Bombay

Remember the beautiful panther from the Mowgli cartoon? Would you like to have one like this at home? Of course, a large predatory cat is not very suitable for home keeping, but a miniature bombay is just right! Mickey Harner worked on the creation of the breed for almost 20 years, but the result was worth it. The Bombay Mini Panther looks amazing. The animal has a blue-black shiny coat and bright orange eyes. The movements are smooth and graceful, like a real wild beast.

Shawzi cat

Breeds of wild cats can be very different. But oddly enough, they most often make sociable, unpretentious, devoted pets. The Shawzi breed, obtained by crossing reed cats with domestic cats, was no exception. The animal turned out to be large, tall and heavy. An adult cat can weigh more than 15 kg.

The breed is characterized by an elongated triangular head shape with a small muzzle. The ears are large, with a wide base and pointed ends. Tassels are often visible. By standard, the tips of the ears and tail should be black. Shawzi wool has a unique structure. She has a very dense undercoat, and each hair is decorated with two noticeable dark stripes. These stripes form a pattern on the legs and tail, and on the body it is almost invisible. Color can be black, gold, brown, silver. The chest and belly are always lighter than the back.

By nature, the breed is curious and energetic. Cats love to jump and master heights.

Every cat owner is sure that his pet is unique. But some breeds of animals are actually unusual. If you like the feeling that a tame predator lives in your house, then get a cat breed that looks like wild animals.

It probably won't be a mistake if I say that the most popular wild cat is the lion. No wonder they call him the king of beasts.

The lion lives in Africa and India. Few people know, but in India there is a reserve in the state of Gujarat called the Gir forest. So in this reserve a small population of Indian lions has been preserved.

Lions are the only cats that constantly live in packs. For example, cheetahs can temporarily unite in small groups, for example, three individuals. And lions constantly live in a team, a flock of lions is called a pride.

Of all cats, and perhaps of all predators, lions are distinguished by a mane.

These large cats have pronounced sexual dimorphism. What does it mean? In fact, everything is very simple, in lions, boys and girls are very different from each other, not only internally, but also externally. Lionesses do not have such a lush mane.

Lionesses occupy a subordinate position in the pack. They mainly hunt and the livelihood of the flock depends on the lionesses.

Servals also live in Africa. Although they are not large, they compete with cheetahs. Yes, and they can just be their prey probably.

Serval is a cat with big ears. She likes to live in thickets of small vegetation, so she is called a bush cat.

In the thickets of shrubs, the serval perfectly masks its color.

Like the cheetah, the serval is tamed. He is even kept in apartments as a pet.

Caracal lives in the deserts of Africa and Asia. Therefore, the caracal is also called the desert lynx, and outwardly it looks like a lynx.

The name caracal comes from the Turkish word karakulak, which changes into "black ear". The ears of caracals are really black.

Despite the outward resemblance to a lynx, the caracal is genetically closer to the serval. In captivity, these cats interbreed.

Although the leopard is a large predator, it is inferior in size to lions and tigers. And not much inferior.

The main habitat of the leopard is Africa, although it can be found in Asia up to China. But only in Africa, its population is in a normal state, if you can write like that about an animal from the Red Book

Photo of tigers

So, moving closer to Asia, let's pay attention to tigers - this is one of the symbols of Asia.

The wild tiger is one of the most formidable predators. They live and hunt alone. Only during the mating season, the female and male can hunt together.

Now let's move to South America. Here the largest representative of the cat family is the jaguar.

The jaguar has a magnificent color, somewhat similar to the color of a leopard. Outwardly, these cats are very similar.

Black jaguars are found in nature. This is not a separate species, but an unusual color variant.

The Indians created legends about these cats, endowing them with mystical powers.

Photo jaguarundi

Another cat whose range is located mainly in South America is the jaguarundi. This cat lives in the savannas and leads a rather hidden lifestyle.

Dark jaguarundi.

Outwardly, the jaguarundi resembles a mixture of a cat and a weasel, the shape of the animal is very elegant and graceful. The jaguarundi hunts during the day.

Cougar photo

The other large wild cat of America is the cougar. It lives in North America and is a very common predator there.

Although his appearance is very impressive, especially in winter, when his lush winter coat makes him visually larger, he is about the size of an ordinary domestic cat.

Manuls are not tamed. They can live in an aviary, but they will not become tame animals. It is generally illegal to keep them at home, as the species is dying out and is listed in the Red Book.

Many wild cats are becoming rarer due to population growth. People destroy habitats, food supply and simply engage in poaching.