African Wild Cat Felis lybica

This is more than likely the most widely spread and most abundant of the cats in Africa. They are mainly nocturnal and are usually only seen well after sunset. Both male and female are highly territorial. The species in Southern Africa is under threat, due to inter-breeding with the domestic cat, reducing the gene pool of the wild cats. They will feed on mainly rodents, which would explain their successful distribution. They will also take birds, small mammals and reptiles. The female will give birth to about 3 kittens after a gestation period of 65 days. The young are usually born in holes dug out by other mammals, where available, although thickets of long grass, cracks in rocks and under bushes have been used for this purpose.