African Wildcat

Felis silvestris lybica

Africa has only about 100,ooo African wildcats left, and their population is decreasing, but they're listed as "least concern" on conservation status (the lowest an animal can get).

Their main diet consists of rodents, hares, birds, reptiles, amphibians, young antelope, insects and arachnids.

After a gestation of 56-63 days, females produce a litter of 1-5 kittens, with 3-4 being average.

At birth, the newborns weigh approximately 2.75-4.5 ounces. Their eyes will normally be open by the 10th day, and they will begin to walk by the 16th-20th day.

The primary threat for this cat is the hybridization of the population with domestic cats. Because of the wide spread problem of feral domestic cats and the long period of time which they have been a problem, it is unsure whether or not there are any pure wildcats remaining at all. If so, they are in very remote areas far away from human habitation.