World's smallest cat spotted in India

A team of wildlife enthusiasts have spotted a rusty-spotted cat, one of the most endangered species and the world's smallest cat, at Devrayanadurga reserved forests in Tumkur district India on Friday.

The rusty-spotted cat is found only in India and Sri Lanka and measures only 14-17 inches in length. It weighs less than 1.5 kg (females weigh less than 1 kg).

Rusty-spotted cats are mostly found in dry deciduous forests as well as scrub, and are arboreal (living on trees). This wild cat mainly hunts small rodents, birds and lizards.

"This cat is faced with threat of extinction due to habitat loss and the spread of cultivation. There have been occasional reports of rusty-spotted cat skins in trade, or of them being killed for food or as livestock pests.