Sharing some footage of Jungle Cat. We don't sight them often. Fortunately, this was in day time in Bandhavgarh National Park, India.

Wild India: Jungle Cat - YouTube

This is a beautiful little cat. You must have been very patient and quiet to get this footage. Perhaps a long time ago, this species was part of the ancestry of our housecats. If only this one could visit my backyard for a few days and give my cat some rodent-catching lessons.

These cats are very agile and can jump and catch birds as well. On earlier occasions the sighting was very early in the mornings. Frankly speaking I have more footage of tigers than these lesser carnivores. I knew its area and was trying and finally got it.

Thanks for posting, I was lucky to see one several times also near to Bandhavgarh. This one hunted along the approach road to our lodge. Unlike yours never stayed around long enough to film!

Mick

Beautiful footage, thanks Sabyasachi.

This kitty looks just like my neighbor's pet... is it really a different animal or just lives in the wild?

Hi Mick,
Nice to know that you too had been to bandhavgarh and seen a jungle cat there. The area near the gate ie. Siddhababa and Chakradhara grasslands is the habitat of the jungle cat. One was seen foolishly trying to hold its ground against a tiger and was killed in that area, about 10 yrs back.

Hi Ervin,
The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) is the ancestor of the domestic cat. They can inbreed with the domestic cat as well. They hunt rodents, insects like grasshoppers, birds, even deer fawn, fish etc. Normally it is difficult to sight the jungle cat. About a century ago, they used to be common. Their weight varies from 5 lbs. to 20lbs.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi