-
Kuda was born on 30th of April 2018 at Hamerton Zoo Park, and arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary on 13th February 2024
-
The name Kuda means ‘little’ in Sinhala, which is the language primarily spoken by the people of Sri Lanka
-
The smallest species within the cat world, these felines weigh between 0.9-1.6kg
-
Rusty spotted cats are mainly nocturnal, spending their days inside hollow logs, forest, or tree thickets - or a little den area in Kuda's case!
-
Rusty-spotted cats feed on birds and small mammals, sometimes even frogs and rodents
The Big Cat Sanctuary is pleased to announce the newest addition to the family, Kuda, a Sri Lankan Rusty Spotted Cat. Kuda is five years old and was born on the 30th of April 2018 at Hamerton Zoo Park. He joined us on 13th February 2024.
Kuda means ‘little’ in Sinhala, the language primarily spoken by the people of Sri Lanka. It’s a name most suited for him, as Rusty Spotted Cats are one of the smallest cat species in the world!
The newest addition will be diversifying our wide collection of threatened cat species at the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is proud to care once again for both the world’s biggest and smallest cat species: the Amur tiger and the Rusty Spotted Cat.
These tiny cats are native to India and Sri Lanka in the forests, scrublands and grasslands. They may look cute but what they lack in size they make up for in nature. They are feisty and very capable little hunters. There are estimated to be approximately 10,000 individuals living in the wild, but monitoring such tiny and illusive cats in the wild is challenging.
Rusty-spotted cats are much smaller than house cats, with more slender bodies. Their rusty-coloured tail measures about half the length of their body, which is thick with less distinct spots. Their faces feature two dark streaks and there are also four dark streaks that run from their nape to the top of their head. Their paws and tails are uniform reddish grey. The eyes of these cats are large and their irises amber to greyish-brown. Their ears are rounded and short.