Asian Golden Cat
Catopuma temminckii
C. Lee
Description
The Asian 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 Asian golden cat are suggested:
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Catopuma temminckii temminckii on Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula
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Catopuma temminckii moormensis from Nepal to North Myanmar, China, Tibet and South-East Asia.
The Asian 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. Whether or not biogeographic patterns exist with 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 /black running across the cheeks, from the nostrils towards the cheeks, at the inner corner of the eyes, and over 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.
Weight
9 - 16 kg
Body Length
71 - 105 cm
Tail Length
40 - 56 cm
Longevity
upto 17 years
Litter Size
1 - 3 kittens
B. Cranke
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) 2015. Catopuma temminckii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-2
Status and Distribution
The Asian golden cat is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, due to evidence of population and range declines over the past 20 years (2003–2022). However, it has to be noted that there are large uncertainties in available data and its population status is largely unknown. In Nepal, the Asian golden cat is listed as Data Deficient, in Bangladesh as Vulnerable and in China as Critically Endangered.
The distribution of the Asian golden cat is similar to that of the Mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) and the marbled cat. Historically, the Asian Golden Cat ranged from the eastern Himalayas across southern and central China, mainland Southeast Asia, and the island of Sumatra. Today, although the species remains relatively widespread, its range has significantly contracted and become increasingly fragmented as a result of extensive habitat loss and unsustainable hunting. The distribution of the species is limited and patchy in Bangladesh (limited to souteastern and northeasterm forest regions), Myanmar (fragmented distribution in some southern, central, and northern regions), Cambodia (restricted to the Cardamom Mountains and Virachey National Park; no recent sightings in former strongholds like the Eastern Plains), India (limited to northeastern states), Nepal (confirmed only in the northeast), China (limited to a few southern and central provinces) and Lao PDR (limited to northern and central provinces). In Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand it is more widely distributed. The Asian golden cat is considered extirpated from Singapore and Viet Nam.
Currently, there are no reliable estimates regarding the population size of the Asian Golden Cat. However, evidence from camera-trap surveys indicates a significant decline, with the species disappearing from many parts of its historical range, including some protected areas, landscapes, and even entire countries. While declines are expected to continue, they may slow down as the species becomes increasingly limited to a few remaining strongholds in the Eastern Himalayas, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sumatra—assuming hunting pressure does not rise in these areas and continues elsewhere. Rough estimates suggest a current global population of around 7,000 mature individuals, with a broad possible range of 1,000 to 12,000.
Habitat
The Asian golden cat has a similar distribution to the clouded leopards and the marbled cat. It is closely linked to closed-canopy forest habitats and occurs across a range of tropical, subtropical, subalpine, and degraded forests. Occasionally it has been reported from more open habitats such as shrub and grasslands, or open rocky areas. The species has also been recorded by camera traps located in, or near, oil palm and coffee plantations on Sumatra. It occurs across a broad elevational range, especially in the Eastern Himalayas, where sightings span from under 100 m to approximately 4,600 m above sea level. This elevational distribution largely mirrors the range of tree and shrub cover in the region, which extends up to around 4,000–5,000 m depending on local conditions. Highland areas in Bhutan 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 Asian golden cat, even more as lowlands are more prone to habitat conversion. However, in some areas it appears to be more common in lowland forests. In Kerinci Seblat National Park on Sumatra, it has only been recorded by camera traps at low elevations and in the Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan at 80 m. In the hill forests of India’s western Arunachal Pradesh province, the Asian golden cat has not been recorded by camera traps, despite the occurrence of both marbled cats and clouded leopards.
B. Cranke
Ecology and Behaviour
Little is known about the ecology and behaviour of the Asian golden cat.
Several camera-trap studies conducted across its range suggest that the species is cathemeral or mostly diurnal. Comparable activity patterns were observed in a radio-telemetry study, monitoring two individuals in Thailand’s Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary.
Current evidence suggests that the Asian Golden Cat has a highly opportunistic diet, primarily consisting of small to medium-sized vertebrates. Prey selection varies among individuals and populations, influenced by factors such as habitat type, prey availability, and the presence of larger carnivores. Across studies, small vertebrates (< 2 kg) appeared to be a key dietary component. Depending on the population, other important prey species include muntjacs, chevrotains, porcupines, Galliformes, and small carnivores.
