Leopard, Spotted, and Fishing Cats

As may be guessed from the name, the leopard cat has a yellow or reddish-yellow coat, is striped on the face and back, and spotted on the sides and underpants so that it somewhat resembles a leopard. It is a small forest cat only about three feet long and weighing six to eight pounds. Like other cats of its size, it feeds on small birds and rodents, but it also eats chickens when it has the chance. The home of the leopard cat is all of Southeast Asia, including Borneo and some of the islands of the Philippines. Related to the leopard cat is the rusty spotted cat of India and Ceylon. It is smaller and lighter, and its color is gray with black markings. It lives in open country or jungle, and feeds on birds and small rodents. There are two or three young born in a cave or hollow log. The fishing cat of India, Indochina, and Java is larger than the leopard cat and lives in swamps, reed beds, and marshy country. It is three and a half feet long, with a short ten-inch tail. It is partly active in the daytime, but little is known of its habits.