Species comparison
African Wildcat vs Jaguarundi
A side-by-side look at Felis lybica and Herpailurus yagouaroundi across body measurements, habitat, diet, behaviour and conservation status.
At a glance
- The jaguarundi averages about 1.3 times the body mass of the african wildcat.
- Both species use savanna and semi-arid scrub.
- Their ranges do not overlap: African Wildcat lives in Africa and Asia, Jaguarundi in North America and South America.
- Both are currently listed as Least Concern on the Red List.
Identification
How each species is named and classified.
African Wildcat
Felis lybica
Jaguarundi
Herpailurus yagouaroundi
African Wildcat
Felis
Jaguarundi
Herpailurus
African Wildcat
Domestic cat lineage
Jaguarundi
Puma lineage
African Wildcat
Small cats
Jaguarundi
Small cats
African Wildcat
Near Eastern wildcat, Asiatic wildcat
Jaguarundi
Eyra cat, Otter cat
Body and movement
Published field measurements for adults. Ranges cover both sexes unless noted.
African Wildcat
18 in – 2 ft 6 in (45–75 cm)
Jaguarundi
21 in – 2 ft 6 in (53–77 cm) Longer
African Wildcat
10 in – 15 in (25–38 cm)
Jaguarundi
12 in – 24 in (31–60 cm) Longer
African Wildcat
13 in – 15 in (32–38 cm) Taller
Jaguarundi
10 in – 14 in (25–35 cm)
African Wildcat
6.6–14 lb (3–6.5 kg)
Males average about a kilogram heavier than females.
Jaguarundi
7.7–20 lb (3.5–9 kg) Heavier
Males average slightly larger than females.
African Wildcat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Jaguarundi
Not reliably measured
No reliable measurement published.
Life span
Typical adult longevity. Figures for managed care come from zoo and sanctuary records.
African Wildcat
8–12 years Longer
Jaguarundi
8–10 years
African Wildcat
15–17 years Longer
Jaguarundi
10–15 years
Habitat and range
Where each species lives and the conditions it tolerates.
African Wildcat
savanna, semi-arid scrub, dry forest, grassland, agricultural mosaic
Almost every habitat in Africa except rainforest interior and the driest sand seas, plus scrub and steppe across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Jaguarundi
dry forest, tropical rainforest, semi-arid scrub, wetland, savanna, agricultural mosaic
Prefers dense low cover — thorn scrub, secondary growth, forest edge and riverside thickets — more often than closed primary rainforest.
African Wildcat
Africa, Asia
Across Africa outside the Congo rainforest, and through the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, Central Asia and into western India and China.
Jaguarundi
North America, South America
From northern Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina. Historical records exist for southern Texas, where the species is federally listed but has not been confirmed in decades.
Diet and behaviour
Feeding ecology, social organisation and hunting technique.
African Wildcat
small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
Rodents form the great majority of the diet, with birds, lizards and insects making up the remainder.
Jaguarundi
small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish
Rodents, ground birds, lizards, frogs, large invertebrates and occasional fruit; most prey weighs under a pound.
African Wildcat
Solitary
Solitary and territorial, though tolerant of human settlement — the same trait that started the domestication process.
Jaguarundi
Solitary
Usually seen alone, occasionally in pairs. It is more terrestrial than most Neotropical cats and moves through thick cover with a distinctly low, gliding gait.
African Wildcat
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Mostly active from dusk to dawn, resting by day in burrows, thickets and rock crevices.
Jaguarundi
Diurnal
One of the few strongly day-active cats, with peaks in the morning and mid-afternoon. This may reduce competition with the largely nocturnal ocelot.
African Wildcat
Stalk and pounce on rodents
Hunts by walking slowly through cover, freezing at sounds and finishing with a short rush.
Jaguarundi
Active ground search
Rather than sitting in ambush, jaguarundis quarter dense cover on foot, flushing and pouncing on small prey; they will also climb after birds.
African Wildcat
Strong More developed
Climbs well and uses trees for escape and rest.
Jaguarundi
Capable
Climbs well but hunts mainly on the ground, unlike the closely sympatric margay.
African Wildcat
Very limited
Avoids water, in common with most arid-country cats.
Jaguarundi
Capable More developed
Enters water readily and has been observed swimming across small rivers.
Conservation
Red List category, population direction and the pressures documented for each species.
African Wildcat
LC — Least Concern
Assessed 2022
Jaguarundi
LC — Least Concern
Assessed 2015
African Wildcat
Decreasing
Jaguarundi
Decreasing
African Wildcat
Hybridisation with domestic cats, Disease transmitted by domestic cats, Habitat conversion, Persecution near poultry, Road mortality
The species remains widespread, but genetic mixing with free-ranging domestic cats is eroding wild populations, particularly near settlements. Pure wild-type populations are increasingly restricted to remote areas.
Jaguarundi
Loss of dense low cover, Conversion of scrub to farmland, Road mortality, Persecution near poultry, Fragmentation of riparian corridors
Still widespread, but the northern edge of the range has contracted sharply and populations in Mexico and Central America are considered at risk.
Notable traits
Details that do not fit neatly into a measurement table.
African Wildcat
- All domestic cats descend from this species, not from the European wildcat.
- Wild individuals sit with a distinctly upright posture that helps separate them from feral tabbies.
- Genetic screening is now a standard part of conservation work, since appearance alone cannot confirm a pure wild animal.
Jaguarundi
- Grey and reddish colour morphs were once described as two separate species.
- It produces an unusually varied vocal repertoire, including chirps, whistles and a bird-like call.
- Its build reflects a diet of small ground prey, not the arboreal hunting typical of similarly sized Neotropical cats.
Sources used for this comparison
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.
- National Geographic — Animals General natural-history reference for behaviour, range and ecology.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal listing status and recovery planning for cats occurring in the United States.