# African wildcat (*Felis lybica*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/african-wildcat  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The African wildcat (Felis lybica) is a mammal in the family Felidae, subfamily Felinae, within the order Carnivora. Its scientific name was given by Forster, 1780, and it belongs to the genus Felis in the suborder Feliformia. Other English names for it include Bush cat, Steppe cat, Asiatic wildcat and Indian desert cat. It is a living species, assessed globally as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | desert, grassland, shrubland |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Mammalia
- order: Carnivora
- family: Felidae
- genus: Felis
- species: *Felis lybica* Forster, 1780

Synonyms: *Felis chutuchta*, *Felis haussa*, *Felis lynx sardiniae*, *Felis reyi*, *Felis silvestris caudata*, *Felis silvestris chutuchta*, *Felis silvestris cretensis*, *Felis silvestris foxi*, *Felis silvestris gordoni*, *Felis silvestris griselda*, *Felis silvestris haussa*, *Felis silvestris iraki*, *Felis silvestris jordansi*, *Felis silvestris mellandi*, *Felis silvestris nesterovi*, *Felis silvestris ocreata*, *Felis silvestris reyi*, *Felis silvestris rubida*, *Felis silvestris sarda*, *Felis silvestris tristrami*, *Felis silvestris ugandae*, *Lynx lynx sardiniae*, *Lynx sardiniae*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the African wildcat?

The African wildcat is a mammal in the family Felidae and the order Carnivora.

### What is the scientific name of the African wildcat?

The scientific name of the African wildcat is Felis lybica, placing it in the genus Felis.

### Who named the African wildcat and when?

The African wildcat was named by Forster, 1780.

### Is the African wildcat endangered?

No. The African wildcat is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is not a threatened category.

### What other names does the African wildcat have?

Other English names for the African wildcat are Bush cat, Steppe cat, Asiatic wildcat, Indian desert cat and Chat sauvage d'asie.

### Is the African wildcat extinct?

No. The African wildcat is a living species according to the Catalogue of Life.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: African wildcat (Felis lybica). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/african-wildcat