Flat-headed cat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flat-headed cat |
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The flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) is a small wildcat. It lives in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. This unique cat used to live in Thailand, but it might be extinct there now.
Contents
What Does a Flat-Headed Cat Look Like?
A flat-headed cat is about the size of a house cat. It is 45 to 52 centimeters (18 to 20 inches) long. Its tail adds another 12 to 17 centimeters (4.7 to 7 inches) to its length. This cat weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 kilograms (3.3 to 5.5 pounds).
This cat has some special features. Its legs and tail are shorter than a house cat's. Its body is longer, and its paws are rounder. As its name suggests, its head is quite flat. Its fur is a mix of red-brown and dark brown. It also has white marks on its face and a white belly. Unlike most cats, its claws do not pull all the way back into its paws.
Where Flat-Headed Cats Live and What They Eat
Flat-headed cats live in low rainforests. They also like swamps, lakes, and forests near rivers. These cats are very good at catching food in the water. Their bodies are built to help them hunt.
Their teeth point backwards in their mouths. This helps them hold onto fish so they cannot escape. Their jaws are longer and narrower than other cats' jaws. They even have some webbing between their toes. This webbing helps them swim better.
Some scientists believe these cats love water even more than fishing cats do. Once, scientists studying apes accidentally caught a flat-headed cat. They let it go between a forest and a river. The cat ran straight to the river and dove in. It did not run into the trees to hide. The scientists thought the cat felt safer in the water.
Flat-Headed Cat Behavior
Like other cats, flat-headed cats spray urine to mark their area. But they do it differently. Most cats stand up and spray onto a tall object like a tree. The flat-headed cat crouches down and sprays as it walks. This leaves its scent on the ground.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female flat-headed cats are pregnant for about 56 days. They usually have one to four kittens at a time. In zoos, a flat-headed cat can live for up to 14 years.
Why Flat-Headed Cats Are Endangered
Flat-headed cats are an endangered animal. This means there are not many left in the wild. One reason is pollution. Another is that humans catch too many fish, which is their main food.
The biggest threat is that humans cut down forests to build farms. Flat-headed cats prefer forests that are not too high above sea level. This land is also good for farming, so humans want it. Some scientists think these cats can live in forests that have grown back after being cut down. However, scientists do not think flat-headed cats can live near farms like the Iriomote cat does.
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Images for kids
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A flat-headed cat camera trapped in Tangkulap Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia in March 2009
See also
In Spanish: Gato de cabeza plana para niños
