Chinese Mountain Cat

Main Characteristics
Chinese Mountain Cats have a body length between 70 and 85 cms (27.5 - 33.5 inches), a tail length between 30 and 35 cms (11.8 - 13.8 inches) and they weigh between 4.5 and 9 kgs (9.9 - 19.8 lbs).

They are yellow/brown in colour with dark markings on their body, legs and cheeks. They have a pale coloured underside and their striped tail has a black tip. They have a stocky build and relatively short legs.

They are mainly active at night and they lead a solitary lifestyle.

Habitat
Chinese Mountain Cats are endemic to China and they can be found in steppe, sparsely-wooded forests, shrublands, desert and mountain habitats in China at altitudes up to 4,000 m (13,120 ft).

Diet
Chinese Mountain Cats mainly feed on pikas and rodents, but they will also prey upon birds.

Breeding
Chinese Mountain Cats breed between January and March and they produce litters of 2 - 4 kittens, usually in May. The youngsters become independent at 7 - 8 months old.

Predators
Although Chinese Mountain Cats are protected in China, they are under threat due to the controlled poisoning of pikas. This either reduces their food source or unintentionally poisons the cat.

Subspecies
There are no subspecies of the Chinese Mountain Cat.

Interesting Facts
Chinese Mountain Cats are also kown as:
Chinese Desert Cat