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Golden African cat. African golden cat - a rare beauty

There are two types of golden cat:
African golden cat;
Asian golden cat, or Gemminka cat, living in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Golden cats come in different sizes and colors, and there are no purely golden ones among them. These cats only have bright white spots and stripes on their faces, and their entire body is monochromatic - gray or red.

African golden cat

African golden cat (Profelis aurata) - lives in the tropical rain forests of Central Africa. She is twice the size of a normal domestic cat. The length from the nose to the tip of the tail is 72-94 cm, the average weight of the animal is 11-14 kg. There are two color variants: red and gray, which some researchers consider to be two separate species. The color is red-brown with a gray or golden tint with spots ranging from light to black tones, the color of which may change over time. There are also melanists, colored black, with darker black spots visible in the main color - these cats account for 4% of the total number of golden African cats. The number of animals of red and gray colors is approximately equal.

Golden cats hunt rodents, birds, and small antelopes. In some areas, small monkeys become prey. They attack poultry and small livestock. There is little data on the life of these cats in the wild; all data relates to observations of them in conditions of detention. They lead a solitary lifestyle within their territorial possessions, and can be active both during the day and during twilight, depending on local conditions. They reproduce well in captivity. Pregnancy lasts 75 days, 1-2 kittens are born. Their eyes open a week after birth, and the mother feeds them with milk for 6-8 weeks. At the age of 18 months they reach sexual maturity.

Pygmies, a people living in Cameroon, value the tails of golden cats as amulets to aid in hunting. The skin of these cats is used by them as ritual clothing. The African golden cat is listed in Appendix II of CITES. The main danger for them is the disappearance of forests in Central Africa.

There are two varieties:
Profelis aurata aurata - western, coastal, lives in West Africa;

Profelis aurata celidogaster - found in Central Africa.

Golden Asian cat

The Asian golden cat, or Gemmincki cat (Catopuma temmincki) is the same size as the African golden cat, although somewhat heavier (there are cats weighing 11-16 kg, although the average weight of animals is 8-11 kg, and according to other sources 4.2 -7.75 kg). The length from the nose to the tip of the tail is 75-105 cm, according to other sources, the length of the body including the head is 77.5-87.5 cm, the tail is 47.5-50 cm. This is a medium-sized cat, proportionally built, whose dimensions are twice that of a domestic cat .

The ears are short and round. The coat color is rich golden, sometimes reddish-golden, lightening to white on the sides and belly. Sometimes there are gray individuals. Some animals have no spotting, while others have clearly visible light brown spots. There are individuals that are dark brown, almost black. There are distinct gray spots behind the ears. Between the eyes there is a white stripe with a black border that goes to the top of the head.

The Asian cat lives in the forests and mountains of southeast Asia: southern China, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Tibet, from the Himalayas to the Malay Peninsula. Hunts during the day, on the ground, for prey of all types up to the size of a small deer, including hares, goats and lambs. They often hunt birds. They can climb trees well. Breeding begins at the beginning of winter; 1-3 kittens are born in February after a pregnancy of 75 days. They make dens in tree hollows.

There are the following varieties of golden Asian cat:

Golden Asian cat (Catopuma temmincki temmincki) - lives in the Himalayas to Sumatra;

Golden Asian cat (Catopuma temmnicki dominicanorum) - common in southern China;

Asian golden cat (Catopuma temmnicki tristis) - found in the southwestern Chinese highlands.

In the cat world, the ginger color is called red. And it is inherited in a rather cunning and confusing way. Let's try to figure it out and not get completely confused.


A little bit of genetics.

The red color of the hair is due to the pigment faumelanin. The gene that determines whether this pigment will be produced or not is located on the X sex chromosome; if dominant, the color will be red. A cat has two of these chromosomes, a cat has one. Therefore, a cat is either red or not red. But with a cat everything is more complicated. The gene manifests itself in such a way that she can be red in some places and black in others, and then the tortoiseshell color appears, so dearly loved by my daughter.


Cats, by the way, can also be tortoiseshells. With a probability of approximately 1:1000. This color will be the result of a gene mutation, chromosome doubling or cunning movement of a locus (a piece of a gene). At the same time, doubling the chromosomes will make the animal sterile, so it’s practically not a cat. What can I say - nature is brilliant!


