Asiatic wildcat: status, range, size and diet
The spotted wildcat of western and Central Asia, a subspecies of the African wildcat, covered by that species' Least Concern listing.
Also known as Felis lybica ornata, Indian desert cat, Asian wildcat, Felis ornata
At a glance
| Scientific name | Felis lybica ornata |
|---|---|
| Group | Small wild cats |
| Weight | 3-4 kg |
| Known for | A sandy, spotted coat that sets it apart from the striped African form. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2022 |
Where it lives
| Range | From the Caspian Sea region east through Central Asia, Pakistan and western India to western China and southern Mongolia |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Desert and semi-desert lowlands, scrub and dry mountain slopes up to about 2,000-3,000 m |
| Diet | Great gerbils, jirds, jerboas, hares, birds, reptiles and insects |
Main threats
- Hybridisation with domestic cats
- Fur hunting
- Habitat conversion
- Pesticides and energy development
About
The Asiatic wildcat is a subspecies of the African wildcat, Felis lybica, described in the 1830s. Its place in the cat family has changed over time. For many years it was grouped with the wildcats of Europe, and a revision of cat taxonomy in 2017 placed all of these animals in the Afro-Asiatic species Felis lybica. The Red List does not give the subspecies a rating of its own. It is covered by the Least Concern listing for the African wildcat, assessed in 2022.
The coat is sandy or grey with small, rounded dark spots instead of the stripes seen in many other wildcats. A dark line runs down the back, and the tail is ringed and black-tipped. Compared with a domestic cat, it has longer legs, and it has tiny tufts of hair on the ear tips. It is typically somewhat larger and leaner than a house cat, and males are heavier than females.
Where it lives and what it eats
The range extends from the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea north into Kazakhstan, and east through Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan into western India, western China and southern Mongolia. It lives in sandy desert, scrub desert and rocky hills, and can survive in places with no standing water.
Small rodents such as great gerbils, Libyan jirds and jerboas make up much of the diet. Hares, birds, reptiles and insects add variety, and the mix shifts from region to region.
Threats and conservation
Population data are sparse, but local numbers are thought to be declining. The cat was once hunted for its pelt, and more than a thousand skins were reported on sale in an Afghan market in the 1970s. It still faces hybridisation with domestic cats around villages, which makes it hard to find animals that are clearly pure. Cultivation, oil and gas exploration and pesticide use also take away habitat and prey.
Protection depends on national law, and few range countries have species-specific plans. Surveys that identify hybrids genetically would be the most valuable way to learn how many true wildcats remain.
Cats and people
Throughout much of Central Asia the Asiatic wildcat shares land with herding families and with feral and village cats. Like other wildcats, it is wary of people, and it is not suited to keeping as a pet.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026