CreatureData

Cape genet

Genetta tigrina (Schreber, 1776)

Status not recordedmammals

The cape genet (Genetta tigrina) is a species in the family Viverridae, order Carnivora. Recorded adults weigh 1.76 kg to 2.23 kg and live up to 21.3 years.

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Quick facts about the cape genet

Weight
1.76 kg – 2.23 kg
Length
Not recorded
Lifespan
18.1 years – 21.3 years
Diet
Carnivore
Main food
Not recorded
Habitat
Not recorded
Gestation
70.6 days
Young per litter or clutch
2.5
Age at maturity
3.15 years
Litters or clutches a year
2
Active
At night (nocturnal)
Lifestyle
Arboreal
Conservation status
Not recorded
Countries on record
Not recorded

Where does the cape genet live?

Not recorded

Is the cape genet endangered?

No conservation assessment is recorded for this species in our sources. That is not the same as being safe: it has not been matched to an assessment.

How is the cape genet classified?

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classMammalia
  4. orderCarnivora
  5. familyViverridae
  6. genusGenetta
  7. SpeciesGenetta tigrina (Schreber, 1776)

Synonyms Viverra tigrina

Other names and names in other languages (46)
  • Blotched genetEnglish
  • Cape large-spotted genetEnglish
  • Large-spotted genetEnglish
  • South African large-spotted genetEnglish
  • Tigrine genetEnglish
  • GrootkolmuskeljaatkatAfrikaans
  • زباد جنوب أفريقيArabic
  • ženetka skvrnitáCzech
  • Plettet genetteDanish
  • Südliche GrossfleckgenetteGerman
  • Γεννέτα του ΑκρωτηρίουGreek
  • Jineta TigrinaSpanish
  • laikkugenettiFinnish
  • Genette TigrineFrench
  • toggohts
  • Ginetta MaggioreItalian
  • ケープジェネットJapanese
  • 케이프제넷Korean
  • TigergenettNorwegian Bokmål
  • TijgergenetkatDutch
  • !Norebnmx
  • ThsipathokoNorthern Sotho
  • Żeneta tygrysiaPolish
  • Geneta-do-CaboPortuguese
  • Тигровая генетаRussian
  • InsimbaSwati
  • TshipaTswana
  • NsimbaTsonga
  • TsimbaVenda
  • InyhwagiXhosa
  • 大斑獛Chinese
  • Kaapse RooikolmuskejaatkatAfrikaans
  • Südliche Großfleck-GinsterkatzeGerman
  • Südliche GroßfleckginsterkatzeGerman
  • Gineta Con Pintas GrandesSpanish
  • Gineta manchadaSpanish
  • Genette a Grandes TachesFrench
  • Genette à grandes taches d'Afrique du SudFrench
  • Genetta del CapoItalian
  • Genetta del Sudafrica a macchie grandiItalian
  • 남아프리카큰점박이제넷Korean
  • StorflekkgenettNorwegian Bokmål
  • Żeneta wielkoplamaPolish
  • ThokoloTswana
  • TshipathokoloTswana
  • Msimba-mangovoTsonga

Catalogue of Life

Relatives of the cape genet

Other species in the same genus Genetta.

CompareCape genet vs Common genetCape genet vs Ethiopian genetCape genet vs Miombo genetCape genet vs Johnston's genet

Common questions

Answered only where our data holds the answer.

How big is the cape genet?

An adult cape genet weighs 1.76 kg – 2.23 kg, according to values recorded on Wikidata.

How long does the cape genet live?

The cape genet has a recorded lifespan of 18.1 years – 21.3 years.

How long is the cape genet pregnant?

The recorded gestation period is 70.6 days.

What kind of animal is the cape genet?

The cape genet (Genetta tigrina) belongs to the family Viverridae in the order Carnivora.

Sources and how to cite this page

Data as of 2026-11-11. How this page is put together.

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APA

CreatureData. (2026). Cape genet (Genetta tigrina). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/cape-genet

MLA

“Cape genet (Genetta tigrina).” CreatureData, 2026, https://creaturedata.com/animals/cape-genet.

BibTeX
@misc{cape_genet_2026,
  title = {Cape genet (Genetta tigrina)},
  author = {{CreatureData}},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://creaturedata.com/animals/cape-genet},
  note = {Data as of 2026-11-11}
}