| The Asian Golden Cat (Pardofelis temminckii, previously been placed in genera Catopuma, Profelis and Felis), also called the Asiatic Golden Cat and Temminck's Golden Cat, is a medium-sized wild cat (length 90 centimetres/36 in, plus 50 centimetre/20 in tail) weighing from 12 to 16 kilograms (26 to 35 lbs). In captivity this species can live up to 20 years, but its average lifespan in the wild is likely far shorter. While the fur is mostly foxy red or golden brown, black or grey colour variants may also be found. Normally, the coat is plain, save for some spots on the underside, and sometimes very faint spotting on the rest of the coat. However, in China there is a colour variant with leopard-like spots, which resembles a Leopard Cat. This spotted fur is a recessive characteristic, i.e. when a spotted and a plain cat interbreed, the young get plain fur. |
