The Smallest Wild Cats on Earth

Quick Take

• One of these tiny wild cats outperforms lions on the hunt, and it weighs less than a bag of sugar. Meet the tiny hunter →
• One wild cat on this list can do something no other feline on Earth can do, and the ability has nothing to do with hunting. See the unique ankle ability →
• At least one of these cats looks very uncatlike. Its appearance is so strange, and its ears aren't even pointed. See the alien-shaped cat →
• One of these cats appears twice its actual size, and the trick it uses to pull that off is surprisingly practical. Discover the size illusion →

When people think of wild cats, they often picture the most famous big cats like lions, tigers, and leopards. Yet some members of the cat family are so small that they could easily be mistaken for a house cat under the right circumstances. Despite their tiny size, these predators are anything but domesticated. They are highly skilled hunters capable of taking down prey with ease. Many of these elusive wild felines live in remote forests, grasslands, and deserts where they stay hidden from humans. Here are eight of the smallest wild cats found around the world.

Black-Footed Cat

The black-footed cat is considered the world’s smallest wild cat in terms of average body size. adults weigh just 2 to 5 pounds. Despite its tiny size, this feline is a fierce hunter within its African habitat. This diminutive wild kitty has an impressive success rate of 60% when it comes to capturing prey. It spends a large portion of the night silently stalking rodents, birds, and insects among the grasslands. Its cute appearance and tiny size belie the fact that it is one of the most effective predators in the cat family.

Rusty-Spotted Cat

The rusty-spotted cat of India and Sri Lanka is runner up for the title of world’s smallest wild cat. Some individuals may actually be smaller than black-footed cats. Adults are typically just 14 to 19 inches in body length, and they weigh as little as 2 pounds. The species gets its name from the reddish-brown spots that decorate its gray fur. It eats small mammals, birds, and reptiles, ambushing prey under the cover of darkness. These cats are exceptionally elusive, so seeing one in the wild is super rare.

Kodkod

The kodkod is the smallest wild cat in the Americas. These tiny felines live mainly in the forests of Chile and Argentina. They generally weigh between 4 and 6 pounds. This adorable feline has a round face, large feet, and a beautifully spotted coat. It is an excellent climber and often spends time in trees hunting birds and small mammals. Habitat loss has made this small wild species vulnerable.

Flat-Headed Cat

The flat-headed cat looks unlike almost any other feline. It lives up to its descriptive name, with a long, unusually flattened head. It also has small, rounded, teddy-bear ears that are completely uncatlike. The small wild kitty is native to Southeast Asia, where adults generally weigh between 3 and 6 pounds. Because the species spends a lot of time near water, it hunts fish, frogs, and crustaceans. Its odd appearance and semiaquatic nature make it one of the most unique small wild cats.

Oncilla

The oncilla lives in forests throughout Central and South America. It is sometimes called the little spotted cat for its beautiful polka-dotted coat. The pattern consists of rosettes, making it look like a miniature jaguar. It usually weighs between 3 and 7 pounds. This agile feline likes to hunt and lounge in trees. It preys on small mammals, birds, and reptiles, often at night. Its secretive nature means that scientists still know little about its behavior.

Sand Cat

The sand cat looks like a kitten lost in the desert, but it is a fully wild cat, perfectly adapted to life in its harsh environment. Adults weigh between 3 and 7 pounds. Its light-colored fur blends seamlessly into the sandy landscape. This skilled hunter can detect prey moving underground with its sizeable ears. Another remarkable adaptation is the thick fur on its paw pads that protects its feet from the hot desert sand. This tiny pale creature can even survive in environments where water is scarce.

Margay

The margay is a wild cat from Central and South America. It usually weighs between 5 and 9 pounds. Although a bit larger than some of the cats on this list, it doesn’t look much bigger than a house cat. Its enormous eyes are gorgeous and ominous at the same time. These kitties have strange flexible ankles that can rotate almost 180 degrees. This unique adaptation allows the margay to climb down trees headfirst like a squirrel. This adaptation is beneficial considering how much time they spend in the forest canopy. It is even nicknamed the tree-dwelling cat.

Pallas’s Cat

Pallas’s cats appear much larger than they actually are because they possess incredibly thick fur. Native to Central Asia, they can be found in the grasslands and mountains. They generally weigh between 5 and 10 pounds. This cat has a flat face and rounded ears, but it perhaps best known for its permanently dissatisfied expression. Indeed, Pallas’s cats are the curmudgeons of the cat world. Dense coats help them survive in bitterly cold environments. Underneath all that fur is a surprisingly compact animal not much bigger than your average tabby.