Prionailurus rubiginosus, commonly known as the rusty spotted cat, is the tiniest cat species in Asia and one of the smallest members of the cat family. Though there are historical records of its origins from Sri Lanka and India, more recent accounts of its existence have been discovered in the western Terai region of Nepal. Its wild population is classified as near threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction. Their scientific name was originally Felis rubiginosa, but in 1939 it was revised to Prionailurus rubiginosus. There are three recognised subspecies of Rusty-spotted cats.
- In India and Nepal: Prionailurus rubiginosus rubiginosus
- Wet forests of Srilanka: Prionailurus rubiginosus phillipsi
- Lowland dry zone of Srilanka: Prionailurus rubiginosus koladivius
With their striking appearance, spotted cats bear a striking resemblance to larger, wild cats such as leopards and cheetahs. Because of this characteristic, they are in high demand all over the world. After all, who wouldn’t find it exciting to see a tiny version of a big cat prowling around their home?
Even the largest Rusty Spotted Cats are only 19 inches long and weigh no more than 1.6 kgs, demonstrating how small these cats are. The size of a rusty spotted cat is half that of a typical domestic cat.
Only two or three countries in the world are home to this rare species. Because they try so hard to remain hidden, Rusty-spotted cats are extremely difficult to spot in the wild. They are more difficult to find because they are nocturnal.
Things to Know About Rusty Spotted Cats
Other Names: Handun Diviya, Bitari Billi
Lifestyle: Territorial, viviparous, ambush predator, arboreal and precocial.
Weight: 0.9 to 1.6 kgs
Length: 14 to 19 inches
Coat: Short and Soft
Coat Color: Reddish-Grey with Dark Rusty Spots
Temperament: Affectionate, Playful, and Loveable
Eye Color: Grayish Brown
Life Span: 18 years
Origin: India, Srilanka, and Nepal
Description
- KINGDOM: Animalia
- PHYLUM: Chordata
- SUBPHYLUM: Vertebrata
- CLASS: Mammalia
- ORDER: Carnivora
- SUBORDER: Feliformia
- FAMILY: Felidae
- GENUS: Prionailurus
- SPECIES: Prionailurus rubiginosus
The Rusty-spotted cat is thought to be a smaller, washed-out, or diminutive version of the big cats due to its short, soft coat. Their tail is thicker, half the length of their body, and has a rustier colour with less pronounced spots.
The short, reddish-grey fur of the Rusty-coated cat has dark rusty patches on its flank and back. There are four blackish lines that extend from the eyes and go back over the head to the neck. Their legs and chest are covered in horizontal bars.
The large eyes on the rounded head of the Rusty-spotted bear a white streak along the inner edges. Their big eyes help them hunt at night. The cat has two dark streaks on each cheek, and reddish-brown blotches that blend into lines are visible on the back and sides of their body.
This cat has large dark spots and bars covering its chest, inner side of legs, chin, belly, and throat in white. Their feet have black soles, and their ears are small and rounded.
The smallest cat on the planet, the rusty-spotted cat, is on par with the black-footed cat.
Given their size, speed, and agility in comparison to the diminutive yet tenacious hummingbirds, they are also referred to as the hummingbird of the cat family.
Lifestyle
Rusty-spotted cats live alone in forests and, more recently, in areas where humans predominate. Although they are terrestrial creatures, they also have arboreal tendencies. They spend their days hiding or resting in hollow wooden logs or trees, and they hunt at night.
Although they climb trees to evade predators, they hunt on the ground. They spray urine to mark their territory, just like the majority of animals that are territorial. They hunt by jumping on their prey from a hiding place and ambushing them.
Rusty-Spotted Cats as Pets
Since most of these cats are wild, there is doubt about whether rusty-spotted cats make good pets, and most experts advise against it. Regardless of how much they see you every day, cats do not readily trust, no matter how cute they may look.
They have an innate tendency to ambush and hunt, which makes them vulnerable to attacking strangers. Pets with rusty spots are not known to do well in captivity because they require a very long time to adjust.
Domestic cats and rusty-spotted cats are crossed, and the resultant hybrids make better pets. Having a spotted hybrid cat can still present more difficulties because it may still exhibit some wild characteristics.
Note : With only 10,000 Rusty-spotted cats left in the wild, it is illegal to sell these cats. If we see a Rusty-spotted cat being sold, we have a duty as law-abiding citizens to report it to the authorities. Rusty-spotted hybrids that have been domesticated are available as pets.
Rusty-Spotted Cat Diet
Meat is the staple diet for Rusty-spotted cats, who are true carnivores. Small rodents, frogs, lizards, birds, and small amphibians are among the foods they eat. They occasionally even eat dead prey. They can kill prey three times their size in the wild.
They hunt by jumping on their prey from hiding places in bushes or trees, ambushing them.
