Origin
The Borneo cat (Pardofelis badia) belongs to the family Felidae, the genus Carnivora. It is dubious that this species occurs with two names: Catopuma badia and Pardofelis badia. It happens that some species of animals receive, after advanced research, new scientific names and thus for a period can create confusion.
The Borneo cat or Bai cat is a feline endemic to the island of Borneo. At the moment it is one of the rarest felines with a number of less than 2500 specimens in the wild. In 2003 it was thought to have disappeared from the wild.
The population is expected to decrease by 20% by 2020 due to habitat loss. It occupies a rather large habitat, which causes deforestation to affect it directly, besides the fact that the animals it feeds on disappear. Compared to 1980 when the forest was whole only 52% of the land was still forested in 2005. Who knows how much is left today ..
It prefers various types of habitats that can range from marsh, forest or hill that do not exceed the altitude of 500 meters.
It can be found in literature and foreign literature under one of the names: Chat Bai, Borneo Bay Cat, Bay Cat, Bornean cat, Bornean Marbled Cat, Bornean Bay Cat, Gato Rojo de Borneo.
Cat food of Borneo
Like any feline it feeds on small animals, (rodents: mice, squirrels, etc.) reptiles, amphibians, fish if it is near lakes. Being a good climber there is the possibility to hunt and birds or eat their eggs and chicks in nests.
It has very well developed senses, especially sight, hearing and smell, and can hear an animal from great distances. If it hits people's households, it can be "served" with chickens or other poultry.
Appearance Borneo cat
The Borneo cat is about the size of a domestic cat. It has a robust body, uniform colored fur and long tail. Compared to other wild cats The Borneo cat is relatively small. The coat is chestnut in color.
On the back the color is darker, in the sides it opens more and more, and on the belly the fur is white in color. The rounded ears are dark in color on the outside.
It has a length of 50-67cm plus the tail of 30-40cm. At maturity they weigh 3-4kg. Males are larger than females.
The small and round head has two dark stripes that run from the inner edges of the eyes to the nape where they form the letter "M".
Borneo cat behavior
It is a very secluded animal, perhaps it is considered so because of the small number of existing specimens. Many of the existing images were taken in virgin forests.
Here we can see the importance of habitat to save from extinction not only this species, but also other endangered species of animals and plants.
It has all the qualities of a discreet and nocturnal animal. They say they are dependent on forests.
Breeding Borneo cat
Given the small number of specimens and the impossibility of studying them, the following data are based on assumptions. The female chooses the place where she will give birth depending on the territory and what she finds.
She can choose a hollow, a burrow behind rocks or in bushes, or she can dig one herself.
After the mating period in which the female is at estrus about 30-45 days, it gives birth to 1-3 Cubs. Puppies are born blind with little hair and are completely dependent on their mother. In 10-15 days their eyes open, and after 3 weeks they begin to walk on their own. Between 4 and 6 months they learn to hunt on their own and after 9 months they become independent.
It is possible that only the female will take care of the Cubs after mating. If there is food available or if a female loses all her young, she may give birth to another row of chicks in the same year.
Life expectancy is difficult to estimate, but it is most likely somewhere between 8 and 18 years.
