Mammals from the cat family have more than 30 species of their representatives. These are, perhaps, the most specialized predators, excellently mastering the technique of stalking, chasing and "stealing" animal food. The lifestyle of these mammals is mainly twilight or nocturnal. They can be either monogamous or polygamous. For example, lions create so-called prides (flocks). Small cats (domestic) breed every year and several times, and large cats (tiger, lion) - once every few years.
All in mom
If you look closely at cute domestic cats, you can see what a grandiose external resemblance they have with their wild counterparts! This is certainly good reason to believe that feral cats and domesticated small cats are descended from the same common ancestor!
Meals are served
Wild felines are divided into different subspecies corresponding to their habitat: African, European, Asian and desert cats. Because they live in their natural habitat, they are notfastidious, like their domesticated relatives. For example, wild cats in the "hungry year" can eat carrion or even insects! That's the only way they can survive. In addition, their diet includes rabbits, fish, bird eggs, rodents, snakes.
Wild cats of the Old and New Worlds
So far, such places of the New and Old Worlds are still preserved, where about a dozen of these or those small, but wild cats and cats live. Outwardly, they differ from each other, but they have certain common features that distinguish them from large cats.
Ocelot
This is a small but very beautiful wild cat. It lives in Latin America and is also found in the southwestern United States of America. Its coat is greyish-white, it has wonderful black patterns, consisting of stripes and rosettes. Sometimes brownish-reddish blotches are noticeable in them.
Their other name is tigrillos (small tigers). They have repeatedly tried to tame, domesticate. However, all attempts to do so were in vain. Because of such beautiful skins, these animals were on the verge of extinction. At one time, they were hunted fiercely. Ocelots are excellent tree climbers, so they hunt and hide on them.
Wild reed cat
Its other name is swamp lynx or jungle cat. This is a rather large predator from the cat family, living in Central Asia, North Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and the Transcaucasus. These wild cats (photo 3) are quite different from ordinary domestic cats. Their main color is gray-brown with a red (or olive) tinge in the upper part. On the sides, the coat is lighter. The tail is much darker than the body.
Reed wild cats feed on small rodents (mice, ground squirrels, voles), birds living near water bodies (ducks, pheasants), lizards, hares, turtles, young ungulates and, of course, various fish. They are excellent swimmers. Unlike their smaller domestic relatives, these animals have no fear of water.