Rusty-Spotted Cat Kitten
Due to their extreme vulnerability to attack, these cats only have a short mating season. A litter of two or three Rusty-spotted cat kittens may be born to them. It’s also fairly common to have one rusty-spotted cat kitten per gestation.
The kittens stay with their mother until they are able to take care of themselves, and their gestation period is two months. When rusty-spotted kittens reach sexual maturity, they are regarded as adults.
Rusty-spotted cat kittens are born blind and stay that way for the first few days of their lives. At birth, the rusty-spotted kitten weighs no more than a few grammes, making it incredibly small. Instead of having distinct rusty spots like the adult, the kitten of the rusty-spotted cat has rows of black spots.
Rusty-Spotted Cat Price
There are rusty spotted cats for sale in the Indian subcontinent. One of the most endangered cat species in India is the rusty spotted pet cat.
You might be curious about the cost of a rusty spotted cat. Many variables could cause the price to fluctuate between $1500 and $20000.
It is not advisable to keep them as pets because they are considered threatened and do not do well in captivity. No matter how much a rusty-spotted cat costs, they are not good pets.
Even so, domestic variations that resemble them can be kept as pets.
Best Rusty Spotted Cat Breeds
The domesticated versions of spotted pet breeds typically resemble rusty-spotted cats in appearance. The crossbreeds between rusty-spotted cats and domestic cats yield the best results.
These cats do naturally mate with domestic cats; however, there have been no reports of intentional breeding. In these crosses, an Asian leopard cat, a close relative of the rusty-spotted cat, is typically used.
Therefore, “Best Spotted Cat Breeds” would be a more appropriate and accurate term, and they are as follows:
Bengal Cat
Weight: 3.6 to 6.8 kgs
Height: 8 to10 inches
Coat: short hair coat with a variety of colors exhibiting spots, rosettes, and marbling
Lifespan: Up to 15 years
Bengal cats are well-known for having spots that give them a ferocious appearance. Unlike Rusty Spotted cats, these cats are friendly and love the water.
Savannah Cat
Weight: 3.4 to 10.9 kgs
Height: 14 to 16 inches
Coat: short, brown, silver, or black coat with spots
Lifespan: 14 to 20 years
Larger hybrid cats with spots than Bengal cats are also present. They are an offspring of the domestic cat and the serval. The majority of rusty spotted cats kept as pets are of the Savannah breed.
Serengeti cat
Weight: 3.6 to 6.8 kgs
Height: 8 to 10 inches
Coat: various colors with spots. Short-haired.
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
These spotted cats, which resemble savannah cats and are a cross between Bengal and oriental shorthair cats, retain their exotic-looking spotted coats. They are nimble and energetic.
Pixie Bob
Weight: 4 to 7 kgs
Height: 9 to 12 inches
Coat: short-haired, sometimes may have long hair that is red or brown with spots.
Lifespan: up to 15 years
These cats are probably the only naturally occurring hybrids in the world. They are recognised for their chirping sounds and have bobbed tails and ear tufts. They are gregarious by nature.
Toyger
Weight: 3.2 to 6 kgs
Height: 10-12 inches
Coat: Orange to brown with black stripes. They have short hair
Lifespan: 10-15 years
As the name implies, the Toyger got its tiger-like stripes from breeding domestic tabby cats with Bengal cats. They make wonderful house cats because they are incredibly amiable and trainable.
Cheetoh
Weight: 5.4 to 11.3 kgs
Height: 12 to 17 inches
Coat: Short hair coat seen in multiple colors with spots.
Lifespan: Up to 15 years
Though gentle, Cheetoh has a wild appearance. This spotted feline is a cross between an ocicat and a Bengal cat. Although they are big, they are amiable.
Egyptian Mau
Weight: 2.7 to 6.3 kgs
Height: 7 to 10 inches
Coat: Medium length. silver, bronze, or smoke-colored coat with spots.
Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
It is among the cat breeds with the quickest spots. They make excellent pets because they are amiable, devoted, and well-mannered. They are affectionate and bursting with energy.
Chausie
Weight: 3.6 to 7.2 kgs
Height: 15 to 18 inches
Coat: Solid black, black grizzled, black or brown ticked with short hair.
Lifespan: Up to 14 years
a hybrid of domestic cats and jungle cats. This playful spotted cat breed loves the company of both people and other animals. Because of the way they are built, cats can run and jump, making them athletic and active.
Instead of getting one of the uncommon Rusty spotted cats, which are extremely difficult to tame and have a difficult time adjusting as a pet, we suggest getting one of the domesticated spotted cat breeds that look similar. They are equally stunning, possessing a wild appearance along with a lighthearted disposition and affection for people.
Because they get along with both people and other pets, these spotted cat breeds make excellent family pets.
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