This Wild Cat Looks Like a Monkey (Video)

We'd like to immediately apologize for the less-than-convincing opening image, but it was quite difficult to get a photo of this unique and stunningly beautiful wild cat. However, it’s worth scrolling further as it has some astonishing features.

The marbled cat is the closest relative of the Asian golden cat and the bay cat, and its body structure and posture remind us of monkeys living in rainforests. When the animal is at rest, its back is arched and its tail is held down. It is native from the eastern part of the Himalayas to Southeast Asia, living in tropical rainforests and can climb up to 2,500 meters in altitude.

The typical marbled cat posture:

1.) Long Believed to Be a Big Cat

The marbled cat was once thought to belong to the Pantherinae family, which includes big cats like lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, snow leopards, and clouded leopards. However, genetic analysis has shown that its closest relatives are the Asian golden cat and the bay cat, so it cannot be considered a big cat.

2.) Its Size is Similar to a Domestic Cat, but…

The marbled cat is roughly the same size (about 2-5 kg and 45-62 cm) as a domestic cat. Yet, when you look at it, its proportions can seem a bit deceptive as it appears much larger. This optical illusion is likely due to its long tail, which is as long as the cat’s body length plus its head. Additionally, this impressive tail is thick and heavily furred. The thick tail indicates the cat’s adaptation to a woody environment, as such a body part greatly aids in balancing.

3.) The Marbled Cat Lives a Dangerous Life But not by choice!

Like almost all wild cat species, the marbled cat faces serious pressure on its population due to habitat loss (for which researchers unfortunately lack reliable data). Its survival depends on large, untouched forest areas, which are increasingly reduced due to logging, agriculture, and the expansion of human habitats. If that wasn’t enough, it is also hunted for its skin, meat, and bones.

During a survey in a district of Arunachal Pradesh (India), a marbled cat was encountered, which was killed by a local hunter and displayed at an annual festival organized by the indigenous Apatani people. The cat was featured in a ritual for family welfare, bountiful harvests, and protection from diseases, wild animals, and pests.

4.) Alfred Brehm Had an Encounter with the Species

The marbled cat’s lifestyle and habits are unfortunately poorly known, but German naturalist and author Alfred Brehm reported on a marbled cat that occasionally made a sneeze-like sound, and its behavior was very similar to that of domestic cats and ocelots.

They also purr, and their meowing is more akin to chirping than the drawn-out sounds typical of our pets. Unlike domestic cats, they rely more on their vision, which remains excellent even in poor light conditions.

In the following camera trap footage, not only is a marbled cat visible, but also an Asian golden cat and a tiger:

5.) Success Isn’t Just in Its Tail

Analysis of captive specimens has revealed that they are highly active animals. Adept at climbing and jumping, but also confident on the ground. Their front limbs end in flexible paws with webbing between the toes. Their pads are twice as wide as they are long, and their retractable claws are double-sheathed, making them excellent climbers. One individual was once observed in Borneo resting on a branch at a height of 25 meters, stretching out.