Asian steppe wildcat, Indian desert cat
The Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica ornata) is an African wildcat subspecies. It is also known as the Asian steppe wildcat and Indian desert cat. There is no information on the current status or population numbers for the Asiatic wildcat's entire range, but populations are thought to be declining.
The Asiatic wildcat's fur is light sandy coloured with small rounded spots on its upper body. These spots are solid and sharply defined and do not occur in clusters. The spots on the chest and abdomen are much larger and more blurred than on the back and usually do not form transverse rows or stripes on the trunk. Its colours and patterns vary greatly. The hairs along the spine are usually darker, forming a dark grey, brownish or ochreous band. The upper lips and eyelids are light, pale yellow-white. The facial region is of intense grey colour, while the top of the head is covered with a dark grey coat. In some individuals, the forehead is covered in dense clusters of brown spots. A narrow, dark brown stripe extends from the corner of the eye to the base of the ear. The lower neck, throat, neck, and the region between the forelegs are devoid of spots, or only with indistinct spots. The thighs are distinctly striped. The underside is whitish, with a light grey, creamy or pale yellow tinge. The tail is mostly the same colour as the back, with the addition of a dark and narrow stripe along the upper two-thirds of the tail; it appears thin, as the hairs are short and close-fitting. The tip of the tail is black, with two to five black transverse rings above it. Paler forms of Asian wildcat live in drier areas and the darker, more heavily spotted and striped forms occur in more humid and wooded areas. Throughout its range, the Asian wildcat's coat is usually short, but the length of the fur can vary depending on the age of the animal and the season of the year. Compared to the domestic cat, Asian wildcats have relatively longer legs. Males are generally heavier than females.
Asiatic wildcats occur from the eastern Caspian Sea north to Kazakhstan, into western India, western China, and southern Mongolia. They inhabit desert and semi-desert areas, arid plains, lush forests, coastal areas, mountains, steppe regions, and shrublands. Asiatic wildcats are usually found close to water sources but can also live year-round in the waterless desert.
Asiatic wildcats are usually seen during the daytime. They frequently use rock crevices or burrows dug by other animals. Little else is known about their behavior but in general, African wildcats lead a solitary life and maintain territories that they mark and defend. The territory of one male usually overlaps with that of up to three females. They have acute hearing that helps them locate prey precisely. They approach prey by patiently crawling forward and using vegetation to hide.
Asiatic wildcats are carnivores and prey on mammals, rodents, reptiles, insects, snakes, fish, and birds. Their diet includes gerbils, voles, squirrels, hares, jerboas, muskrats, beetles, grasshoppers, scorpions, lizards, geckos, cobras, vipers, sand boas, small passerine birds, doves, Gray partridges, sandgrouses, peafowl, bulbuls and eggs of ground-nesting birds.
Little is known about the mating system and reproductive behavior of Asiatic wildcats. Generally, African wildcats have a gestation period of between 56 and 60 days and females usually give birth to 1-3 kittens; however, litters of up to 5 kittens were also observed. Females give birth and raise their young in dens which are sheltered places like dense grass, burrows, or hollow trees. The kittens are born blind and helpless and open their eyes after about 10-14 days. They are mobile at the age of one month and at around 3 months of age, they start learning hunting techniques from their mother. They leave their family and become independent at the age of around 6 months.
One of the important threats to Asiatic wildcats is hybridization; females mate quite often with domestic males, and hybrid offspring are frequently found near villages where wild females live. Asiatic wildcats have also been hunted at large in Afghanistan; in 1977 over 1200 pelts manufactured into different articles were on display in Kabul bazaars.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Asiatic wildcat total population size. As a whole, the African wildcat species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
