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Felis silvestris cafra (African wild cat)
bush cat [English]; vaakboskat [Afrikaans]; Wildkatze, Afrikanische Falbkatze
[German]; chat gante, chat sauvage d'Afiique [French]; kaka mwiw, kimbum, kaka
pori [Swahili]; igola, ipaka ye-Afrika [isiNdebele]; ingada, ichathaza, imbodla
[isiXhosa]; impaka, imbodla [isiZulu]; phaga [Sepedi]; tsetse, setsetse, qwabi
[Sesotho]; phage, tibe [Setswana]; nhiriri [Shona]; imbodla, ligoya, imphaka,
ingcwa [siSwati]; goya, mphaha [Xitsonga]; phaha, gowa, goya [Tshivenda]; sino
no [Lozi] uqhumu [Yei]; !Garo |hôab [Nama] [Damara]
Life
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Eukaryotes >
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates) >
Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost
fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class:
Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia
(terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota >
Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia
> Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals)
> Placentalia (placental mammals) > Laurasiatheria
> Ferungulata > Ferae > Carnivora > Family:
Felidae (cats) > Subfamily: Felinae
The African wild cat is one of five subspecies of
Felis silvestris, which is a species with a wide distribution
through Africa, Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. The
species also includes the Domestic cat, which genetic evidence
suggests was domesticated in the Middle East. African wild cat and
domestic cats often interbreed in the proximity of human habitations
and this is one of the main threats to the survival of the wild
subspecies in its pure form. Wild cats are nocturnal and prey on
rodents, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. The female holds a
territory and does not get any help from males in rearing her
litter.
Identification
It is very similar in appearance to a domestic cat. The
most distinguishable characteristic is the rich reddish-brown colour of the
backs of the large ears, over the belly and on the back legs. The body is marked
with vertical stripes but these can vary from faint to quite distinct. The tail
is ringed with black and has a black tip. The chin and throat are white and the
chest is usually paler than the rest of the body. The legs are proportionately
longer than those of the domestic cat. The feet are jet black underneath. The
skull is small, with a short muzzle this is a result of the reduction in the
nasal cavity and the jaw length. The skull is broad and highly arched and
relatively lightly built. The cheek bones (zygoma) are bowed from the sides of
the skull and are thick and strongly built providing substantial attachments for
the masseter and temporalis muscles that are important during killing and
eating. The jaws only move vertically for cutting and gripping. The powerful
masseter muscle is responsible for the vice-like killing grip.
Size
Body length 85-100 cm; shoulder height 35 cm; weight
range 2.5 –6.0 kg.
Dentition
The large canines are flattened and sharp, specifically
adapted to performing the killing bite on the back of the neck where they push
between the vertebrae and severe the spinal cord. The molars and premolars are
adapted as carnassials for gripping and tearing. As there are no teeth for
chewing, the tongue is covered with sharp-pointed papillae that retain and
lacerate food and can rasp flesh off a carcass. Males are generally larger and
heavier than females.
Dental Formula:
I C P M =
30
Distribution and habitat
Felis silvestris has a wide distribution that
includes Africa, Europe, the Middle East and across Asia, extending to China.
Within this distribution, five subspecies have been distinguished using genetic
methods. One of these is Felis silvestris cafra which has a distribution
covering Africa south of equator (and a little bit north of it as well).
Felis silvestris lybica is the subspecies found in North Africa and its
distribution also extends into the Middle East and beyond that to the region
east of the Caspian Sea. Genetic evidence shows that the Domestic cat (Felis
silvestris catus) was domesticated in the Middle East from Felis
silvestris lybica. Placing domesticated forms into separate subspecies or
species is a common practice, which is convenient but does not make much sense
from a phylogenetic point of view.
The African wild cat is widely distributed throughout
southern Africa but does not occur along Namibian coast. It has a wide habitat
tolerance - as long as there is some sort of cover.
General behaviour
Almost entirely nocturnal, they are only active once it is
dark. During the day the cat rests concealed within available cover, such as
rocky hillsides, underbrush, reedbeds or clumps of tall grass. Where suitable
cover is not available they will use burrows, termetaria, roots of trees and
high-standing grain crops. Like most of the cat family the African wild cat is
usually solitary although they may be seen in mating pairs or small groups
consisting of a female accompanied by her kittens. They are secretive and
extremely territorial with home ranges are clearly urine-marked. They bury their
droppings in the same manner as a domesticated cat, but may use latrine sites.
Hunting and food
The African wild cat has a very good sense of hearing.
Typical of a cat when hunting, they stalk their prey, then crouch with a
settling of the hind feet to get a good grip and finally rush in or pounce to
make the kill. Small mammal prey is killed by a bite to the back of the neck. In
their diet small rodents are the commonest
food, but they do eat other small mammals,
birds,
reptiles,
amphibians,
insects and other
invertebrates. The largest recorded prey include
hares,
springhares and birds up to the
size of
guineafowl.
Reproduction
Each female holds a territory. After a gestation period of
about 65 days, litters of 2-5 kittens are born in summer and hidden in dense
cover or old burrows. The male does not play a role in the rearing of the young.
Life span
10 – 12 years.
Conservation
As it is closely related to the domestic cat (Felis
silvestris catus), the African wild cat interbreeds readily in areas where
they come into contact. Today it is difficult to find pure-bred African wild
cats anywhere near areas of human settlement. Currently this species is not
considered threatened but if this hybridization with domestic cats continues and
with increasing human habitation, pure-bred African wild cats may cease to
exist. Other threats include persecution by hunters and local farmers, as well
as habitat loss.
Links
Text by Denise Hamerton
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