Whatever its origins, your cat is a mammal belonging to the order of carnivora.
In this order, we find lions, tigers, lynxes, panthers, jaguars, pumas, as well as domestic and wild cats.
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What is a wildcat?
Wildcats
are
carnivores little known to the general public.
However, they are present on most continents: Asia, America, Africa, Europe.
Wildcats are felines belonging to the Felidae family (or Felidae in Latin).
This family is currently divided into three subfamilies:
The Machairodontinae
This subfamily has been extinct for about 10,000 years.
It represented the big cats with particularly long canines like the sand-toothed tiger.
Pantherinae
Also called “big cats”, this subfamily concerns animals capable of roaring.
We find there the lion, the jaguar or the panther.
The Felinae
This subfamily includes all other felines.
That is, those who can purr but do not roar.
They are generally referred to as
"small cats"
and
"wildcats"
.
This subfamily is the closest physically to our domestic cats.
The Serval
The Serval stock.adobe.com
The
Serval
(
Cervus
) is a large African wild cat that was used in the creation of the Savannah breed of cats.
This feline has some similarity with the cheetah.
Indeed, he is able to run up to 80 km/h and has a spotted coat.
Of a robust nature, it can live up to 20 years.
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Size and weight:
males and females weigh an average of 12 kg to 26 kg and measure an average of 1.30 m in length.
Physical characteristics:
this cat is high on legs with large rounded ears.
Hair:
the hair of the Serval is short and resembles that of the cheetah.
Personality:
the Serval is a solitary animal that lives in pairs only during the mating period.
Lifestyle:
This wild cat lives in Africa and feeds exclusively on small animals, such as rodents, birds, amphibians and insects.
the caracal
The caracal stock.adobe.com
The
caracal
(
caracal caracal
), also nicknamed desert lynx, is easily recognizable thanks to its black hairs on the ears.
Present in the African savannas, the caracal is a formidable carnivore capable of jumping 2 to 3 meters to catch its prey.
Size and weight:
Males and females weigh an average of 6 kg to 19 kg and are 73 to 78 cm long.
Physical characteristics:
the caracal's ears have 20 different muscles, which allows it to easily move its ears and to have good hearing.
Hair:
this feline has a fawn coat all over the body except the belly, which remains white.
Character:
a solitary and nocturnal animal, this wildcat marks its territory with its urine and scratch marks on the trees.
Way of life:
the caracal has a territory that can range from 19 to 220 km².
In general, this feline prefers open areas strewn with bushes and rocks from which its ambushes leave.
The Manul
Le Manul stock.adobe.com
The
Manul
(
Otocolobus manul
), also called Pallas's Cat, after the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas, who discovered it at the end of the 18th century, is a solitary wild cat residing mainly in Asia, China and Russia.
This compact, stocky wildcat is very recognizable with its grumpy face and angry look.
Size and weight:
Males and females weigh an average of 3 kg to 5 kg and are 50 to 60 cm long.
Physical particularities:
the Manul has a very long and very thick hair, which makes him look big.
Hair:
This wild cat is usually grey, white and brown.
Character:
the Manul is a solitary animal, very territorial and rather aggressive.
Way of life:
with its thick fur, it can live in areas where the temperature drops to -50°C.
It feeds mainly on small rodents and birds.
The Margay
The Margay stock.adobe.com
The
Margay
(Leopardus wiedii)
also known as tiger cat, is a very agile wild cat that lives in the forests of Central and South America.
This feline has a small size close to that of a domestic cat.
He is very recognizable with his spotted coat similar to that of a leopard.
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Size and weight:
Males and females weigh an average of 2 kg to 4 kg and are 40 to 50 cm long.
Physical characteristics:
this wild cat has large round eyes, a long tail and a slender body.
Hair:
The Margay has a beautiful short and soft coat, with tawny yellow spots surrounded by black.
Character:
this very discreet wild cat lives mainly at night to avoid noise and bad encounters.
Lifestyle:
the Margay lives almost exclusively in trees and imitates the cry of its prey to attract them.
The sand cat
The Sand Cat stock.adobe.com
The
sand cat
, unlike the Serval, is a small wild cat.
Very good nocturnal hunter, it is perfectly adapted to life in the desert.
It is found in arid and desert areas such as northern Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan.
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Size and weight:
Males and females weigh an average of 1.5 kg to 3.5 kg and are 45 to 57 cm long.
Physical characteristics:
this feline is identifiable with its triangular head and large pointed ears.
Hair:
it is often sandy in color and may be spotted, striped, or both.
Character:
very solitary, it only frequents its congeners during the breeding season.
Lifestyle:
this little feline eats a bit of everything, mainly small rodents, insects and spiders.