Facts about the African Wild Cat -- Felis lybica:

A summary of most interesting statistics (size, gestation...), amazing environmental adaptations & fascinating facts about social habits, etc.

SIZE: Length (including the tail) 90 cm, mass (m) 5 kg, (f) 4 kg. African Wild Cats are larger than tabby cats.

COLOUR: Sandy or light grey in the western areas, ranging to a darker grey elsewhere. The body markings are reddish to grey-black, and sometimes include a slightly darker spinal stripe. There are always six vertical dark bands on the flanks, as well as horizontal dark bands on the legs and rings on the tail, which has a black tip.

SOUNDS / CALLS: The sounds that African Wild Cats make are deeper in tone and harsher than a domestic cat.

MOST LIKE: The Small Spotted Cat. The African wild cat, however, is bigger, longer-legged and less stocky than the small spotted cat with less pronounced body markings and stripes rather than spots.

SOCIAL HABITS: Being nocturnal and shy, African Wild Cats are seldom seen during the day. They are difficult to tame, and can become poultry thieves.

HABITAT: Semi-desert to forest and from sea level up to about 1 600 m. Cover includes rocks, bushes, tall grasses, crops and disused Aardvark or Spring Hare burrows.

FOOD / FEEDING HABITS: Small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects are their main prey.

REPRODUCTION & GESTATION PERIOD: Generally African Wild Cats have a litter of 3 kittens after a gestation period of about 56 days.

ENEMIES: Adults could be killed in fights and by other predators, while eagles and pythons are a danger to the kittens.

DISTRIBUTION: African Wild Cats occur throughout the savannah areas of Africa.

DISTRIBUTION MAP:

WHERE FOUND:
Kruger National Park (South Africa)
Pilanesberg National Park (South Africa)
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
Tembe Elephant Park

More amazing facts on African Wild Cats
Royalty free image gallery with photographs of African Wild Cats