Asian Golden Cat

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Asian Golden Cat   ²⁸⁷²⁷

Scientific Name:
Catopuma temminckii

Other Names and/or Listed subspecies:
Temminck's Golden Cat, Asiatic Golden Cat, Felis temmincki, Profelis temminckii

Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
China, Indonesia (Sumatra), Nepal, Southeast Asia

Also called the Temmnick's golden cat, the Asian golden cat is found in Nepal and northeast India through southeast Asia, southern China, Sumatra and Borneo. Adults can grow as large as a domestic dog weighing up to 35 lbs and reaching about four feet in body length. Its fur varies in color from golden to dark brown, gray, or a bright golden red, with some spots that may or may not appear. Its underparts are lighter in color and spotted.

The Asian golden cat prefers rocky woodlands of deciduous and tropical rain forests as its habitat, though it can sometimes be found in more open habitat. It prefers to hunt on the ground, but does climb trees when it needs to. Diet consists of small deer, hares, birds, and reptiles. Little is known about their social behavior, but in captivity, the cats appear to be sociable and are very friendly. Females normally give birth to one or two kittens but may give birth to a total of four after a gestation period of 80 days.

Population numbers are unavailable for the Asian golden cat. The main threats to the species are habitat destruction and hunting for its fur.