The Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs. It is similar in appearance to the African golden cat (Caracal aurata), however, recent genetic analyses indicate it is more closely related to the Borneo bay cat (Catopuma badia) cat and the marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata). Two subspecies of the Asiatic golden cat are suggested:

• Catopuma temminckii temminckii on Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula
• Catopuma temminckii moormensis from Nepal to North Myanmar, China, Tibet and South-East Asia.

The Asiatic golden cat is remarkably polymorphic in its pelage. The most common coat colour is golden or red brown, but it may also be dark brown or even grey. Melanistic individuals have been reported and may be predominant in some areas of its range. There is also a spotted form which is called an “ocelot morph” due to its ocelot-like rosettes. To date, this form has been reported from China (in Sichuan and Tibet) and from Bhutan. If biogeographic patterns exist in regard to the different coat colour types is not known yet and needs further investigation. The most distinct features of this cat are the white lines bordered with dark brown to black running across the cheeks, from the nostrils towards the cheeks, at the inner corner of the eyes, and up the crown. The rounded ears have black backs with a grey spot. The chest, abdomen and inner side of the upper legs are white with light speckling. The legs and tail are grey to black at the distal ends. The terminal half of the tail is white on the underside and is often carried with the end curled dorsally. Males are larger than females. 

The Asiatic golden cat is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List, but there is little specific information about the species available and its population status is largely unknown. In Nepal, the Asiatic golden cat is listed as Data Deficient, in Bangladesh as Vulnerable and in China as Critically Endangered. In some areas of its range it appears to be relatively uncommon. It was infrequently reported in south China, and thought to be rarer than the clouded leopard and leopard cat in that region. The Asiatic golden cat is infrequently detected in eastern Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The last record from Vietnam dates back to 2005 and in the Chinese Provinces Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi and Jiangxi during an extensive survey, the species was only detected three times. However, in other areas it appears to be one of the more common small felid species. Studies in Laos, Thailand, and Sumatra have recorded the Asiatic golden cat more frequently than sympatric felid species such as the marbled cat, Mainland clouded leopard and Sunda clouded leopard. The distribution of the species is limited and patchy in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. In Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand it is more widely distributed. Overall, the number of Asiatic golden cats is thought to be decreasing throughout their range due to extensive habitat loss and continued illegal poaching.

The distribution of the Asiatic golden cat is similar to that of the Mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) and the marbled cat. It occurs from the foothills of the Himalaya into China and Southeast Asia. It also inhabits Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. It does not occur on Borneo. In India it has only been recorded in the north-eastern states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. 

The Asiatic golden cat has a similar distribution to the clouded leopard and the marbled cat. It occurs in different forested habitats such as tropical and subtropical moist evergreen forests, mixed evergreen forests, and dry deciduous forests. Occasionally it has been reported from more open habitats such as shrub and grasslands, or open rocky areas. Two radio collared individuals (a male and a female) in Thailand occurred most often in closed forest habitats. A radio collared female on Sumatra was frequently recorded outside of a protected area in remnant fragments of forest located between coffee plantations. The species has also been recorded by camera traps located in, or near, oil palm and coffee plantations on Sumatra. In Bhutan, the species was recorded in tropical and sub-tropical moist evergreen and dry deciduous forest and open habitats. It was also found in areas of dwarf rhododendron forest and grasslands at high elevations, conifer, cool broadleaf and mixed-conifer forests and in areas dominated by warm broad-leaved forests. Highland areas in Butan seem to contain important habitat for the species and possibly act as corridors. Thus, these areas may play an important role for the conservation of the Asiatic golden cat, even more as lowlands are more prone to habitat conversion. 

The Asiatic golden cat is frequently recorded at relatively high altitudes. It has been documented at elevations up to 3,050 m in Sikkim, India, and in the Jigme Sigye Wangchuk National Park in Bhutan it was recorded at an elevation of 3,738 m in an area of dwarf rhododendron and grassland. The elevation record is 3,960 m where an Asiatic golden cat was pictured in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve Sikkim, India. In Bhutan, it was even pictured at 4,033 m in Jigme Dorji National Park and at 4,282 m in the montane forests of Wangchuck Centennial National Park, Bhutan. However, in some areas it appears to be more common in lowland forests. In Kerinci Seblat National Park on Sumatra, it was only recorded by camera traps at low elevations and in teh Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan at 80 m. In the hill forests of India’s western Arunachal Pradesh province, the Asiatic golden cat was not recorded by camera traps, despite the occurrence of both marbled cats and clouded leopards. 

Little is known about the ecology and behaviour of the Asiatic golden cat. It was once thought to be primarily nocturnal; however, recent data indicates that it may be more crepuscular to diurnal. In Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan, for example, the Asiatic golden cat was active during day and night. Two radio-collared golden cats in Thailand’s Phu Khieu National Park showed mainly diurnal and crepuscular activity peaks. In addition, most camera trap photographs of Asiatic golden cats in the Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Parks on Sumatra were taken during the day.

The home ranges of two radio collared golden cats in Thailand's Phu Khieu National Park were 33 km² (female) and 48 km² (male), and overlapped significantly. On Sumatra, a radio collared female spent a significant portion of time outside of the protected area in small patches of remnant forest located among coffee plantations.

In captivity a variety of different vocalisations and scent marking behaviours have been observed. The Asiatic golden cat gives birth in hollows on the ground, under rocks and/or trees. Estrus lasts for approximately 6 days, the estrus cycle for 39 days and gestation on average for 80 days. The average litter size is one to two kittens. Sexual maturity is reached at 18-24 months for females and 2 years for males. Asiatic golden cats show sexual dimorphism in body size with males (12-16 kg) weighting generally 50-75% more than femals (8-10 kg).

The Asiatic golden cat is listed in Appendix I of CITES and fully protected over most of its range. Hunting is officially prohibited in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam and is regulated in Lao PDR. There is no legal protection outside protected areas in Bhutan. The Asiatic golden cat is listed as Scheduled I species in teh Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Generally, greater regulation and enforcement of national and international laws are required to conserve the species on the long-term. Conservation of habitat and the establishment of habitat corridors are also important for the protection of the Asiatic golden cat.

More studies on the ecology, biology and status of the Asiatic golden cat are urgently needed. There is also a need to involve local people in the conservation of the species, its prey and its critical habitat.