The jungle cat (Felis chaus), is a medium-sized cat that can be found in central and southern Asia, southern China, India, Sri Lanka and the Middle East. it is also known as the swamp cat and reed cat

Scientific name: Felis chaus
Conservation status: Least Concern

Subspecies: 

  • F. c. chaus
  • F. c. Affinish Gray
  • F. c. Fulvidina Thomas

Physical characteristics

Jungle cat photoJungle cats are the largest of the Felis species. Their head/body length is between 23 and 30 inches. They are nearly 14 inches tall with long legs. The jungle cat’s fur has a somewhat uniform mixture of sand, grey and brown colors.

Habitat (where the jungle cat lives)

Jungle cats lead solitary lives except during the mating season and when a female cat is raising her kittens. They inhabit places with water and dense vegetation like swamps, wetlands and locations where water intersects with land. They maintain their territories with urine spraying and scent marking.

Hunting and prey (diet)

Jungle cats hunt all day long. A jungle cat will stalk its prey and then attack with a leap or sprint. They primarily eat small mammals like hares, rodents and gerbils, but will also hunt fish, frogs, birds and small snakes. A jungle cat is mostly a carnivore but will also eat fruit.

Reproduction and life span

a jungle cat familyAfter mating, the male and female jungle cat will separate. Gestation is approximately two months. Kittens are generally born between December and June, but the time can vary depending on location. There are one to five kittens in a litter. On average, a female jungle cat will have two litters a year. Kittens will open their eyes at around 10 to 13 days of age. They will start catching prey around six months of age, and leave their mother when they are around eight to nine months old. Jungle cats can live up to 20 years in captivity, How long they live in the wild is unknown.

Conservation issues

Key conservation issues for the jungle cat are the destruction of habitat, hunting and poisoning. Other threats include dam construction, pollution, industrialization, expanding agriculture and urbanization.