Leopard cat

Leopard cat

Prionailurus bengalensis, known as a leopard cat or Asian leopard, is a small wild cat from Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. There are eleven subspecies of leopard cat, classified by their wider geographic distributions. The name leopard cat is due to the prevalent spots on all subspecies, similar to those of the leopard, but the relation of this species with the leopard is distant, since the leopard belongs to a different genus, Panthera.

This feline is also known as. This name is probably the result of the partial translation of the English of Asian leopard cat, when "Asian" was added to not be confused with the genus Leopardus of which the ocelot and other felines of South America belong. Note, however, that this species does not belong to the genus Leopardus either, being a distant relative.

Habitat and behavior

The leopard cat is a skilful tree climber. He can swim, but he rarely does. It is a cat of nocturnal habits, and spends the days in burrows, that can be hollow trees, cavities on roots or caves. He can spend some time outside the burrows in areas where there are no humans. The Asian leopard is solitary, except during the mating period. There is no fixed mating period in the southern part of your dwelling area; In the colder habitats to the north, tends to mate between March or April, when the weather is mild enough for newborn puppies to support it. Asian leopards commonly form a lifelong couple, and raise their cubs together for seven to ten months. Full maturity is attained at eighteen months, but in captivity the male may become ready for breeding in seven months, and the female in ten.