Did you know that most wild cat species are small and that lions,
tigers, and other large cats are the exception? That adult bobcats,
clouded leopards, and other small wild cats are completely asocial? And
that they fight only as a last resort? This entertaining and informative
book reveals these and hundreds of other facts about the behavior,
biology, and conservation of the more than 30 small wild cat species.
From bobcats to servals, small cats are spread across the globe. They
range in size from the rusty-spotted cat and African black-footed cat,
each of which weighs around 5 pounds when fully grown, to the Eurasian
lynx, which can reach an adult weight of 60 pounds. These felids are
elusive, some are nocturnal, others are arboreal, and all are rare and
secretive, making them especially difficult to study. James G.
Sanderson, the world's leading field expert on small wild cats, and
naturalist and wildlife artist Patrick Watson provide informative and
entertaining answers to common and unexpected questions about these
animals. The authors explain why some small cats live on the ground
while others inhabit trees, discuss the form and function of their coat
types and colors, offer scientifically sound information on human-small
wild cat interactions, and even review the role that small wild cats
have played in literature, religion, and mythology.
The world of cats is as fascinating as it is diverse. Small Wild Cats:
The Animal Answer Guide shows just how important and interesting the
littlest of the nondomesticated feline family are.