Felis Chaus

Other Names in English:
Swamp Cat, Reed Cat

Description:
The Jungle Cat's coat in general is a tawny red, yellowish-grey to various shades of sandy brown.  The underbelly is usually a lighter shade than the body and many times white.  Males are bigger than females ranging between 16-35 pounds.  The body can be clear of markings or have faints shades of ghost spotting.  The legs and neck are marked with a darker color of leg banning and necklacing.  The ears are tall and rounded with small lynx-like tufts. The back of the ears will be a darker shade with a lighter oceli or "thumb print".  The tail will be a dark grey or black with some rings and ends at the back of the hocks making it a 3/4 length tail in comparison to domestic cats.

Average Dimensions:
Head and Body (cm)    60-70
Height at Shoulder (cm)   35-38
Tail Length (cm)   22-30
Weight (lbs)   16-35

Habitats and Locations:
The Jungle Cat has a wide range of habitat.  It ranges from lower Egypt, Isreal, Jordon, Iraq, Iran and Asian Minor to Transcaucasia and north along the west coast of the Caspian Sea to the lower reaches of the Volga and east through Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan and Kazakhstan to Chinese Turkistan, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Nepal and south through the Indian sub-continent. It can live in a diverse environment from swampy reed type grounds to arid mountains, woodlands, open plains, grassland and agricultural areas.
 

Diet:
The Jungle Cat's primary diet is small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Reproduction:
Jungle Cats normally have their litters in May with about 3-4 kittens in a nest of dry reeds and fur.  The kittens are well camouflaged with a striped and spotted coat.  Kittens are weaned about 3 months of age and follow their mother around learning her hunting habits. By 6 months they are able to hunt and stalk their own prey. At 18 months they are fully matured into full grown Jungle Cats.