African Small Cat Hunting

African small cats which include the serval, caracal and African wild cat, are not commonly hunted.

They may be occasionally taken as the opportunity arises while hunting something else. All these African small cats are on CITES Appendix II.

African Small Cat Trophy Minimums

Felis caracal (Caracal)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
7¹/₂"	11¹/₈"	17	6"	9⁷/₁₆"	15

Felis serval (Serval)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
7¹/₂"	9³/₈"	17	6"	8⁵/₁₆"	15

Felis sylvestris (African Wildcat)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
6³/₄"	7¹³/₁₆"	17	5"	7"	15

African Small Cat Facts

Habitat and Requirements

Caracal prefer mainly dry savanna, scrub and woodland.
Serval cats prefer grass savannah with plentiful water. They are also to be found in dry reed beds near streams and in high-altitude moorlands and bamboo thickets
African wildcats are found in most habitats except desert and rain forest

Social Structure

Caracals are primarily solitary or live as mated pairs.
Servals are solitary coming together in pairs only for mating.
African wildcats are solitary and very territorial.

Gestation Period

After a gestation period of 3 months, these species produce between 1 - 6 cubs.

African Small Cat Gender Identification

In all instances, males are bigger than females in the body.

African Small Cat Hunting Methods

Spotting, walking and stalking the likely habitats as an animal of opportunity.
Bait and blind hunting is necessary if determined to try to hunt a caracal.

A Good African Small Cat Trophy

A large male caracal may be determined on spoor and by sight if it comes to bait.

African Small Cat Hunting Shot Placement

Cats have their hearts very slightly further back than most animals and as usual, heart and lungs are the largest target area.
If the animal is standing at right angles to you, bring your crosshairs up the foreleg and divide the body in half and then in half again and the centre of the heart will be found at the top of that first (lowest) dividing line, but just behind the foreleg The lungs extend to slightly above the mid way line.
If the animal is at an obtuse angle to you, remember the previous rule and aim at the opposite shoulder and you'll hit the same area.
If the animal is standing facing away from you, and you feel confident of the shot, aim at the root of the tail where it joins the body.
If the animal is facing you, aim for the central chest area where the bottom of the neck leaves the body.

African Small Cat Pictures

(Place cursor over photographs to enlarge)

Serval

Caracal

African Wild Cat

Recommended Viewing

Kudus And Caracals DVD. Kudu are the most sought after of Africa's big game. In South Africa, the Wilsons get 2 huge Kudu including a monster 60 incher. Numerous record book bulls are passed on-camera. 90 mins.