And also, in the presence of the diluent gene already familiar to us, the red color loses its saturation and becomes creamy. This color, like the same diluted lilac and blue, is quite rare.


Cats with the diluent gene and red color can have the amazing blue tortoiseshell, blue cream color.


Red color and its variations are included in the standards of many breeds

A little about character.

There are many contradictions here. Some owners of red cats claim that they are impudent and self-satisfied, distinguished by their independence and independence of character. Fans of sunny cats claim that they are extremely loving, affectionate, playful and the most positive creatures. But both of them are sure that red cats are smart, cunning and capable of achieving their goals in a variety of ways.

The truth is somewhere in the middle, it seems to me, and in many ways the character of a cat depends on the stability and depth of its relationship with the owner

And a pinch of black magic

Well, everything is simple here - red, the color of pure positivity. Ginger cats (and cats) are considered the best cure for depression. Their purring and bright coat color can disperse even the most persistent blues. Therefore, it is prescribed to have saffron milk caps for those who are prone to melancholy, recovering from a serious illness and prone to hypertension, hypotension, and migraines.

In addition, ginger cats (and cats) attract wealth. Therefore, they are absolutely necessary for businessmen, those who plan to develop their business and want to increase their level of income. (Or maybe start one... or better yet two, just to be sure)

Red representatives of the cat family provide home comfort and harmony.

What are your saffron milk caps like?

The moist multi-tiered forests of equatorial Africa are a real paradise for numerous animals. The African Golden Cat also liked tropical forests.

The main population of this predatory mammal lives in the Congo Basin and surrounding areas.

The African golden cat stands out significantly among its relatives with its grace and stature. This species has two varieties, which differ slightly in appearance from each other. The color can be not only golden, based on the name of the animal, but also chestnut-brown, brown, gray-brown, silver-gray, and less often even black. In addition, cats' colors change as they grow older. And by old age, almost all Golden cats become gray. The upper part of the body is covered with a pattern, slightly darker than the main color. The chest and belly, cheeks and chin are painted white.


There are large black spots on the stomach, and two dark stripes on the cheeks. Small specks on the cat's chest and throat form thin transverse lines. And along the inner surface of the long legs of the pussy there are thick vertical white stripes. In individuals living in the western regions of Africa, the pattern is more pronounced than in their relatives from the central regions. In appearance, the Golden Cat is very similar to the Temminck cat.


The size of the African Golden Cat is quite large. Compared to pets, they are twice as large. Together with the tail, their length is from seventy centimeters to one meter, and some cats even exceed these dimensions. Height at withers up to half a meter. The body weight of male individuals varies from eleven to fourteen kilograms. The only female that was examined weighed only six kilograms. Life expectancy in captivity ranges from twelve to fifteen years.


The African golden cat leads a solitary and secretive lifestyle. Each individual has its own hunting ground, extending over a distance of up to forty-eight kilometers. They are active mainly at night. The cat's diet includes rodents, birds, small antelopes and small monkeys. Adult males can attack similar babies.

During the mating season, married couples are formed. Seventy-five to eighty days after mating, one or two kittens are born, weighing about two hundred grams. The mother very carefully selects housing for the kittens. As a rule, these are secluded places - lairs in hollow trees, crevices in rocks or dense vegetation thickets. Within a week, the babies open their eyes, and after three and a half months they stop feeding on mother’s milk. At this age they weigh almost three kilograms. Some observations showed that the father was nearby during the growth of the babies. From this we can conclude that the male is directly involved in raising the offspring. After a year and a half, Golden Cat kittens become completely independent. It is known that in captivity the reproduction of this species is quite successful.


In 1996, ten thousand individuals were counted in the population. The decline in the number of African Golden Cats is threatened by deforestation in Equatorial Africa and illegal human activities. Some peoples use cat tails as amulets that promote good hunting. And from the fur of these amazing animals they sew clothes for special rituals. Due to a decrease in population size, this species has been listed in Appendix II of CITES, and hunting for the African Golden Cat is limited to the maximum or completely prohibited.

The golden cat is a predatory inhabitant of the impenetrable tropical jungle. She is picturesque, perfectly proportioned and very graceful. The Latin name of the species is Profelis aurata, which translated into Russian means gilded or golden cat.

