Like other felines, leopard cats are nimble night hunters in the forest of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province. People rarely catch sight of them in the daytime because most of them are active at night or before dawn. 

The leopard cat gets its name because the spots or rosettes on its body are similar to those on a leopard. It is about the size of a domestic cat, but more slender, with longer legs, and much more competitive in the wild. Rodents, lizards, amphibians, birds and insects are all on its menu. Even the giant panda mother has to keep away from the adult leopard cat to protect its cubs. 

Except during the breeding season, leopard cats are solitary. They are agile climbers and love to rest in trees. They are now under second-class state protection in China.

For more:

Wildlife of Wolong: The 'rainbow' in the misty mountain

Wildlife of Wolong: The cute pika catcher

Wildlife of Wolong: The deer with 'vampire fangs'

(All photos taken by He Xiao'an, head of the Publicity Department of Wolong National Nature Reserve Administration in Sichuan Province.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)