Cats of Africa
African Golden Cat
Profelis aurata
Africa has only about 50,ooo African golden cats left and their population is decreasing, but they're listed as "Vulnerable" on conservation status (the 3rd lowest an animal can get).
The African golden cat may be found in the dense forests and bushes of central and west Africa.
The primary prey of this cat is small to mid-sized mammals consisting of tree hyraxes, large and small rodents, small antelope, and birds. Injured monkeys and scavenged eagle kills are an important part of this cats diet as well.
No dens with kittens have been described from the wild and very few have been raised in captivity. After a gestation of about 78 days, females produce a litter of one to three kittens in a hollow tree den, rocky crevice, or thick vegetation.
At birth, the newborns weigh approximately 6.5-8 ounces. Their eyes will normally be open by the 6th day, and at 2 weeks of age they are able to walk. When they are 3 weeks old they can jump onto low structures, and they will be weaned between 3-4 months.
The primary threat for this cat is deforestation and hunting for its pelt and bones, lifestock predation is also an issue.
The African golden cat is a medium sized cat and weighs between 24-30 pounds, stands approximately 20 inches tall and reaches lengths of 30-57 inches.
Thier coat color appears in 2 phases – red and gray. All black (melanistic) cats have been known to occur as well. Their pattern can also vary greatly from spotted all over, to indistinct spots on neck and back, no pattern on neck and back but on legs and belly, or to spots on the belly only.
