Pardofelis marmorata
marbled cat

Marbled cats range from the Eastern Himalayas to Upper Burma and the Indochinese region. This distribution includes areas of northern India, Nepal, Sikkim, Assam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. In the Malay area they are rare and confined to the mainland. (Medway, 1969; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

Marbled cats have been recorded in a variety of habitats from sea level to 3,000 meters. Habitats include mixed deciduous-evergreen forest, secondary forest, clearings, six-year-old logged forest, and rocky scrub. Most sources describe this species as primarily arboreal. However many records of marbled cats are single observations and habitat and distribution may be wider than currently recognized. (Arkive, 2009; Medway, 1969; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

The physical appearance of marbled cats is often compared to that of their close relative, clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa). They are close in size to house cats (Felis catus), but are longer and more slender. Young are mottled brown until they get their adult markings at about 4 months old. The fur is full and soft with widely variable markings. The base color is brownish yellow and the coat is covered in large blotches which are paler in their centers and outlined in black. Large broken blotches occur on the flanks and blackish lines occur on the head, neck, and back. These patterns tend to be smaller than in clouded leopards and they merge together resembling marble (hence the name marbled cat). Interrupted bands run from the corner of each eye over the head. The ears are short and rounded and are black with grey bars marking them. There is a white or buff spot on the back of each ear. The chin and upper lip are also white or buff in color. The tail is spotted and tipped with black, and about three quarters of the body length. Head and body length ranges from 45 to 61 cm. Height at shoulder averages 28 cm and tail length is 35 to 55 cm. Marbled cats have relatively large feet with very large heel pads. They have unmistakably large canines for cats of their size. The skull is high and rounded and wide across the zygomata. The eye socket is surrounded by a complete bony ring, unusual among felids. The occipital area is wide with low crests and the sagittal crest is quite small. The anterior upper pre-molar is absent or vestigial. There are 3 generally recognized subspecies, Pardofelis marmorata marmorata, Pardofelis marmorata charltoni, and Pardofelis marmorata longicaudata. (Arkive, 2009; Pocock and F.R.S., 1939; Postanowicz and Lioncrusher, 2008; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

The lifespan of P. marmorata in the wild may vary, in captivity the longest lifespan was 12 years and 3 months. (Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

In captivity, marbled cats are docile and said to be easily tamed. They are also characterized as very active, with great capacity for climbing and jumping. Their forefeet have webbed, flexible paws with heel pads twice as wide as they are long. They also have double-sheathed, retractable claws, making them well suited for climbing. Marbled cats have a bushy tail that is 35 to 54 cm long (75% or more of body length) and is ideal for balancing. Marbled cats are also comfortable on the ground. Behavior and morphology suggests that they are semi-arboreal. Insufficient telemetry or field data makes it hard to draw conclusions about P. marmorata activity patterns. Previously thought to be nocturnal, current evidence is based on limited observations and suggests no difference in activity patterns. Marbled cats have been observed between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. in a reserve in Kalimantan and during the day on a path in Thailand. They have been observed hunting birds and a specimen was shot and collected during the night. ("International Society for Endangered Cats", 2001; "IUCN - The World Conservation Union", 1996; Grassman et al., 2005; Harrison, 1966; Lekagul and McNeely, 1977; Pocock, 1867; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

Home Range

A radio collared female tracked from May to June in 2001 had a home range of 5.3 square kilometers (95% minimum convex polygon), which was almost exclusively in closed tropical forest. (Grassman et al., 2005)

Similar to domestic cats, marbled cats have been observed purring and their meow has been described as chirping instead of more continuous sound inflection. Marbled cats rely heavily on vision and have good vision in low light. Their shorter, more rounded skull with flattened broad nasals gives them unobscured forward vision. This morphology, in combination with large, amber-colored eyes with large, vertically-oriented elliptical pupils, provides maximum light gathering ability and telescopic vision necessary to navigate in low light conditions. ("International Society for Endangered Cats", 2001; Harrison, 1966; Indian Tiger Welfare Society, 2005; Pocock, 1867; Wildscreen, 2009)

Marbled cats are thought to prey primarily on birds and arboreal small mammals. Mammal prey includes tree squirrels, tree shrews, rats and mice, small primates, and fruit bats. Birds up to the size of pheasants are thought to be their primary prey. Other prey include lizards, frogs, and insects. In Borneo they may be more terrestrial and forage on the ground. (Arkive, 2009; Pocock and F.R.S., 1939; Postanowicz and Lioncrusher, 2008; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

Marbled cats are cryptically colored, extremely wary, and arboreal, helping them to avoid most predation. Marbled cats have exceptionally long canines in relation to other skull dimensions and, when coupled with their fierce demeanor when trapped, these teeth present a formidable defense. There are no observations of predation on marbled cats. ("International Society for Endangered Cats", 2001; Lekagul and McNeely, 1977; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)

Marbled cats are important predators of birds and small mammals. There is no available information on their ecosystem roles otherwise.

Marbled cats are reclusive animals that avoid humans and are not known for having any negative impacts. There is one account of a marbled cat caught raiding a fowl pen. However, this kind of interaction is likely only where humans are invading and modifying native marbled cat habitat. (Pocock, 1867)

Marbled cats are charismatic and appealing animals. This makes them useful in winning popular support and funding for conservation efforts focused on their vulnerable ecosystems. (Grassman et al., 2005)

Populations of marbled cats are thought to be around 10,000 individuals. Their natural rarity and reclusive nature makes accurate estimates hard to calculate. Because marbled cats are rare they are not common in fur or meat markets. There are countries where regulated hunting is permitted (Laos and Singapore) and countries that offer no protection outside of designated parks (Bhutan and Brunei). These cats are sensitive to any human disturbance and readily abandon areas with humans. They depend on intact forest habitats, making them vulnerable to habitat destruction from logging, agriculture, and development. ("FCF / Feline Conservation Federation", 2009; "IUCN - The World Conservation Union", 1996; Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002)