Home > Indian History > History of India > Small Cats
Small Cats
Small Cats inhabit various parts of India and they comprise of a large variety.

Share this Article:

Small Cats, Wild AnimalsSmall Cats comprise of a rich variety in India. Typically they are solitary in hunting, furtive and secretive in their habits, and seldom seen by man except through lucky chance encounters. In the Northern Himalayas, there is an isabelline race of the Lynx (Felis lynx) which is the size of a large dog (weighing up to twenty five kilograms) and with long pointed ears terminating in black tassel-like hair tufts and an incongruously short black-tipped tail. Confined to the inner mountain ranges from alpine grassy slopes to tumbled rock talus they hunt by scent, preying upon snow cocks, marmots and hares. At the other extreme is the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), a long-tailed and very short-limbed cat (weighing up to twenty kilograms) which is adapted to an arboreal existence in the evergreen rain-forests of Assam, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Depending in size, there are two more quite large and fearsome cats. One is the Caracal (Felis caracal), adapted to desert and low hill areas, extending from Rajasthan, Kutch, and the northern Punjab including the Salt Range westwards to the North West Frontier and Baluchistan. Slimmer in build than the Lynx, Weighing about sixteen kilograms, they have reddish buff fur with long legs and a medium-length tail. Incredibly agile in their final rush up on any quarry, they are capable of knocking over the Desert Hare even as it leaps away, or the Sandgrouse as it springs into the air. In the same humid forest regions of the north-east where the Clouded Leopard dwells, the Golden Cat (Felis temmincki) also occurs. They are of an unspotted golden red colour and have distinctive horizontal dark and light alternating strips on their cheeks. Specimens are generally heavier in build than the Caracal, with a longer tail, and they believed to prey upon chevrotains and young deer. They readily climb trees but are thought to be more at home in areas of tumbled rocks. Because of its rareness little is known about its habits.

Descending further in scale of size there are tow cats which generally average considerably bigger and heavier than the domestic cat. The Fishing Cat (Felis viverrina) is a thick-set tabby-marked cat of savage disposition which swims freely both under and on the water, hunting waterfowl and any small mammals which it encounters. The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) is a smaller, longer-legged greyish fawn cat which also has small tufts on its large upstanding ears and a few black rings on the tip of its rather short tail. Adapted to a wide variety of conditions from pure desert to low thorn scrub hilly country, they are partly diurnal in hunting.

There remain five truly small cats which are becoming increasingly rare and local in distribution. The beautifully patterned Leopart Cat (Felis bengalensis), perhaps the least rare, is confined to forest zones from the outer Himalayas down to the Ghats. They are largely arboreal in hunting and nocturnal. In south India and Sri Lanka the smallest representative of the family, known as the Rustyspotted Cat (Felis rubiginosa) occurs. About three quarters of the size of a domestic cat (adults weigh a little over one kilogram), they have a fawn grey coat patterned with rusty brown bars and spots coalescing into horizontal lines. In the high steppe mountain areas of the North West Frontier and in the Northern regions of Gilgit and Ladakh, the Steppe or Pallas`s Cat (Felis manul) is found. They have a thick bushy tail, very low-set rounded ears and a broad skull framed by a ruff of long hair. Four faint vertical stripes traverse its body and there are two parallel radiating black stripes from the corners of its eyes.

In the desert regions of Sind and Rajasthan, the Desert Cat (Felis lybica) occurs sparingly. It is a small yellow- buff cat with prominent black spots over its body and vertical stripes on its forehead. Considered conspecific with the African Wild Cat it is believed to have provided the predominant ancestral stock from which domestic cats evolved. Finally in the evergreen rain-forests of Assam and Bangladesh, another very elusive small cat, known as the Marbled Cat (Felis marmorata), survives. It has a long bushy tail, and is beautifully patterned in rufous buff with irregular black and darker brown patches. It is exclusively arboreal and like the Leopard Cat preys upon roosting birds, squirrels and even insects.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India


History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
Mughal Architecture during Babur
Mughal Architecture during Babur is of adequate significance in Mughal history, as the emperor introduced Mughal architecture in India, during 16th century.
Princely State of Patdi
Princely State of Patdi or Patri was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency.
Architecture during Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty
Architectures during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasty were mainly the tombs and monuments for the dead rulers. It were carefully designed and meticulously constructed.
Brahmanical Sources of Ancient History
Brahmanical Sources of ancient history are contained in the Vedas and they constitute one of the most important literary sources of information about ancient India.
Female Education In British India
The over brimming enthusiasm among zealous Hindu reformers welcomed female education in British India.
Revenue System of Mauryan Empire
Revenue system of Mauryan Empire can be divided into eight categories. The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected.
Mughal Architecture During Jahangir
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s period was relative dull in comparison to that of Akbar dynasty.
Princely State of Satlasna
Princely State of Satlasna was amongst the former native states of India that was appointed as one of the Indian princely states during the early 19th century.
Coins of Chola Empire
Coins of Chola Empire were issued in gold, silver and copper and carried the Chola emblem.
Social Life during the Pala Period
Religious toleration and simple living were the characteristics of social life during the Pala period.
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty was reintroduced in the South India after a brief break of coinage less period of nearly three century. Chalukyas issued coins only in gold and they exhibit a brilliant artistic skill of the engraver.
Costumes of Indus Valley Civilisation
Costumes of Indus valley Civilization have been considered as the basis for Indian clothes. Sophisticated ornaments and make up were used during that age.
Development of Science under Gupta Empire
Development of Science under Gupta Empire was progressive and it had attained considerable perfection. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, physics and metallurgy were the most prominent of the sciences at that time.
Culture under Delhi Sultanate
Culture under Delhi Sultanate had enduring aspects to it. It included the society, the religious condition, literature and art and architecture of that period.
Princely State of Hapa
Princely State of Hapa was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency.
Economy Under Chola Dynasty
Economy under Chola dynasty was strong and well developed. The economic life of the people of the Chola Kingdom was well balanced with their social life.
Coins of Khilji Dynasty
Coins of Khilji Dynasty had an influential feature that was followed by the other dynasties.
Religion During Mauryan Dynasty
Religion during Mauryan dynasty became a considerable episode in Indian history with an esteemed lineage of rulers.