Species comparison
Asian Golden Cat vs Marbled Cat
A side-by-side look at Catopuma temminckii and Pardofelis marmorata across body measurements, habitat, diet, behaviour and conservation status.
At a glance
- The asian golden cat averages about 3.6 times the body mass of the marbled cat.
- Both species use tropical rainforest and montane forest.
- Their ranges both include Asia.
- Both are currently listed as Near Threatened on the Red List.
Identification
How each species is named and classified.
Asian Golden Cat
Catopuma temminckii
Marbled Cat
Pardofelis marmorata
Asian Golden Cat
Catopuma
Marbled Cat
Pardofelis
Asian Golden Cat
Bay cat lineage
Marbled Cat
Bay cat lineage
Asian Golden Cat
Medium-sized cats
Marbled Cat
Small cats
Asian Golden Cat
Temminck's cat, Fire cat
Marbled Cat
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Body and movement
Published field measurements for adults. Ranges cover both sexes unless noted.
Asian Golden Cat
2 ft 2 in – 3 ft 5 in (66–105 cm) Longer
Marbled Cat
18 in – 2 ft (45–62 cm)
Asian Golden Cat
16 in – 22 in (40–57 cm) Longer
Marbled Cat
14 in – 22 in (35–55 cm)
Asian Golden Cat
18 in – 22 in (45–56 cm) Taller
Marbled Cat
10 in – 13 in (26–32 cm)
Asian Golden Cat
20–35 lb (9–16 kg) Heavier
Males average heavier than females.
Marbled Cat
4.4–11 lb (2–5 kg)
Few animals have been weighed; estimates rest on a small sample.
Asian Golden Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Marbled Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Life span
Typical adult longevity. Figures for managed care come from zoo and sanctuary records.
Asian Golden Cat
10–12 years
Marbled Cat
10–12 years
Asian Golden Cat
17–20 years Longer
Marbled Cat
12–16 years
Habitat and range
Where each species lives and the conditions it tolerates.
Asian Golden Cat
tropical rainforest, montane forest, dry forest
Evergreen and mixed forest from lowland to about 12,000 feet in the Himalaya, including bamboo, secondary growth and drier deciduous woodland.
Marbled Cat
tropical rainforest, montane forest
Moist evergreen forest with a closed canopy, from lowlands to about 9,000 feet; the species is also recorded from selectively logged and secondary forest.
Asian Golden Cat
Asia
From Nepal and north-east India through Bhutan, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.
Marbled Cat
Asia
The eastern Himalaya and north-east India through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia to Borneo and Sumatra.
Diet and behaviour
Feeding ecology, social organisation and hunting technique.
Asian Golden Cat
small mammals, birds, medium ungulates, reptiles
Rodents, hares, birds and reptiles, plus muntjac and young ungulates; the species is strong enough to take prey considerably larger than itself.
Marbled Cat
birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects
Squirrels, rats, birds, lizards and insects, taken largely in trees.
Asian Golden Cat
Solitary
Mostly terrestrial and territorial. Field observations remain sparse despite the cat's relatively large size.
Marbled Cat
Solitary
Highly arboreal and rarely detected on the ground, which is one reason camera-trap records are so scarce.
Asian Golden Cat
Crepuscular and partly diurnal
Camera-trap studies show more daytime activity than early accounts suggested, with peaks around dawn and dusk.
Marbled Cat
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Mostly night active, though some studies report daytime movement in undisturbed forest.
Asian Golden Cat
Ground stalking in forest
Hunts on the forest floor, using cover for a close approach before a short rush.
Marbled Cat
Canopy pursuit
Hunts among branches, chasing squirrels and birds through the canopy rather than ambushing from the ground.
Asian Golden Cat
Strong
Climbs well and will follow prey into trees, though it hunts mainly on the ground.
Marbled Cat
Exceptional More developed
Among the most arboreal of the small cats, with a long tail used constantly for balance.
Asian Golden Cat
Limited
No strong association with water.
Marbled Cat
Limited
No notable association with water.
Conservation
Red List category, population direction and the pressures documented for each species.
Asian Golden Cat
NT — Near Threatened
Assessed 2015
Marbled Cat
NT — Near Threatened
Assessed 2015
Asian Golden Cat
Decreasing
Marbled Cat
Decreasing
Asian Golden Cat
Deforestation, Indiscriminate snaring, Trade in skins and bones, Prey depletion, Retaliatory killing near livestock
Assessed as Near Threatened. Deforestation across South East Asia and pervasive snaring for the wild-meat and skin trade are the main pressures.
Marbled Cat
Deforestation and canopy loss, Snaring, Habitat fragmentation, Trade in skins, Sparse population data
Assessed as Near Threatened. Loss of continuous canopy forest is the dominant threat, and the species is also caught incidentally in snares.
Notable traits
Details that do not fit neatly into a measurement table.
Asian Golden Cat
- At least six coat morphs have been recorded, an unusual level of variation for a wild cat.
- Local names in several range countries translate as "fire cat" or "rock cat".
- A spotted morph photographed in China initially confused researchers, who suspected a new species.
Marbled Cat
- Its tail can equal head-body length, one of the highest ratios among cats.
- Canine teeth are large relative to skull size, a trait shared with the clouded leopards.
- The coat pattern is a striking case of two unrelated forest cats converging on the same camouflage.
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.
- Wildlife Conservation Society Field programmes, camera-trap surveys and population monitoring.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.