Ringtail Cat

 

Description:

The ringtail cat has large dark eyes, surrounded by white fur, large rounded ears, short legs, and a long white and black striped tail. They also have long bodies that are mostly grey or brown in coloration. To aid their nocturnal nature, the cat has keen eyesight and hearing capabilities. They have extraordinary climbing abilities, capable of scaling cliffs, trees, cacti, and vertical walls; partially because their back feet can rotate a full 180 degrees, allowing for a steady grip. In size, the ringtail cat can reach up to 32 ounces (2 pounds) in weight and 61 centimeters (24 inches) in length. In the wild, this species lives around 7 years, but can live significantly longer in captivity.

 

Behavior:

The ringtail cat utilizes a variety of vocalizations to communicate: barks, growls, screams, and hisses. In addition, they scent mark to communicate amongst themselves. During the bulk of the day, the cats are resting in their dens, which could could consist of a hollow tree, a rock crevice, log, etc. While they spend a majority of time in their dens, the ringtail cat does not construct their own and move locations frequently. Being omnivores, this species will eat just about anything, but their diet mostly consists of lizards, snakes, fruit, insects, small mammals, and birds. They often live in hot, arid areas. They do not need a substantial amount of water, due to their ability to produce concentrated urine.

 

Reproduction:

The ringtail cat is nocturnal and mostly solitary. Their breeding season takes place between February and May, with a gestation period of about 53 days. The mothers give birth to between one and four kittens in a litter, and the newborns are helpless at birth. The young are weaned by about nine weeks and first begin foraging themselves at two months.

 

Habitat:

Ringtails can live in a variety of habitats, but prefer rocky areas. They can be found from, “southwestern Oregon, through California, southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, Baja California, and northern Mexico” (Ringtail). The ringtail is also known for being easily domesticated. They are pets for many people throughout the United States. While they live longer in captivity, there are slight conservation concerns stemming from their domestication. However, at this time, the ringtail cat is not endangered or threatened, so very little is being done to protect them.