Cats are some of the most diverse predators on the planet, from the elusive snow leopard to the mighty jaguar. But beyond the well-known big cats, there are plenty of wild felines with strange and unexpected adaptations – whether it's unusual appearances, tiny stature or unexpected hunting skills. These are some of the weirdest wild cats in the world.
Weirdest wild cats in the world
Serval
The serval is a particularly unusual-looking animal, with the longest ears and legs of any cat. These adaptations come as a result of its need to detect and jump for prey among the tall savanna grass in southern Africa. In fact, it can leap up to three metres vertically and travel up to 3.6 metres in a single bounding movement to catch its prey.
Black-footed cat
The black-footed cat is one of the smallest – yet deadliest – cats in the world. Despite its diminutive stature (it weighs just 2kg and measures between 35 and 52cm), it can catch more prey in just one night than a leopard can catch in six months.
Black-footed cats hit their targets 60 per cent of the time, making them the most successful feline hunters and second-most successful hunters of all mammals (following African wild dogs with an 85 per cent success rate). Compare this to their terrifying lion counterparts – the ultimate apex predators – which only have a 25 per cent hunting success rate.
These nocturnal creatures make a hunting attempt every 30 minutes, and prey on Cape hares – which are heavier (and much larger) than they are.
Among the smallest cats in the world, the black-footed cats are the smallest in the African continent – and their only competitors in the tiny category are rusty-spotted cats, which are found in Asia.
The black-footed cat is one of the rarest cats in the world.
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Pallas's cat
Nicknamed the 'world's grumpiest cat' because of their sulky appearance, the Pallas's cat has round pupils rather than the usual feline vertical slits. This helps them judge distances, something they share with bigger cats like lions and tigers. It does also make them look bizarrely human-like, however.
This rarely spotted, shy and secretive cat is mainly found in regions of central Asia, particularly Mongolia, China and the Tibetan Plateau. Before 2012, the Pallas's cat had never even been photographed, because of its extraordinary ability for camouflage. It's also known as the 'rock wild cat', thanks to its innate ability to blend in with rocky backdrops with its patchy grey coat, and flatten its body to look like a rock when it's hunting.
Flat-headed cat
From certain angles, the flat-headed cat doesn't look like a cat at all. In fact, it looks a lot more like a lemur, with its slender body and large, close-set eyes. It has a long, narrow head and flattened forehead.
Found in the tropical rainforests and wetlands of Sumatra, Borneo and the Malaysian Peninsula, flat-headed cats prefer habitats that are close to water. Due to habitat loss, deforestation and human activity, the flat-headed cat is considered to be one of the most endangered cats in the world.
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Caracal
The caracal is a beautiful wild cat, with a unique – but bizarre – set of large, tufted ears. It uses these ears to communicate threat to fellow caracals. It has a sloping shape, perfectly adapted for bounding over rough ground with great efficiency. Caracals can leap high in the air to catch prey, some of which is far bigger in size.
Fishing cat
The fishing cat is one of the most unique species of wild cat, due to its astounding ability to hunt in water. It can hunt animals twice its size, and are equipped with webbed feet and a powerful tail, which help with swimming. Their call is also very distinct, sounding more like a bark than the 'meow' you might expect a cat to produce.
Rusty-spotted cat
While the black-footed cat is the smallest cat in Africa, the rusty-spotted cat is the smallest wild cat in Asia. Clocking in at 1-2kg and 35-48cm, this tiny feline is nocturnal and, like the black-footed cat, feeds mainly on rodents and small birds.
Scottish wildcat
The UK's only native cat might not be weird in the conventional sense, but what is weird about it is that it looks a LOT like a domestic tabby cat. It certainly shares more similarities with your neighbour's cat than with the mighty lions of the savanna. While the Scottish wildcat is not a classified species, it is a population of the European wildcats found in the UK.
Find out what the difference is between a Scottish wildcat and a domestic tabby cat here.
Top image: Serval, Leptailurus serval, hunting in grasses in lower Mara, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya, Africa (credit: Getty Images)
