African+Wild+Cat

The African wild cat can be spotted all over the continent of Africa. This special cat is a wildcat subspecies. This cat diverged from other subspecies about 131,000 years ago. At points in time, the African wild cat crossed paths with domestic wildcats. These crossings are still happening today. Wherever you go in Africa you will most likely come across a cute little cat but don’t be fooled because that cute little cat you’re cuddling with is the African wild cat!

The fur of the African wild cat is light gray with a pale yellow or red-ish hue. They have stripes that run around their faces which tend to be a very dark black color. Male wild cats from Northern Africa are 18.5-23.5 inches head to toe. Female wild cats from Northern Africa are about 20 inches from head to toe. Both females and males have very long tails that are usually 9 to 12 inches in length. Also, both males and females range in weight from 7 to 9 pounds. The fur is very important to these wild cats so they can protect themselves from predators by blending into their habitats.

 African wild cats are found from Morocco through Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and into Egypt, and inhabit the savannas of West Africa from Mauritania to the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Sudan, southwards to South Africa. They inhabit in a very wide variety of habitats. Their habitats range from hilly mountainous landscapes to the deserts such as the Sahara. Although they have a variety of habitats, they are adapt very well to the desert, because they are sand cats.

 The African wild cat eats mice and other small mammals. On occasions they will eat fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. The African wild cat is active during the night and twilight. When confronted, the African wild cat raises its hair to make itself seem larger in order to intimidate its opponent. Males defend their territory against intruders. A female gives birth to two to six kittens. The African wild cat often rests and gives birth in burrows or hollows in the ground. The kittens are born blind and need full care from their mother. I hope we come across some African Wild Cats when we travel to South Africa this summer!