A Learning Link to the Feline Conservation Center

Leopard Cats

Did you know there is a wildcat that looks a lot like a house cat? It's called a leopard cat.

The most common subspecies, the Asian leopard cat, has a highly spotted pattern on its fur and looks somewhat different from your average tabby. It lives in India, China and Southeast Asia. But the Amur leopard cat that lives in Russia isn't as distinctly spotted. At quick glance, it can easily be mistaken for a house cat. However, its striped tail, spotted coat and thick fur would soon make it appear to be something different. And its personality would certainly not be the same as a pet cat's.

Leopard cats weigh 5 to 10 pounds and are fairly common in the wild. They are sometimes mated with domestic cats. The resulting breed is called a Bengal cat, because the scientific name for a leopard cat is Felis bengalensis.

The Exotic Feline Breeding Compound's Feline Conservation Center in Rosamond is home to a pair of Amur leopard cats. You can see and learn more about leopard cats and other wild felines by visiting the center or its Web site at www.cathouse-fcc.org. Center hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Tuesday. For more information, call (661) 256-3793 or (661) 256-3332 for recorded directions.

*

This information provided by Nancy Vandermey of the Feline Conservation Center, HCR 1 Box 84, Rosamond, CA 93560.