Summary

Leopard Cats are a small, relatively common species of wild cat occurring in the south and east of Asia.

Exactly where this specimen came from is not known. It was confiscated by the Australian Customs Service and lodged with the Museum in 1985.

Leopard Cats can breed with domestic cats and this hybridisation is the origin of domestic Bengal Cats, which were recognised by the International Cat Association as a distinct breed in 1991. Most Bengal Cats today are bred from Bengal stocks and are several generations removed from wild Leopard Cats.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Leopard Cats as being of Least Concern because of their wide range and tolerance of human-modified landscapes. However, they are hunted across their range and are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to ensure that international trade does not threaten their survival in the wild. Populations in Bangladesh, India and Thailand are listed in Appendix I to ensure that international trade does not cause these populations to become extinct. The species is also protected by national regulations in many of the countries in which it occurs.

Specimen Details

Taxonomy

Geospatial Information

  • Precise Location

    Unknown