Thanks to its amazing golden color, the predator has become a cult animal for the local population; they associate many ancient beliefs with it. The pygmies of Cameroon hunt animals for their tails and skins. The tails of the animal are used as talismans that bring good luck during hunting; clothing is made from the skins for ritual ceremonies and communication with the spirits of ancestors.

Habitat

The living space of this animal, in contrast, covers the equatorial part of Central and Western Africa. Habitat: tropical rainforests, mangroves and bamboo thickets, wetlands, coastal thickets. It is found at altitudes up to 3.5 thousand meters; in search of prey it can wander into dry forests and clearings.

The population size does not exceed 10 thousand individuals. Animal migration is limited by natural barriers. Most of the predators live in the Congo River basin. Deforestation and degeneration of rain forests, a decrease in food supply, and poaching cause irreparable damage to the species. The animal is listed in the Red Book.


Appearance

This cat has a proportionally built body and impressive size.

  • The length of the body including the tail reaches 1.2 meters. The height at the withers ranges from 35 to 50 cm.
  • The average weight of females is 7 kg, the weight of males ranges from 11 to 14 kg.
  • The head is round in shape. The muzzle is elongated.
  • The nose is large, pink with a brownish tint.
  • Eyes with vertical pupils.
  • The paws are long, especially the hind ones, and the claws are retractable.
  • The ears are dark in color at the back, set high, rounded at the ends, and of medium size.
    The coat is short, thick, of medium hardness. In life and in the photo, the golden cat has a golden-red or chestnut-brown color. These are the two main types of colors that are usually seen in juveniles. With age, the colors of golden cats can change, acquiring a gray or brownish tint. In addition to animals with a characteristic color, 4% of the population is black. They are usually endowed with young individuals, who most often end up in the camera lens.

Subspecies

There are two known subspecies of cats living in different parts of Africa. Animals differ from each other in their fur patterns.

  1. The subspecies that lives in the very center of the African continent - Profelis aurata aurata - has spots only on the sides and belly.
  2. The subspecies Profelis aurata celidogaster occurs in western Africa. It has more pronounced spotting, with spots covering the head, neck and back.

Lifestyle

The predator can navigate well at night and has acute vision and hearing. In case of danger, it climbs high into the trees or flees. He is not afraid of water and knows how to swim.

The golden cat prefers a solitary lifestyle and is rarely seen by humans. Pairs are formed only during the mating period and quickly break up after the female becomes pregnant. In captivity, males sometimes help the female raise her offspring.

Hunting grounds cover an area of ​​24 to 45 km2. Personal space is marked with excrement. The secretions have an extremely unpleasant odor and serve as reliable protection against the encroachments of relatives.

The animal rests during the day and goes hunting at night. It tracks prey by smell, looks out from cover, and catches it by jumping. It can sneak up silently and therefore, as a rule, takes its prey by surprise.

It feeds on any small living creatures that come across its path and picks up carrion. The diet includes birds, insects, rodents, and reptiles. It can attack monkeys and young ungulates, and sometimes drags domestic animals.

Reproduction and care of offspring

There is little data on how the wild golden cat lives and reproduces in nature. According to observations in captivity, females bear cubs for 75 - 80 days. The litter is usually small - one or two kittens. Cubs, like all representatives of the cat family, are born blind, almost deaf.

The weight of a newborn does not exceed 250 grams. The golden cat kitten opens its eyes in the second week. The mother feeds the babies with breast milk until two to two and a half months, and gradually accustoms them to solid food. Adult life begins at 1.5 years.

Life in captivity

The predator has an aggressive character, is difficult to tame, and is unpredictable. More suitable for keeping in a specially equipped spacious enclosure. The animal must be under the supervision of a veterinarian, receive age-appropriate vaccinations and a balanced diet. The diet consists of lean meat, feed mice, poultry, eggs, vitamin supplements, and fish.

You can legally buy a golden cat only in a specialized nursery that breeds exotic animals. The price of a golden cat depends on the intensity of the color of the skin, the age of the animal, acquired skills, and pedigree. The initial cost is $10 thousand.

In captivity, the animal lives up to 15 years.

In the impenetrable mangrove wilds of Equatorial Africa lurks an amazing beast, which many zoologists call the world's rarest cat. We are talking about the African golden cat - a beautiful and mysterious animal, reliable information about which is scanty and is mainly based on observations of predators kept in captivity. Scientists still have to make many discoveries to get to know this truly golden beast better.

