This Cat Doesn’t Smell, Never Drinks, and Its Paws Don’t Leave Prints

Rare Wild Cat Species

We all know about wild cats such as lions, tigers, cougars, leopards and even jaguars, but there's a whole world of small and big cats out there, especially a bunch of rare cat breeds that you've probably never heard of!

Cat species evolved into a distinct family roughly 25 million years ago. Since then, they've expanded all over the world and have evolved to match their environments. They still retain some things in common, however – just like your fluffball at home, very few of the wild cat breeds can taste sweetness. They are all obligate carnivores – they do not simply favour meat, they can't subsist on anything else. Besides lions, very few cats display any sort of strong social behaviour, though some do hunt together or form loose colonies. It's no wonder our domesticated kitties are such arrogant, individualistic souls!

Welcome to another episode of Youtube 10s and today we are going to show you some rare and amazing wild cats with insane hunting skills wait until you meet the cat that can literally live without drinking water and spend its life in extreme temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius. Without further ado, let's get started.

15 - Marbled Cat

Marbled cats look like miniature clouded leopards with thick brownish-grey or Yellow fur with large black patches on them. It has a rounded short head with a wide forehead and large pupils and a bushy large tail which they use to balance while climbing trees. They are found across Asia and believed to be nocturnal and solitary, Their diet includes small birds and mammals like squirrels and mice but their primary prey is birds and sometimes they eat frogs as well lizards. They mostly live in trees that's why these cats are called arboreal animals and that's the reason their encounter in wild are rare. The other reason they're rarely seen is that they are nocturnal and mostly come out during the night. Marble cats can live up to 11 to 12 years in captivity.

14 - Sand Cat

The sand cat is the only species of cat that inhabits deserts. They are built to handle extreme temperatures up to 80 degrees celsius but the fur that covers their feet protects them from hot Arabian sand and because of this fur they don't leave any footprint trail for predators to follow. Their thick coat helps them to stay cool during the days but during the night things get harder due to temperature drops thankfully their thick fur keeps them warm during the night.

Sand cats can survive weeks without drinking water, they are fierce predators that mostly hunt birds, hares and sometimes insects. They are even known to attack snakes as well without any fear.  Sand cats are damn cute but still not recommended as pets because of their wild nature.

13 - Canada Lynx 

Canada lynx are medium-sized lynx mostly found across Canada, Alaska, and northern areas of the United States. They live in forests and make their dens under trees, despite their big legs they can not run fast enough so they love to sneak and attack their prey. Their diet includes hares and small birds and if they're hungry enough they can take down a caribou for its meal, mostly hunt during the night and they can stay still for hours in wait for their prey. Their life span is up to 15 years, These lynx are so rare there are no population estimates for these beautiful cats in any of its regions but some studies stated there are approximately 30 to 50 thousand individuals left in the wild.

12 - Iberian Lynx

The Iberian lynx is one of the most endangered species on the Iberian peninsula, with numbers decreasing rapidly over the past decade. These beautiful cats feed on wild rabbits and birds. They mainly hunt at night and use their excellent eyesight to catch rabbits. The Iberian lynx is the world’s second most endangered species. Its population in the wild has declined by over 80% in the past 20 years. There were less than 100 of these cats were spotted in the last decade now recent reports show growth in their number and around 400 of them are found in the wild. 

11 - Kodkod

Kodkod is the smallest type of wild cat in the western hemisphere. Also known as güiña they have a body length between 42 and 51 cm. The number of kodkods in the wild is dropping due to conflict with humans and habitat destruction. Secretive nature and great hunting skills and the fact they stay active both at night and day make them special from other cat species. The kodkod is rare and endangered. It is estimated that the wild population of kodkod is around 10,000 in the wild and they are under the Red List of IUCN. Kodkod is listed as near threatened species which is why they are on our list of rare cats. 

10 - Black-Footed Cat

One of the world’s smallest cats, the black-footed cat is found only in the southern African countries of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. According to the 2016 IUCN Red List of threatened species, the black-footed cat is “vulnerable,” meaning it is at a high risk of endangerment in the wild. The black-footed cat is a species of wild cat with adorable looks. It is believed to be the world’s deadliest cat. They achieve the highest kill rate, successfully taking their target in 60% of hunts. Other wild cats, such as lions and leopards, rarely succeed more than 20% of the time. 

