6 Interesting Facts About the Asian Golden Cat: It Plucks the Birds Before Eating Them

The forests of Southeast Asia are undergoing the fastest deforestation in the world, affecting the Asian golden cat as well. In 2008, it was listed as Near Threatened on the Red List.

The Asian golden cat, also known as the Temminck cat (named after the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck, who was the first to describe it) was for a long time referred to as a relative of the African golden cat, but it turned out that the two species are only outwardly similar. They are quite far from each other from an evolutionary point of view. We will now tell you which species form an evolutionary line together with this special type of cat, and what we know about one of the least studied types of cats in tropical Asia.

1.) Not Who It Appears to Be

As previously mentioned, the Asian golden cat closely resembles the African golden cat. However, thanks to DNA analyses, it’s been revealed that this similarity does not extend to genetic identity. It is more closely related to the marbled cat and the bay cat, which diverged from a common ancestor between 8.42 and 4.27 million years ago. The marbled cat split first, followed by the Asian golden cat, and finally, the bay cat.

2.) The Asian Golden Cat Doesn’t Mess Around

This cat can climb trees if necessary, but it prefers hunting on the ground. Its diet includes birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles, but it can occasionally take down much larger prey, such as a young water buffalo. In the mountainous regions of Sikkim (a state in India), it has been observed preying on the native goral (a type of goat), which typically weighs between 25-40 kg. In comparison, an Asian golden cat weighs between 9-16 kg.

Surprisingly, if they catch a bird larger than a pigeon, they pluck its feathers before consuming it. This behavior has also been observed in ocelots.

3.) Thought to Be Nocturnal, But…

Unexpectedly, radio-collared studies revealed that these cats exhibit minimal nocturnal activity. Instead, they are most active during the day and at dusk and dawn, making them diurnal and crepuscular.

4.) The Yellow, the Inky, and the Sesame

In China, the Asian golden cat is considered a type of leopard and is called the “rock cat” or “yellow leopard.” The Asian golden cat’s fur color and pattern vary depending on its habitat, and even melanistic (black) individuals exist. In China, different color variations have distinct names: the black ones are called “inky leopards,” and the spotted ones are called “sesame leopards.”

5.) Capable of Scaring Off Tigers

In some regions of Thailand, the Asian golden cat is called Seua fai (Thai: เสือไฟ; “fire tiger”). According to legend, burning its fur or consuming its meat can repel tigers. The Karen people believe that carrying even a single hair of the Asian golden cat offers protection against tiger attacks.

6.) Its Only Natural Enemy is Humans

The only predator threatening the Asian golden cat is humans. Besides losing its habitat, it is also hunted for its fur, which could drive the species to extinction even faster.

Perhaps due to the lack of natural predators, natives believe this cat to be fierce, wild, and dangerous, capable of injuring even large animals like elephants. However, captive specimens have shown to be quite calm and non-aggressive.