7 Interesting Facts About the African Golden Cat: Hunted for Its Skin to Wrap Valuable Items

The African golden cat is a small wild feline with remarkable cunning, which it needs as it currently holds a vulnerable status. This is primarily due to the rapid disappearance of its habitat—the rainforests of West and Central Africa—caused by deforestation and the rapid spread of oil palm plantations. It’s closely related to the caracal and serval. The latter is the ancestors of one of the most expensive and largest hybrid cat breeds, the Savannah.

The African golden cat was first captured on video in 2011, with the first photograph in the wild taken in 2002. It’s astonishing how this wild and dignified cat behaves just like a domestic one.

1.) Its Coat Has a Unique Feature

Although it’s true that the color and pattern of its fur vary depending on the region and environmental changes, the African golden cat has an even more distinctive characteristic. There’s a small indentation on its shoulder area caused by differently growing hairs. This has not been observed in any other small wild cat species. It’s most similar to the little hair spiral seen on French bulldogs’ backsides or the whorl in human hair.

2.) It Has Interesting Proportions

This cat has a stocky, muscular, and robust build with long legs and a shorter tail. Its head is small in proportion to its body, and its paws are massive. Its body length typically ranges from 60 to 100 cm, and its weight can vary widely, between 5.5 and 16 kg.

Video of the African golden cat:

3.) It’s Incredibly Adaptable

It is generally believed to hunt at night, but they have also been described as crepuscular animals, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk. However, recent observations show that if prey is available during the day, they aren’t shy about hunting in broad daylight. They most often hunt rodents, small birds, and monkeys.

4.) The Kittens Grow Very Fast

There are usually 1-2 kittens in a litter. Their eyes open at 1 week old, and the mother weans them by 6-8 weeks. One captive individual grew to 40 cm in just 16 days, which is astounding given that 60 cm is the size of an adult African golden cat.

5.) Surrounded by Tribal Superstitions

As is often the case with small wild cats, science knows very little about them, but African tribes have many superstitions. They are often referred to as the leopard’s “brother,” as there is a belief that the golden cat follows the leopard, which preys on the African golden cat. They are also believed to share their territories with leopards.

6.) Victims of Poaching

Although the CITES Convention prohibits trade in their fur and meat, this remains a problem. They are frequently caught during illegal hunts, sometimes with traps. There is high demand for Asian golden cat’s skin, which is used in circumcision rituals and to wrap valuable objects, as well as for hunting talismans believed to bring good luck.

7.) They Are Supposedly Solitary

Though it is thought they live alone, a pair was once observed doing everything together during studies. However, much more research is needed to determine if this species is truly monogamous.