<P> They feed mainly on rodents and birds, but may also hunt lizards, frogs, and insects . They hunt primarily on the ground, making rapid, darting movements to catch their prey . They apparently venture into trees to escape larger predators . Captive females and males both scent - mark their home range by spraying urine . </P> <P> Oestrus lasts five days, and mating is unusually brief . Since the female is likely to be vulnerable during this period, its brevity may be an adaptation to help it avoid larger predators . The female prepares a den in a secluded location, and gives birth to one or two kittens after a gestation of 65--70 days . At birth, the kittens weigh just 60 to 77 g (2.1 to 2.7 oz), and are marked with rows of black spots . They reach sexual maturity at around 68 weeks, by which time they have developed the distinctive adult coat pattern of rusty blotches . Rusty - spotted cats have lived for twelve years in captivity, but their lifespan in the wild is unknown . </P> <P> Habitat loss and the spread of cultivation are serious problems for wildlife in both India and Sri Lanka . Although there are several records of rusty - spotted cats from cultivated and settled areas, it is not known to what degree cat populations are able to persist in such areas . There have been occasional reports of rusty - spotted cat skins in trade . In some areas, they are hunted for food or as livestock pests . </P> <P> The Indian population is listed on CITES Appendix I . The Sri Lankan population is included on CITES Appendix II . The species is fully protected over most of its range, with hunting and trade banned in India and Sri Lanka . </P>

Why is the rusty spotted cat so small