Jungle cat: status, range, size and diet
A long-legged, plain-coated cat of reed beds and wetlands from Egypt to Southeast Asia, listed as Least Concern, and the wild ancestor of the Chausie.
Also known as Felis chaus, swamp cat, reed cat
At a glance
| Scientific name | Felis chaus |
|---|---|
| Group | Medium wild cats |
| Weight | About 2-16 kg |
| Length | Head and body about 59-76 cm, tail 21-36 cm |
| Known for | A plain sandy coat on long legs, and a taste for swimming and fishing. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2016 |
Where it lives
| Range | From the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt and the Caucasus across Central and South Asia to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and southern China |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Reed beds, marsh, riverbanks and wet grassland, also scrub and farmland; it avoids rainforest and dense woodland |
| Diet | Gerbils, rodents and hares, plus birds, fish, frogs and small snakes |
Main threats
- Wetland drainage and damming
- Pollution and urban growth
- Trapping and poisoning
- Illegal hunting
About
The jungle cat is the largest member of the genus Felis, the group that also contains the domestic cat and the small wildcats. Despite the name it is rarely a jungle animal. It is a lean, long-legged cat with a short tail, a rounded face and a uniform sandy, reddish-brown or grey coat. The kittens are spotted or striped, but adults normally have only faint markings on the legs and a dark ring or two near the tail tip. Dark and pale individuals have been reported from India.
It is usually seen by day or at dusk. It rests in thick vegetation and moves through reeds and grass with little sound.
Where it lives and what it eats
The jungle cat occurs in wet and well-vegetated ground, such as swamps, river banks and the edges of lakes, and it also lives in scrub and farm country. It is a capable swimmer and plunges into water to catch fish. It lives from the Nile delta and the Caspian shore to India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and it is the commonest small wild cat in India. Three subspecies are recognised.
Rodents are the main prey, and in one study they made up as much as 95 per cent of what the cats ate. The jungle cat also takes gerbils, hares, birds, frogs, fish and small snakes, and eats some fruit in winter.
Threats and conservation
The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern, in an assessment from 2016, thanks to its wide range and tolerance of farmland. It faces localised threats. Wetland loss, dams, pollution and urban growth are shrinking its habitat, and animals are trapped, poisoned and shot. Populations along the Caspian coast of the Caucasus have fallen quickly since the 1960s, and only small groups remain there.
Jungle cats are protected by law in parts of their range, and international trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II. Habitat protection around wetlands, and the preservation of reed margins along canals and rivers, helps the species.
Cats and people
A few jungle cat mummies have been found among the animals buried in ancient Egypt. Jungle cats sometimes mate with domestic cats, and the Chausie breed was developed from such crosses. Early-generation cats of this type can be large and strong-willed, and the rules on keeping them differ by place, so check local law. In the wild, jungle cats avoid people, but in some places they raid poultry and are treated as pests.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026