The Asian Leopard Cat     The Leopard Cat’s Appearance   The general build of an Asian Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis) is similar to a normal domestic cat, but with somewhat longer legs and a longer back.  They have a relatively small head with a short narrow muzzle, large eyes (because of their nocturnal habits) and a thick tail of about 11 to 14 inches in length.  Body length varies between 25 to 32 inches, and they weigh 6 to 15 pounds.  Size and weight vary between subspecies in different geographical regions, but the males are generally heavier than the females.    There are around ten sub-species, showing distinct variations in body color.  For example, cats in the Northern regions tend towards reddish brown spotting on a yellowish-grey background and leopard cats from more humid regions tending to be more ochre-yellow to brownish.  Now that the Bengal breeding program is maturing, more Leopard Cat bloodlines are being introduced into the breeding, bringing with it this diversity of colors.    The cats’ beautiful markings, which have in many ways been their downfall by attracting the attention of the fur trade, are striking and show some variation among individuals.  All subspecies have a spotted or ringed tail, with a black tail tip, four black bands running from their forehead to the back of the neck, breaking up into elongated spots on the neck and shoulders, often forming a “broken necklace”.  The round black ears have a white spot on the back, and all cats have a white underside, throat, and cheek-flashes.  The underparts are spotted on the white background.  The body markings can be solid or rosetted and sometimes show marbling.    Distribution   Despite its name, the Asian Leopard Cat is not restricted to southern Asia,, but can be found across India, through China, Korea and the Soviet Far East.  It can also be found on islands such as Sumatra, Philippines, Taiwan, Borneo, Bali and Java.  Naturally, the widespread habitat of the Asian Leopard has led to many different names, such as the Javan cat, Wagati cat, Chinese cat or “money cat”, so called because the spots resemble Chinese coins.    Of the small cats, Felis bengalensis is probably one of the most common and widespread, and most authorities do not consider it to be in imminent danger of extinction.  However, the destruction of its habitat by rapidly expanding human populations, deforestation, farming, and soil erosion, all remain threats to the wild cat populations.    Leopard Cat Behavior   Asian Leopard Cats are generally solitary and nocturnal in behavior and prefer brush and forest as their habitat.  They make their dens in hollow trees, small caves or under large roots and, living in a wide variety of environments, have an unusually wide variety of skills.  For example, they often live near water and are accomplished swimmers and fishers.  Their legacy lives on in the Bengal’s enjoyment for playing in water.  Equally, they are very agile climbers – very much at home in the trees, hunting for birds, squirrels, tree shrews and other prey.  Indeed there are some reports of tropical Leopard Cats being totally tree dwelling in their nature.    Reproduction After a gestation period of 69 to 72 days, one to four young are born.  The normal is two or three kittens.  Nests are usually in hollow trees, rocky crevices or burrows.  The average weight of a kitten at birth is 80 grams and their eyes open around 10 to 12 days.  Leopard cats from the northern part of their range appear to have a higher birth rate in May, but in the southern parts, kittens have been found all year around.  The sexual maturity in the wild is documented at 18 months.  There appears to be no difference between the females and males in the maturation process.    Lifespan   The longevity of these cats is about the same as the domestic – 15 years in captivity.  Those in the wild appear to have a much shorter life span.  This can be attributed to the lifestyle, their location in the food chain, and the lack of vaccines.    The Captive Owned Leopard Cat   The Asian leopard cat is not a domestic cat but is in fact, a small exotic cat. My ALC’S are hand raised but they are clearly different than a domestic cat and are not for everyone. You need to learn how to properly care for them and this especially includes a proper diet. Improper care will almost surely result in poor health or an early death. You also must check your state, county, and city laws as they pertain to owning exotic animals. Owning an exotic animal should never be taken lightly. This can be a 20 year commitment, and it is an incredible experience, although it may limit your freedom for taking a vacation whenever you want. If raised correctly, and with a lot of human interaction, these small exotic cats can be very sweet, playful, and loving. These guys are sweet, intelligent, and will bond with more than one person if raised to do so. Asian Leopard cats need regular interaction to promote and maintain a more social nature because they have one of the highest percentages for reverting to shy tendencies if not interacted with regularly. Asian Leopard cats can also be trained to use the litter box. The beautiful ALC’S are the foundation for the Bengal cat breed. Remember that the ALC is a very beautiful and wonderful cat but they need a special home where they can live in safety and health. So, please think about this commitment before purchasing an ALC.