6 Pets That Look Like Cats But Aren’t

Animals Like Cats

Domesticated cats are one of the most popular pets in the world for a good reason: They can be affectionate at times but they are also often lonely, giving their owners time to be alone without extra attention and daily walks that dogs need. People are also attracted to cats because their flat faces, pointed ears, and almond-shaped eyes are considered beautiful and attractive.

Other mammals that look like cats but are actually not in the Felidae family are also found in a very limited number of human homes. Alone, these animals may look similar to cats thanks to convergent evolution (the process by which several animals that evolved independently share similar physical characteristics), but side by side , the differences are quite apparent.

1. Spotted Genet

Genets are slender carnivores native to Africa, although the common genet, or small-spotted genet, has expanded its range to parts of Europe due to human influence. [8]. They are viverrids, not felids. There are 38 genet species, including the large spotted genet (Genetta tigrina), hausa genet (Genetta thierryi), and rusty-spotted genet (Genetta maculata). Although most are carnivorous, eating smaller prey such as rodents, insects, and lizards, they are also said to be omnivorous and will eat plant material and fruit. [8][14].

These adorable animals loosely resemble cats with their spots, tails, and tiny paws (although they have semi-retractable claws. [8]), but with one clear difference, which is their pointed face, which looks more like a weasel.

The genes have many similarities with domestic cats; they hunt small rodent prey opportunistically, are semi-nocturnal, are good climbers but also hunt on the ground, and some owners who keep them as pets even report that they howl. However, compared to regular house cats, genies can be very skittish, less cuddly, and less well behaved. Therefore genes are pets for those who understand and accept them for what they are. The genes look like another member of the Viverridae family called linsang [6]but they are rare and not kept as pets.

2. Binturong

Also called bear cats, these large carnivores are famous for their popcorn-like odor when they are kept in captivity. Also feliforms (no cats) and in the same family as the genets, Viverridae, of which they are the largest species [11], they look a bit like a cat, but also resemble a hybrid between a feline and a sloth bear. These strange creatures are the only carnivores with a prehensile tail [11]. Mostly nocturnal, binturongs climb, swim, spend some time on land, and are mostly alone. [11].

These exotic animals are expensive and not usually seen in captivity, but some individuals who own them as pets, mostly animal exhibitors, report that they are calmer and more relaxed around. by humans when they are raised from a young age (around 4 weeks old) [12]hence why they are often used as animal ambassadors.

3. Ring-Tailed Cats

The ring-tailed cat, also known as just a ringtail, looks like a hybrid of a cat and a ring-tailed lemur, and while it bears a striking resemblance to the aforementioned genet, it is actually in the procyonid family, which making it more closely related to raccoons. This remarkable creature is found throughout the Southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and even parts of Oregon [4]. They are nocturnal, although they are sometimes active at dusk. Like genes, they prefer carnivorous, although they can have some omnivorous tendencies, eating small mammals, birds, reptiles, berries, and even carrion. [4].

Nowadays, they are very rare in the pet trade, although they were more commonly available in the past. Native wildlife laws would make them illegal in their native range as well as in most states.

4. Asian Palm Civet

This fascinating animal, although less common in the pet trade today due to the very low captive breeding population (rare, if any in the US today) has actually been declared by researchers to be one of more suitable exotic animals to keep as pets. (including sitka deer and wallabie) [7]. They are also known as the ‘cats’ responsible for the expensive Kopi luwak coffee, which is made from their droppings when they eat specific coffee cherries. [10]. Civets have a flexible diet, eating small mammals, eggs, reptiles, insects, and flowers, although most of them are voracious and also prefer fruits, seeds, and sap. [10].

Asian palm civets are reported to enjoy the company of humans when socialized from a young age [7]. They have cat-like characteristics, but also resemble other species, such as raccoons, where they have a similar ecological role in [10]. Unfortunately, they are also illegal to import into the United States as pets because of their potential role in the past SARS pandemic, although it likely originated in a live food market. [13]. Like genets and binturongs, they are in the Viverridae family.

5. Fossa

This strange mammal, which was previously unknown to most until the animated film Madagascar debuted, has the appearance of a small and skinny cougar. The fossa, native to the island of Madagascar, is relatively rare in captivity and very rarely kept as a pet, however, imported animals were more often available in the past.

Fossas are very unique, as they are the only carnivore that specializes in hunting primates. They are good climbers but also hunt on the ground. They were once endangered, but are now listed as vulnerable in 2019. However, maintaining fossa in special captive breeding programs is beneficial for the species, both for conservation purposes education, that little is known about them, and to increase their populations for possible release in the future [1][9].

6. American and European Pine Marten

As their names suggest, there are two types of marten found in North America and Europe. Both are small (about the size of a house cat), semi-arboreal, and nocturnal carnivores that are primarily solitary. [2][3]. Martens are mustelids, in the same family as ferrets and weasels. They also sometimes eat fruit and carrion.

These species are hunted for their pelts and are not commonly kept as pets, although the American marten can be found in private captivity. Although they can be expected to have natural aggression, hand-raised martens that have been well socialized can have a decent disposition. [5].

Deeds mentioned

1. Dickie, Lesley Alexandra. The behavior and reproductive physiology of the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) in captivity. Diss. Queen Mary, University of London, 2005.
2. Ellis, E. 1999. “Martes americana” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 11, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Martes_americana/
3. Forder, Victoria. “Companion Behavior in Captive Pine Martens Tuesday”. Trust in Wildwood. August 2006.
4. Goldberg, J. 2003. “Bassariscus astutus” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 11, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bassariscus_astutus/
5. Jackson, Hartley Harrad Thompson. Mammals of Wisconsin. Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1961.
6. Kepner, B. 2003. “Prionodon pardicolor” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 11, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Prionodon_pardicolor/
7. Koene, Paul, Rudi M. de Mol, and Bert Ipema. “Behavioral ecology of captive species: Using bibliographic information to assess the pet suitability of mammal species.” Frontiers in veterinary science 3 (2016): 35.
8. Lundrigan, B. and M. Conley 2000. “Genetta genetta” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 11, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Genetta_genetta/
9. Lundrigan, B. and T. Zachariah 2000. “Cryptoprocta ferox” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed on May 14, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cryptoprocta_ferox/
10. Nelson, J. 2013. “Paradoxurus hermaphroditus” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 11, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Paradoxurus_hermaphroditus/
11. Schleif, M. 2013. “Arctictis binturong” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 11, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Arctictis_binturong/
12. Stinner, Mindy. “The Binturong Information Sheet“
13. Wang, LF., and Bryan T. Eaton. “Bats, civets and the emergence of SARS.” Wildlife and emerging zoonotic diseases: the biology, events and consequences of cross-species transmission. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2007. 325-344.
14. Wemmer, Christen M. “Comparative ethology of the large-spotted genet (Genetta tigrina) and some related viverrids.” Smithsonian contributions to zoology (1977).

© 2020 Melissa A Smith

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