The life cycle of Jungle Cats (Felis chaus) has the following phases:
- Gestation: 63 - 66 days
- Kitten: birth to 8 months
- Litter Size: 2 - 3 kittens (max 6)
- Sub-Adult: 8 - 9 months
- Adult:
- Females 11 months
- Males 12 - 18 months
- Lifespan: Unknown in the wild - 20 years in captivity
The three main stages of development are kitten, sub-adult or juvenile and adult. In general, young of the smaller wild cats are called 'kittens' and young of the big cats are called 'cubs'; so Lion, Leopard and Cheetah 'cubs' but Jungle Cat 'kittens'.
Jungle Cat Reproduction
There have been few studies of Jungle Cats in the wild and so most information is from captive cats.
Jungle cats are believed to reproduce seasonally with mating during winter and births during spring (Northern Hemisphere).
Gestation (pregnancy) is around two months and on average two to three kittens are born per litter.
Jungle Cat kittens become independent at eight to nine months.
Jungle Cat Adults
Jungle Cat female sub-adults reach breeding maturity from 11 months and males from 12 to 18 months.
Mortality in the wild is suspected to be typically by larger carnivores, and possibly other predators such as reptiles. Jungle Cats are killed by domestic dogs and persecuted by farmers in human settlements.
The lifespan of Jungle Cats in the wild is not known but cats in captivity have survived up to twenty years.