Golden Beast from the Rainforest

Asian golden cat - not to be confused with the African golden cat

These are completely different species - one can only assume that they turned out to be so similar as a result of similar conditions for evolutionary development, because both species formed in hot tropical forests, where there is a lot of rainfall.

The African is closely related not to the golden Asian, but to other species of cats - servals and caracals. So close that some scientists propose combining the caracal and the African golden cat into one genus.

The African golden cat is a close relative of the caracal.

Habitat and relationships with humans

A significant part of the African golden cat population has settled along the banks of the Congo River in tropical rainforests; the predator lives in various countries of Equatorial Africa: Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal. Representatives of this species are found not only on the plains, but also quite high in the mountains - up to 4 thousand kilometers above sea level.

The habitat of the golden cat is Equatorial Africa, central and western regions

In recent years, tropical forests have been actively developed by humans - they are cut down, burned for agricultural land, and this has a very negative impact on the size of the wild cat population, which is deprived of its habitat. For its part, this proud predator tries to interact with people as little as possible and almost never approaches a human home, not to mention stealing domestic animals for food.

Golden cat tries not to catch the eye of a person

Local residents - mostly pygmies - hunt the animal for ritual and commercial purposes. Aborigines know a lot of mystical stories and legends about the golden cat, sincerely believe in the magical power of its body parts and make talismans from them. For example, in their opinion, the tail of an animal promotes successful hunting of elephants; a necklace of fangs or claws protects against evil forces and diseases. And African priests always use cat skins for ritual clothing. Exotic talismans are in demand among tourists, which again stimulates the natives to exterminate the golden cat.

When going hunting, pygmies hang themselves with the tails of wild cats.

The number of this rare animal is most likely decreasing - research on this matter is very difficult, since the animal leads a secretive lifestyle and avoids humans in every possible way. The last calculations were carried out quite a long time ago, in 1996; then scientists estimated the total population of the African golden cat at only ten thousand adult sexually mature individuals. The latest, less accurate study was carried out in 2011 - according to its data, the population of the species decreased by a thousand individuals.

Description of the African golden cat

Unfortunately, it is only possible to admire the beauty and grace of a wild cat in a zoo. Even very little video of this animal in nature has been filmed. Naturalists and animal photographers consider a meeting with a predator to be a special success - a rare animal tries not to let a person get close to it. Young animals are more carefree - they are caught on camera much more often than cautious adults.

The golden cat is twice the size of a domestic cat

External data

The golden cat is twice the size of the average domestic cat - the length of the body reaches 80–85 centimeters, plus a 30-centimeter tail. The height of a large male at the withers is up to 55 centimeters, and his weight is up to 14 kilograms. Females weigh almost half as much, since sexual dimorphism in this species is very pronounced.

A lean, muscular body harmonizes with high, strong paws - cats are very mobile and jumping. The hind legs of the animal are shorter than the front ones, and thanks to this, predators are able to make huge jumps not only from heights, but also while moving on a flat surface. The small round head is crowned with rather large triangular ears and decorated with unusually expressive gray-green eyes.

The golden cat has a very expressive look

The subspecies differ primarily in color - the main coat color can be either bright gold or dark silver, while the belly and lower chest are much lighter. In different individuals, the spots on the body and paws are more or less pronounced; There is a dark dividing stripe along the tail.

There are two subspecies of the golden cat, the numbers of which are approximately equal:

  • Profelis aurata aurata;
  • Profelis aurata celidogaster.

Within both subspecies, pure black kittens are periodically born - up to four percent of the total number of the species is melanistic.

Character and lifestyle

The golden cat is calm and balanced in everyday life, but in extreme moments it is characterized by aggressiveness and unbridled courage. When saving cubs from a person or a large predator, the female is capable of self-sacrifice. These animals enter into fights with obviously stronger opponents and are able to put them to flight.

The golden cat is a very brave animal

The animal leads a solitary, secretive, predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. The wild cat hunts most often at night, and usually sleeps most of the day, climbing higher on a tree. She generally climbs trees very well and quickly hides in their crowns in moments of danger; swims well and masterfully climbs almost vertical mountain slopes.

