African golden cat: status, range, size and diet
A rarely seen, powerfully built rainforest cat of West and Central Africa, listed as Vulnerable and now placed in the caracal genus.
Also known as Caracal aurata, Profelis aurata, Temminck's golden cat of Africa
At a glance
| Scientific name | Caracal aurata |
|---|---|
| Group | Medium wild cats |
| Weight | About 5.5-16 kg |
| Length | Head and body about 61-101 cm, tail 16-46 cm |
| Known for | Coming in a red and a grey form that were once thought to be separate species. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Vulnerable |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2015 |
Where it lives
| Range | Forests of West and Central Africa, from Senegal across the Congo basin to Uganda and northern Angola |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Moist tropical forest with dense undergrowth, often near rivers, from lowland to mountain forest and bamboo up to about 3,000 m |
| Diet | Tree hyraxes, rodents, birds, small monkeys and duikers |
Main threats
- Deforestation
- Bushmeat hunting and snares
- Mining and road building
- Conversion of forest to plantations
About
The African golden cat is about twice the size of a big domestic cat, with a heavy build, long legs, a short tail and a rounded head. Its coat is uniform in colour but varies from rich chestnut or reddish-brown to greyish-brown and slate, and a few animals are dark all over. Red and grey animals were once thought to belong to different species. They are now known to be one. Despite the shared name, it is not closely related to the Asian golden cat. Its nearest relative is the caracal, and the two separated from a common ancestor roughly one to three million years ago.
It is one of the least studied cats in the world. Most of what scientists know comes from camera traps and from a small number of studies in a few forests.
Where it lives and what it eats
The cat is found in tropical Africa, from Senegal in the west across the Congo basin to Uganda in the east. It prefers moist, dense forest, especially near water, and has been recorded in highland forest and bamboo as well as in lowland rainforest. Two subspecies have been recognised since 2017, a western form living west of the Cross River on the Nigeria-Cameroon border and a second form across the rest of the range.
Reported prey includes tree hyraxes and rodents, with birds, small monkeys, duikers and, occasionally, young forest hogs. It may also take domestic poultry or small livestock near villages.
Threats and conservation
The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable, in an assessment from 2015. Deforestation is the main driver, through mining, road building and the spread of plantations such as oil palm, which also open forest to hunters. In parts of the Congo basin the cat is caught in snares set for other animals or sold as bushmeat.
Conservation depends on keeping large forest blocks intact and on better surveys, since population size and trends are not well known.
Cats and people
Few people ever see this cat, and it is rarely a problem for them. Poultry losses near villages are the main source of conflict. Its taxonomy has changed recently. It was long placed in the genus Profelis but is now classed in Caracal, alongside the caracal and the serval.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026