Visayan Leopard Cat

Visayan leopard cats are Sunda leopard cats that are slender and agile, similar in size to domestic cats but more muscular. Their fur color ranges from yellowish-brown to golden with dark brown to black spots, and their markings include distinct black stripes on the forehead and back, as well as spots arranged in rosettes or lines. The eyes are large, round, and golden-yellow, making them good for night vision; the tail is long, with black rings and a black tip; and the ears are short, rounded, and have a white spot on the rear ("eye spots") to notify other cats.

It resembles a miniature leopard, but smaller and leaner — a perfect blend of beauty and stealth. Visayan leopard cat has a body length of approximately 40-55 cm, a tail of 20-25 cm, and weighs 3-5 kg. Their lifespan around 10–15 years in the wild, slightly longer in captivity.

The Visayan leopard cat, like the Sunda leopard cat, has exceptional night vision and can hunt efficiently in near darkness. It also has very sharp hearing and can leap several times its body length. It is a silent mover, using soft paws and camouflage to sneak up on prey. The Sunda leopard cat is a good swimmer (unlike other cats), occasionally jumps rivers or streams, runs quickly in short spurts while ambushing prey, and has excellent smell and reflexes – making it ideal for nighttime hunting.

The purpose of the "falling cat problem" is to explain the underlying physics of the observed cat righting reflex, because most little or larger cats are impervious to fall injury but nevertheless avoid falls. Because the cat is not a rigid body, the seeming clash with the law of conservation of angular momentum is resolved. Instead, the cat's flexible backbone and ineffectual collarbone allow it to shift shape during the fall.

Visayan leopard cats are carnivores and mesopredators, which help decrease rodent, reptile, and bird populations. There are natural pest controllers that help to maintain ecological balance by keeping small animal populations in check. Results suggest that the presence of Visayan leopard cats in sugarcane fields is influenced by the growth of sugarcane which attracts rodents. The main prey species consumed by Visayan leopard cats were "house mouse" (96%), "Polynesian rat" (96%), "ricefield rat" (64%) and "Tanezumi rat" (32%) concurring with many studies that small mammals are the main prey items of leopard cats.

The Visayan leopard cat is an important species in its native ecology. Its existence suggests that the Visayas and Palawan have healthy forests. The first scats were collected in July, increasing until October while none was collected in May and June.

Reproduction

Breeding season:

• Can breed year-round in tropical climates.

Gestation period:

• About 65–75 days.

Litter size:

• 2–4 kittens (sometimes up to 5).

Development:

• Kittens open eyes at ~10 days; start exploring after 4 weeks.

• Weaned at 3 months; independent at around 6–8 months.

Sexual maturity:

• Reached at 1 year.

Lifespan:

• Up to 12–15 years in captivity; shorter in the wild.

Despite being an ambush predator, the Visayan leopard cat is generally cautious and elusive, avoiding humans whenever possible. It crouches low, stalks softly, and pounces abruptly. They are rarely hostile, unless cornered. The Visayan leopard cat is generally nocturnal and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), solitary, and only meets others during mating season. It marks territory with smell, and males defend bigger ranges than females.

The Visayan leopard cat is threatened by habitat loss (deforestation in the Visayas), hunting for fur or suspected poultry raiding, hybridization with domestic cats, road kills, and human encroachment.

The sole known wild cat remained in the country is protected by Philippine legislation (Republic Act No. 9147 - Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act). Found at several conservation centers and sanctuaries, such as Negros Forest Park (Bacolod) and the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation.

The Visayan leopard cat is endemic to the Philippine islands of Panay and Negros, where it lives in remaining forest fragments. It is the only known wild cat in the country (as are the Iriomote Cat of Nihon and the Scottish Wildcat of Britain). Sugarcane farms in Cebu have also been affected. Five Visayan leopard cats live at the Mariit Wildlife and Conservation Park on the West Visayas State University campus in Lambunao, Iloilo.

All subspecies of Sunda leopard cat have a single geographical locations in their respective countries.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: ???

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Radiated Citadel; Volcano; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Bali; Jawa; Kalimantan; Sumatra; Tebing Tinggi); Malaysia (Sabah; Johor); Philippines (Cebu; Negros; Palawan; Panay)

Visayan leopard cats are illegal to keep as pets in the Philippines and most other countries because they are a protected species that has not been domesticated; they are wild animals with unpredictable behavior. Keeping one as a pet harms conservation efforts; instead, promote rehabilitation or ecotourism. However, only approved wildlife rescue or breeding centers supervised by the government are permitted.

The cats were tranquilized by bullets, made unconscious, fed meat and berries while unconscious, and used narcotics to continuously overdose. If this species isn't already trained, you can tame it with meat, berries, or eggs.

Coming soon.

Earth

• Tagalog: Pusang leopardo, Maral

• Cebuano: Maral (ᜋᜇᜎ᜔)

• Indonesian: Kucing-kuwuk, Kucing-kuwuk Sugbu, Maral

• Navajo: Náátsʼózídę́ę́ʼ mósíłkizhii ałchinígíí

• Japanese: ベンガルヤマネコ

• Korean: 삵/살쾡이

• Turkish: Sunda pars kedisi

• Hungarian: Bengáli törpemacska

• Irish: Marál, Liopardchat

• French: Chat-léopard

• Spanish: Gato leopardo

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayan_leopard_cat

• https://www.britannica.com/animal/leopard-cat

• https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/leopard-cat

• https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=PH2010000808

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Visayan-Leopard-Cat-872091806