Wild Cat Species

Asiatic Golden Cat

A cat of many colors, (it can be golden brown to dark brown, pale cinnamon, bright red, or gray), the Asiatic golden is about the size of a large ocelot. Its pelt normally is uniform in color, but also can be marked with spots and stripes in a pattern similar to the leopard.

Asiatic Golden Cat

Species Facts

  • Publication Date: August 20, 2021
  • Scientific Designation: Catopuma temminckii
  • Endangered Status: Near Threatened (NT)
  • Lifespan: Up to 20 years
  • Weight: 12–15 kg (26–33 lbs)
  • Length: 116–161 cm (46–64 in)
  • Height: ~ 40 cm (16 in)

Diet

The Asiatic golden is primarily a nocturnal hunter. Though it prefers ground level, it can climb trees when necessary. Killing larger prey (up to the size of small deer) with a decisive bite to the neck, the Asiatic golden cat also feeds on smaller quarry such as birds, lizards, rodents, and other small mammals.

Image shows a map focusing on East and South Asia. There are a scattering of regions highlighted where this cat is Extant (or resident); they are all over the place across China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and even down in Malaysia.

Species Distribution

The Asiatic golden cat is found from Tibet, Nepal, and Sikkim through southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra. The species is associated with forested habitats (dry deciduous, evergreen, and tropical) and can be found from sea level to altitudes of 3,000 meters.

Distribution map courtesy of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), compiled in 2015.

Threats to the Asiatic Golden Cat

The species is rarely seen in the wild. As a result, its wild status is difficult to determine. Threats to the cat include human activities, including hunting and habitat destruction.

The Asiatic golden cat is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) appendix I.

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