The only published home range estimates of two individuals in Thailand’s Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary and were 33 km² (female) and 48 km² (male), and overlapped significantly. Since home range sizes vary depending on habitat type and Asian golden cat occupy a range of different habitats, the representativeness of these home range estimates is unclear.In captivity a variety of different vocalisations and scent marking behaviours have been observed. The Asian golden cat gives birth in hollows on the ground, under rocks and/or trees. Oestrus lasts for approximately 6 days, the oestrus 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. Asian golden cats show sexual dimorphism in body size with males (12-16 kg) weighting generally 50-75% more than females (8-10 kg).
Main Threats
The Asian Golden Cat faces several threats across its range, with habitat loss and illegal hunting considered the most significant. However, these threats are not particularly well understood, as the species has received little research attention. As a forest-dependent species, the Asian golden cat is threatened by the loss and degradation of its habitat due to agriculture, logging, mining, and infrastructure development. Large parts of the species range are subject to the highest rates of deforestation and forest disturbance globally. The resulting habitat fragmentation is likely undermining the viability of many individual populations.
Illegal hunting is another major threat to the Asian golden cat and is likely the primary driver of population declines over the past three generations. Its pelt and bones are used in traditional medicine, and its meat is considered a delicacy in some areas. In some regions people believe that the consumption of Asian golden cat meat increases strength and vigour. Poaching of the species is thought to be increasing in many areas. Trade in Asian golden cat furs has been observed along the Myanmar-Thailand and Myanmar-China border and in Sumatra as well as from areas in northeast India. In south China, it has come increasingly under demand for this purpose as significant declines in tiger and leopard populations have shifted the focus to smaller felid species. The species is also threatened by indiscriminate snaring. This is most immediately apparent considering the species’ disappearance from industrially snared areas. Multiple camera-trap surveys in otherwise suitable habitats have reported low numbers of detections or no detections at all.
Other potential threats to Asian golden cats, which are either local in nature or remain poorly understood, include retaliatory killings in response to livestock predation, depletion of prey, and inbreeding, among others.
Conservation Efforts and Protection Status
The Asian 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 Asian golden cat is listed as Scheduled I species in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. However, across all range countries, the implementation of conservation laws is hindered by limited resources and governance issues. Protected areas are the primary means of safeguarding the species and its habitat, but even within these areas, populations continue to decline. Furthermore, the overlap between protected areas and regions deemed suitable for the species is alarmingly low in certain parts of its range. Expanding protected area coverage on a significant scale is not a feasible option in the near future. Consequently, optimising the management and effectiveness of existing protected areas is absolutely critical for the species' survival in the long term.
While there has been an increase in camera-trap surveys across the species' range, these efforts have only provided limited improvements in our understanding of the Asian golden cat's status. Expanding survey efforts could offer vital new insights into the species' distribution and population. Moreover, given that much of the Asian golden cat’s habitat lies within transboundary conservation landscapes, transboundary conservation planning is of paramount importance.
B. Cranke
Prey
The Asiatic golden cat is primarily a terrestrial hunter, although locals claim it is also an adept climber. It was thought that the Asiatic golden cat preys mainly on large rodents. Nowadays it is known to prey on different species and seems to be a generalist and opportunistic forager with a wide niche. It is known to prey on amphibians, small reptiles (lizards, snakes), insects, birds, primates, poultry and small ungulates such as muntjac and chevrotains. Asiatic golden cats have been reported to prey on larger animals such as gorals in the mountains of Sikkim, India; wild pigs and sambar deer in north Vietnam; and young calves of domestic water buffalo. Scat analysis in Taman Negara National Park, Peninsular Malaysia, revealed that Asiatic golden cats also prey on species such as the dusky leaf monkey and mouse deer. On Sumatra there have been reports from local people that Asiatic golden cats occasionally prey on poultry and in Bangladesh on domestic goats. In a scat analysis study from Laohegou Nature Reserve, China, Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii), the Chinese bamboo rat (Rhizomys sinensis) and pikas (Ochotona spp.) were its most common prey species. Rats, voles, squirrels and birds, also remains of wild boar (Sus scrofa), takin (Budorcas taxicolor), forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) and primates (golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) and Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) were found. In Laos, Asiatic golden cat preyed on 13 species. Its main prey was muntjac followed by rodents and carnivores. It also took 13 different birds, rodents and shrews, wild pig, mainland serow, domestic goat, palm civet and hog badger. In Myanmar the Asiatic golden cat was found to prey mainly on mammals (rodents) followed by snakes and lizards.