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Smallest Domestic Cat

African Golden Cat

cat-information: Smallest Domestic Cat Profelis Aurata, the African Golen Cat is believed to be closely related to the Caracal and Serval, though it is often termed as the Leopard's Brother owing to the co-existence of the two cats in certain parts of their range. Body length is usually around two and a half feet with a longish one foot tail. Adults weigh between twenty to forty pounds and reach a shoulder height of around one and a half feet. Males are larger overall.

Coloration of the African Golden Cat varies across its range from reddish brown to silver gray. Melanistic variants have also been recorded. It is even suggested that the fur may change color in a single individual over time and external influences. Head and body are often spotted whereas the underside is usually white. Tail is lined at its origin and ends in a black or brown tip. Head and ears are small and rounded. Legs are longish with somewhat oversized paws.

Strong and secretive felines, the African Golden Cats are crepascular in their activity profile. They often spend the day resting in tree branches. Hunting is primarily through the stalk and ambush method. Small animals including rodents, tree hydraxes and birds are usually taken, though reports of the cat preying on small antelopes, monkeys and hog have also emerged. In areas where human settlements are next to national parks, domestic livestock and poultry are also reported to be consumed by the cats.

Residing in parts of Central and West Africa, the cats seem to prefer tropical rainforests with dense undergrowth. Two subspecies are recognized, based upon the African Golden Cat's distribution:

Profelis Aurata Aurata - Uganda to Congo

Profelis Aurata Celidogaster - West Africa

Little is known about the exact behaviour patterns of the African Golden Cat owing to its reclusive lifestyle and limited research on it. Still it is believed to be a largely solitary feline. Males are thought to take an active part in parenting though. Gestation period is around two and a half months after which one to three kittens are born. The young grow quickly and gain maturity at one and a half years of age.

Even though not much is understood about the numbers in the wild of the African Golden Cat, the cat is classified as vulnerable.

The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on African Golden Cat

By Ailurophile - I'm an animal lover with a particular fondness for cats. I blog about them and am passionate about their care and conservation in nature.

Big moral Dilemma: Cats killing pet birds and brother wanting to kill cats, serious advice needed, read below.
My brother has these gorgeous pigeons ($150- 300 worth) not to mention the love we give them makes them precious. He flies the pigeons, it's a hobby many maynot be aware of. Yesterday after a flying session the most beautiful/smart bird came & nested in her box, in the small time period from her nesting & us closing the metal door, she was caught by a small domestic cat right in front of my eyes. When I saved her (by scaring off the cat) it was too late & she died in my arms, it was the hardest thing to watch for my whole family. My brother was not home during this ordeal, & now he's furious. He has already poured/sprayed water, thrown beans at the cats that come around, now he wants to shoot them with his BBgun. I'm a cat lover, if he does that, it's wrong on so many levels. I just don't know what to do. I'm angry at the cat too, but killing is no solution (I keep thinking about my cat that went missing 6 months ago & how many nights I cried over her). Thank you. Due to my fear of my brother I don't currently have a cat, these are other people's cat that roam our garden. I don't feed them or play with them in anyway (as I used to (2 years - 8 months ago). Also I've never seen these cats before (they are not coming here by habbit). I spray these cats with water too, because I know if my brother sees them he'd hurt them. I love all animals, I just wish they'd stop killing each other. The cat I lost was a real hunter, she'd rather hunt/kill and eat a lil' bird or rat rather than eat her creme filled kitty biscuts. ** cat nurd: Dumb brothers are a dime a dozen. get rid of him. Problem solved. ** That's the moral dilemma part, I kid. I know how frustrated he is, and it's impossible to calm him down at this point, btw these birds were very protected, wire mesh, strong large plastic (travelling) pet boxes with metal locks a layer of solid metal wall (he created) etc. . the cat was very small that's probably how it got in, because a regular sized cat would get stuck getting into the area. I really appreciated all the answers, except for the 911 comment. Anyway I will look into the cat-repellent thing, that seems like the most humane way to go about this. More answers are welcomed. PS: I'm so sorry to hear about the ferret/cockatail incident :-(

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