9 - Fishing Cat

A fishing Cat Is A Type Of Small Wild Cat. They Usually Hunt Fish, Snakes And Birds But They Are Also Able To Kill Large Preys Such As Dogs And Domestic Cattle. This Is Yet Another Example Of A Cat That Disproves The Misconception That Cats Don’t Like Water. The number Of Fishing Cat Is Rapidly Decreasing Due To Habitat Destruction, Pollution Of Water Ecosystems And Poaching. Fishing Cats Are Listed As Endangered Species. They are larger than a domestic cat, the Fishing Cat is well adapted to catching fish, its primary prey. They have a deep-chested body with short legs, a big, broad head, and a short tail. 

8 - Margay Cat

Margays prey upon several animals found in the forests. They mostly prey upon monkeys, lizards, birds, and rodents in the dead of night. Unlike other cats, the small mammal gives birth to one kitten. Two kittens are seldom born. Their slow reproduction process is also one of the reasons why their population is threatened. Scientists Believe That Margay Should Be Listed As Vulnerable Species. Their population has been threatened because of illegal hunting for the wildlife trade in the '90s. Later, in the year 2008, considering the increased threat to the small mammals, hunting them was made illegal.

7 - Caracal

Caracal has a sleek coat of reddish-gold short hair and a line of white fur around each of its eyes. This cat’s ears stand straight up and are topped off by long black tufts of hair. No one is sure why caracal ears have tufts of hair on them. But, some scientists believe that caracals communicate with one another by twitching their ears. A caracal can run at speeds of up to 50mph! No wonder it’s also known as a gazelle cat. They possess amazing hunting skills and can leap into the air to catch a bird as it’s taking off. With extremely sensitive hearing caracals almost have 20 muscles in each of their ears helping them to track down prey. 

6 - Clouded Leopard

The clouded leopard really is a “big mouth.” It can open its jaws wider than any other cat, and its tooth development is most like that of the extinct sabertooth cat. While more closely related to big cats, the clouded leopard is frequently described as bridging the gap between big and small cats due largely to its smaller stature. It has proportionately short legs and a long tail. Like all wild cats, clouded leopards are carnivores. The average life span of the clouded leopard is 12 to 15 years, though they may live up to 17 years in human care.

5 - Pampas Cat

Pampas Cats occupy more habitat types than any other Latin American cat. They occur in grassland, cloud forest and open woodlands. Although pampas cats may look like heavy-set housecats, it is an illusion: their long hair makes them appear larger than they really are. The pampas cat has a short tail, full and ringed with brown or black. Pampas cats are predominantly terrestrial and nocturnal. But individual animals have been seen during the day in the wild. Although it is not considered arboreal, these cats are very good tree climbers and do this if feeling threatened. Not much is known about the animal’s communication methods and social structure.

4 - Jaguarundi

Sometimes referred to as the ‘otter-cat’, the Jaguarundi is closely related to the puma. The population numbers of the Jaguarundi are much less than once thought. Their shy nature makes it even more difficult to estimate their current population size. Prefers to live alone and they like to maintain their privacy. The only time a jaguarundi may interact with another one is during the mating season. Their primary diet is quite varied and is comprised of small rodents, rabbits and birds. They have also been recorded eating fish stranded in puddles.

3 - Bay Cat

Bay cat is one of the most mysterious and rarest species of wild cats in the world. This species lives only on the island of Borneo. It can be found in forests, mangroves, swamps and areas near rivers. Bay cats can survive at an altitude of 6000 feet. The diet of the Bay cat includes small rodents, carrion, birds, and monkeys. Due to habitat loss and deforestation—largely from the spread of palm oil plantations and logging—the bay cat is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List and its population is in decline.

2 - Flat-headed Cat

The flat-headed cat can look you straight in the eye if you ever have the fortune to see one. Its eyes are set farther forward and closer together than those of other cats, giving it exceptional stereoscopic vision. The flat-headed cat is thought to prey mainly on fish and frogs but it possibly also eats small rodents such as mice and rats, crustaceans, birds or fruits. The flat-headed cat has also been reported to take domestic poultry.

1- Andean Cat 

Andean cat has a black nose, rounded ears, sturdy body, large feet and long, thick tail. Researchers believe that the Andean cat is active mostly during the night. Andean cat has an excellent sense of hearing thanks to well-developed eardrums. It uses the sense of hearing for the detection of prey. As beautiful and cute as Andean cats might appear, their exquisiteness has only increased the threats to their life, as they have been known to be hunted for their beautiful pelts. This has led to them being listed as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List.