African woman spends a lot of time in trees

The golden cat is the ideal huntress. Her movements are precise, precise and absolutely silent; She is endowed with excellent sense of smell, sensitive hearing and sees equally well in the dark and in bright daylight. Creeping very close to the prey on soft paws, the predator makes a murderous jump at the right moment - they successfully attack their prey.

Golden cat likes to hunt from ambush

The hunting grounds of the beast are quite large - up to fifty square kilometers, and it jealously guards the borders of its possessions from the encroachments of intruders.

Video: golden cat in natural conditions

Nutrition

Golden cats are gourmets and prefer variety to abundance of food. They include a wide variety of prey in their menu:

  • rodents;
  • birds;
  • hyraxes;
  • small ungulates;
  • monkeys

The golden cat obtains food at night by attacking sleeping prey

Monkeys are a favorite treat of golden cats. Thrifty predators tend to stock up on meat provisions - for this purpose they often hunt quite large game: antelope, wild goats, and sometimes even, as eyewitnesses testify, buffalo. However, the golden cat can sometimes feast on insects, and also does not disdain carrion - it picks up prey left over from eagles; is capable of catching a gaping bird of prey.

After a hearty meal, you can sleep

Reproduction

During mating games - at the end of winter - single cats form pairs, then the male leaves his girlfriend, and she has to solve all the problems with raising offspring alone. The expectant mother carefully selects a secluded, well-protected place for the den in advance and equips a nest there. After just over two months, at the usual time for most cats, two to four kittens are born.

In nature, cats form a pair only during love games.

Golden cat cubs are characterized by rapid development - their eyes open very early, already at a week of age. The mother keeps them on a “milk diet” for up to one and a half months, then gradually switches them to regular food. The process of upbringing and training continues until about eight months, after which young animals go into independent life.

Golden cat kitten begins to explore the world

By this age, they have already acquired the parental dimensions, but have not yet become completely adults - young golden cats will be considered fully sexually mature only after reaching the age of one and a half years.

Life in captivity

Few zoos can boast that they have this rare African animal on display. Meanwhile, the golden cat tolerates captivity well and even breeds regularly in zoos. The predator has a strong nervous system and does not get stressed due to a large number of visitors.

The golden cat adapts well in captivity

But anyone who hopes to tame this predator will be disappointed. Even a very small kitten will not be able to grow into an affectionate domestic kitty. The golden cat is very poorly tamed, remains a dangerous wild animal and is categorically not recommended for apartment keeping.

However, the fashion for exotic predators increases the demand for them, and the African golden cat can increasingly be found in private zoos. Animals end up in such collections from specialized nurseries or illegally through smuggling. In both cases, the cost of a rare kitten is very high - its price starts from ten thousand dollars.

Don't buy a kitten that's too small - it's very difficult to raise.

Features of care

For the normal maintenance of a golden cat, you will need a spacious enclosure, divided into several different zones:

  • shelters - houses, hollow tree trunks, etc. - here the cat can calmly rest and hide during the daytime;
  • food zone - a wooden platform in the far corner of the enclosure, where it will be convenient for the animal to cut up and eat food;
  • a play or “sports” area equipped with large stones and branches - the animal needs to maintain good physical shape, and for this it needs to move a lot;
  • walking area - a space where the cat can run freely and receive direct sunlight.

Both in the wild and in captivity, the golden cat needs space and a lot of sun

If you plan to breed animals, you will need to build a fence in the enclosure, protected from prying human eyes - here the female will give birth and raise her cubs.

By the way, golden cat litters born in captivity are usually half the size of those born in natural conditions - only one, rarely two kittens. It is interesting that both parents take part in raising them, while in the wild the mother raises the babies on her own.

In captivity, the golden cat’s home must be equipped with shelters and “trainers”

The main problem of keeping an African predator in a zoo or private collection can be organizing its proper diet - this is fundamentally important for the health and long, fulfilling life of the animal. When kept in captivity, the golden cat's menu must include vitamin supplements - a veterinarian will help you calculate the correct dosage.

No dry food, even the best, will solve the feeding problem - a wild cat needs fresh meat - and with feathers and hair. Live food must be given; In zoos, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and other rodents are raised specifically for such purposes.

Professional journalist, higher education major, 30 years of experience in print and electronic media, major advertising and PR campaigns. author, co-author and literary editor of two dozen books on various topics. Nominee and winner of literary competitions.