Could This Be the Cutest Cat Species in the World?

  

In case you needed your daily fix of insanely cute cat photos I bring you the caracal. You can thank me later. 

The caramel-coloured wild cat lives in Africa, Middle East and India. Known for its strong build, long legs, and tufted ears, these babies open their eyes around day 10 and progress quickly from there—by one to two months old, they are following their mother to learn life skills like hunting.

The most notable feature on the caracal is its “tassel” ears. As kittens, this trait is especially pronounced—even seeming too big for its body—as black fur makes the ears seem extra pointy. It’s unclear the purpose of this distinct characteristic, but it’s theorized that these tufts might help camouflage the cat, keep flies out of the ears, or be used as a form of communication between fellow caracals. Check out just how adorable it looks, below.

Once full grown, the caracal can run up to speeds of 50 miles per hour.

The caracal is often confused with the lynx, as both cats have tufted ears. However, a notable point of difference between the two is that the lynx is spotted and blotched, while the caracal shows no such markings on the coat.

Typically nocturnal (active at night), the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is territorial, and lives mainly alone or in pairs.

The beautiful creature is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds and rodents.

Breeding takes place throughout the year with both sexes becoming sexually mature by the time they are a year old. Gestation lasts between two and three months, resulting in a litter of one to six kittens. Juveniles leave their mothers at nine to ten months, though a few females stay back with their mothers