Sunda leopard cat: status, range, size and diet
A small spotted cat of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali and the Philippines, split from the leopard cat in 2017 and not yet assessed separately by the Red List.
Also known as Prionailurus javanensis, Javan leopard cat, island leopard cat
At a glance
| Scientific name | Prionailurus javanensis |
|---|---|
| Group | Small wild cats |
| Weight | 0.55-3.8 kg |
| Length | Head and body about 39-66 cm, tail about 40-50 percent of that |
| Known for | A newly recognised species, once lumped with the leopard cat, that copes well with disturbed land. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Data Deficient |
|---|
Where it lives
| Range | Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali and the Philippine islands of Palawan, Negros, Cebu and Panay |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Lowland evergreen forest, swamp forest and plantations of rubber, oil palm and sugarcane |
| Diet | Rodents such as rats and mice, plus lizards, snakes, frogs, insects and small birds |
Main threats
- Wildlife trade
- Habitat loss
- Snares
- Persecution over poultry
About
The Sunda leopard cat looks much like the mainland leopard cat, with a slender build, long legs, black spots on a tawny coat, two dark stripes on the face and partly webbed toes. The patterns differ from island to island. Until 2017 it was treated as the same species. That year the IUCN Cat Specialist Group recognised the island cats as a separate species, based on genetic, skull and geographic evidence.
Two subspecies are recognised. One lives on Java and Bali, and the other on Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippine islands. It is solitary, mostly active at night and dusk, and climbs and swims well, hunting as high as several metres up in trees.
Where it lives and what it eats
The cat is spread across the large islands of Sundaland and the Philippines. It is the only wild cat native to the Philippines. It lives in lowland evergreen forest and swamp forest, and also in plantations of rubber, oil palm and sugarcane, so it tolerates habitat change better than most Asian cats. The Malay Peninsula may also hold it, and the boundary between the two species there is not settled.
Rats, mice and other rodents are the main food. It also takes lizards, snakes, frogs, beetles and small birds.
Threats and conservation
As a recently recognised species, it has not yet been given its own Red List assessment. The old combined leopard cat was rated Least Concern, and the Cat Specialist Group has begun an assessment, held up by questions about access to data in Indonesia. The category shown here, Data Deficient, reflects that gap and not a formal rating. The Philippines lists the cat as Vulnerable nationally, and some Philippine island populations may have lost most of their former range.
Habitat loss is the main concern, with higher death rates in disturbed areas. The cat is also killed after taking poultry, caught in snares and traded as a pet. Surveys of wildlife markets on Java and Bali recorded hundreds of animals over two decades, more than half of them kittens. The species is in CITES Appendix II, and hunting is prohibited in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Cats and people
Kittens are sold in markets for the pet trade, which removes wild animals and gives buyers a poor pet that is hard to keep. Anyone considering a wild or hybrid cat should check local law. The species lives close to people on plantations, which is both a chance for it to persist and a source of conflict.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026