Mammals
African Golden Cat
Caracal aurata · also called golden cat
Moving silently through the dim undergrowth of an African rainforest, a golden cat shows a coat that may be red, grey, or spotted, the shy forest cousin of the caracal and serval of the open savanna.
Overview
The African golden cat, Caracal aurata, is a Vulnerable medium-sized cat native to rainforest habitat across Central and West Africa. Its variable coat, secretive habits, and close kinship with the caracal and serval make it one of the most elusive and least-studied cats in Africa.
A forest cat from a savanna family
The African golden cat’s closest relatives, the caracal and serval, hunt in open country, yet the golden cat has taken the same family tree into dense, dim rainforest.
Status
Vulnerable, with a population believed to be declining because of snaring, hunting, and forest loss.
African Golden Cat: common questions
Is the African golden cat related to other African cats?
Yes, genetic work shows its closest relatives are the caracal and the serval, even though it lives in dense rainforest rather than open country.
What colour is the African golden cat?
It occurs in colour forms ranging from golden red to grey, with some individuals spotted and others plain.
Why is the African golden cat Vulnerable?
It is threatened by hunting, including accidental capture in snares, and by the loss and fragmentation of the rainforest it depends on.
Where is the African golden cat found?
It is native to rainforest habitat across Central and West Africa.