Leopard cat: status, range, size and diet
A widespread, spotted, house-cat-sized forest cat of mainland Asia and the parent species of the Bengal breed, listed as Least Concern.
Also known as Prionailurus bengalensis, mainland leopard cat, Asian leopard cat
At a glance
| Scientific name | Prionailurus bengalensis |
|---|---|
| Group | Small wild cats |
| Weight | 0.55-4 kg in the tropics, up to about 7 kg in the far north |
| Length | Head and body about 39-66 cm in the tropics, tail about half as long |
| Known for | The wild ancestor of one parent line of the Bengal breed, and the most widespread small cat in Asia. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2023 |
Where it lives
| Range | From Afghanistan and Pakistan across the Indian subcontinent, China and mainland Southeast Asia to the Russian Far East, plus Taiwan and southern Japan |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest of many kinds, plantations, scrub and farmland edge, from sea level to over 4,000 m |
| Diet | Rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects |
Main threats
- Hunting for fur
- meat and pets
- Persecution over poultry
- Habitat loss
- Road deaths
About
The leopard cat is a slender, long-legged cat about the size of a domestic cat. The tawny to yellowish coat is covered with black spots, and two dark stripes run from the eyes towards the ears, with white streaks along the muzzle. The toes are partly webbed. Cats in cold northern forests are noticeably larger and paler than those of the tropics.
It is a good climber and swimmer, is mostly active at night and dusk but sometimes by day, and is solitary. It reaches breeding age at about 18 months. Litters usually have two or three kittens, born after roughly two months.
In 2017 the IUCN Cat Specialist Group split the old leopard cat into two species. The mainland form keeps the name Prionailurus bengalensis. The island cats of Sundaland and the Philippines became the Sunda leopard cat, which has its own page here. Japan's Tsushima and Iriomote island cats are subspecies of the mainland species.
Where it lives and what it eats
The mainland leopard cat has one of the widest ranges of any Asian cat, running from northern Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Himalayan foothills and across India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Korea to the Russian Far East, and south through Southeast Asia to the Malay Peninsula. It also lives on Taiwan and some Japanese islands. It uses evergreen and deciduous forest, plantations, scrub and the margins of farmland, usually near water, and has been recorded above 4,000 m.
Small rodents are the staple, with birds, reptiles, frogs, insects and sometimes poultry added.
Threats and conservation
The species is rated Least Concern and is considered fairly numerous in many areas, but information is limited and populations are thought to be declining in places. Loss of forest and wetland, hunting and snaring for fur, meat and the pet trade, and killing after raids on poultry are the main pressures. Traffic is the leading cause of death in South Korea. Island populations are especially vulnerable. The Tsushima cat in Japan is affected by logging, a growing deer population and road deaths.
The species is in CITES Appendix II, and some national populations, including those in Bangladesh, India and Thailand, are in Appendix I.
Cats and people
The Bengal breed began as crosses between leopard cats and domestic cats, and breeders later bred hybrids among themselves. The leopard cat itself is a wild animal that is not suited to a home. Wild-caught leopard cats are sold as pets in parts of Asia, a trade that threatens wild animals and is illegal in many places. Check local law if you are thinking about owning a hybrid.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026