ABOUT THE SMALL
WILDCATS
33 species of small cat
There are 33 species of small cat currently recognised by the IUCN. Over time we hope to create specific profiles for each of these cats but for now we will provide a list, scientific names and distribution. Together they make 83% of the World's cat species and are found on 5 out of the 7 continents.
Small cats of the Americas
Andean Mountain Cat
Leopardus jacobita
IUCN Status: Endangered
Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile & Peru
Geoffroy's Cat
Leopardus geoffroyi
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay & Uruguay
Margay
Leopardus wiedii
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Distribution: Majority of countries in Central and Southern America
Pampas Cat
Leopardus pajeros
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador & Peru
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Canada, United States down to Mexico
Guina
Leopardus guigna
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Argentina & Chile
Northern Oncilla
Leopardus tigrinus
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana & Peru
Southern Oncilla
Leopardus guttulus
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Argentina, Brazil & Paraguay
Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Canada
Jaguarundi
Puma yagouaroundi
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Majority of countries in Central and Southern America
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Majority of countries in Central and Southern America
Small cats of Africa
African Golden Cat
Caracal aurata
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Many countries in Western and Central Africa
Caracal
Caracal caracal
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Widespread throughout Southern and Eastern Africa & parts of Asia
Afro-Asiatic Wild Cat
Felis lybica
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Incredibly widespread throughout Africa & Asia
Sand Cat
Felis margarita
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Widespread throughout Northern Africa & parts of the Middle East
Black Footed Cat
Felis nigripes
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Botswana, Namibia & South Africa
Serval
Leptailurus serval
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Widespread throughout Southern, Eastern & Western Africa
Small cats of Europe
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Widespread throughout parts of Europe
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Widespread throughout parts of Europe
Iberian Lynx
Lynx pardinus
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Spain & Portugal
Small cats of Asia
Asian Golden Cat
Catopuma temminckii
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Thailand
Jungle Cat
Felis chaus
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Widespread throughout the Middle-East & Asia
Pallas's Cat
Otocolobus manul
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Mongolia, Russia, China and parts of the Middle-East
Bornean Bay Cat
Catopuma badia
IUCN Status: Endangered
Distribution: Indonesia & Malaysia.
Flat-Headed Cat
Prionailurus planiceps
IUCN Status: Endangered
Distribution: Brunei, Indonesia & Malaysia
Leopard Cat
Prionailurus bengalensis
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Incredibly widespread throughout Asia, found as far north as parts of Russia
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Prionailurus rubiginosus
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Distribution: India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
Chinese Mountain Cat
Felis bieti
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Central China
Clouded Leopard
Neofelis nebulosa
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Widespread from Nepal down to South-East Asia & Indonesia
Marbled Cat
Pardofelis marmorata
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Distribution: Many countries throughout South-East Asia & Indonesia
Sunda Clouded Leopard
Neofelis diardi
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Sumatra and Borneo
Sunda Leopard Cat
Prionailurus javanensis
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Distribution: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Phillipines
