IUCN Red List for Cats plus trends and population sizes

Accurate assessment of wild cat population sizes is notoriously vague and sometimes misleading or nonexistent despite the best efforts of all concerned. On that basis assessing the threat of extinction of a species of wild cat is going to be just that, an assessment. It could, in fact, be argued that on occasion there is political motivation to hype up numbers. This arguably happened in respect of the tiger. Update May 13, 2022. This page was written in 2011. As that is around 11 years ago there may be changes in the assessment of the species by the Red List as to their survivability. However, my experience tells me that most of the recent assessments by the Red List are dated 2014. The Red List is not very current in my view. For that reason, the information provided on this page is still probably current in many respects despite being dated 2011.

The best techniques for counting numbers, scats and camera traps, are not always accurate. In addition, taxonomy (classification of species) is still an evolving subject that can cause a bit of confusion. The chart below has been carefully compiled from two excellent sources (a) Wild Cats Of The World by Mel and Fiona Sunquist pages 411 and 412 ISBN-13: 978-0-226-77999-7 and (b) the online IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Below the main chart you will find further information in relation to the IUCN Red List for cats. This is earlier work from 2008 that adds and sometimes overlaps but is presented here nonetheless. Is the IUCN independent?

Clouded leopard
IUCN Red List for cats, Vulnerable – photo by The Brit_2

IUCN Red List for Cats – Contents

• The categories
• The wild cats categorized
• Comment
• Is it accurate?

Introduction – IUCN Red List for cats

The situation regarding the IUCN Red List for cats (the source below is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™) is set out in the table below and is the situation as at the date(s) in the heading to the table. Things change (usually for the worse). I will try and keep up.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is an organization that assesses the situation of wild species, worldwide, in respect of their survivability in the wild and the threat of their extinction. This should promote their conservation, but I reluctantly question whether it does.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List categories are set out in their well-known scale or chart:

The wild cats – as at Oct 2008 – things change – IUCN Red List for cats

These are the world’s wildcat species (some sub-species are shown) and the IUCN category assigned to them. There is also a column CITES showing whether the cat is listed under Appendix I – most endangered. See CITES in relation to cats.  = New Window.

Cat	Latin (scientific) Name	IUCN RL cat	CITES Appen.I
African Golden Cat	Caracal aurata, formerly Profelis aurata	NT	yes
Amur Leopard	Panthera pardus orientalis	CR
Andean Cat	Oreailurus jacobita	EN	yes
Asian golden Cat	Catopuma temminckii	NT
Black-footed Cat	Felis nigripes	VU	yes
Bobcat	Lynx rufus	LC
Bornean Bay Cat	Pardofelis badia Synonym: Catopuma badia (Gray, 1874)	EN
Canadian lynx	Lynx canadensis	LC
Caracal	Caracal caracal	LC	yes – Asia only
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus	VU	yes
Chinese Mountain Cat	Felis bieti	no record
Clouded leopard	Neofelis nebulosa	VU	yes
Eurasian Lynx	Lynx lynx	LC
Fishing Cat	Prionailurus viverrinus	EN
Flat-headed Cat	Prionailurus planiceps	EN	yes
Geoffroy’s Cat	Oncifelis geoffroyi	NT	yes
Iberian lynx	Lynx pardinus	CR	yes
Jaguar	Panthera onca	NT	yes
Jaguarundi	Puma yagouaroundi	LC
Jungle Cat	Felis chaus	LC
Kodkod	Oncifelis guigna	VU
Leopard	Panthera pardus	NT	yes
Leopard Cat	Prionailurus bengalensis	LC	yes (see below)
Lion	Panthera leo	VU
Marbled Cat	Pardofelis marmorata	VU	yes
Margay	Leopardus wiedii	NT	yes
Ocelot	Leopardus pardalis	LC	yes
Oncilla	Leopardus tigrinus	VU	yes
Pampas Cat	Oncifelis colocolo	NT
Pallas Cat	Otocolobus manul	NT
Puma	Puma concolor	LC	yes (see below)
Rusty-spotted Cat	Prionailurus rubiginosus	VU	yes
Sand Cat	Felis margarita	NT
Serval – domestic	Leptailurus serval	LC
Snow leopard	Uncia uncia	EN
Tiger	Panthera tigris	EN	yes
Sumatran Tiger	Panthera tigris sumatrae	CR
European Wildcat Description Wildcat – Scottish Wildcat – African	Felis silvestris	LC
Total=38 – see Wild Cat Species for lots more on the wild cats

note 2 – Cougar – listed in CITES Appendix I in relation to the Cougar, the Florida Cougar or Panther and the Costa Rican Cougar.

Comment – IUCN Red List for Cats

What is the overall position regarding the wild cats? If the category EX=1 and the category LC=7, the average position for all cats is: 5.5, which equates to being in between vulnerable and near threatened.

I think the categorization is a little generous. Appendix I of CITES lists species that are “most endangered”. There seems to be a conflict between CITES and IUCN unless I am missing something. For example, the Ocelot is listed as LC (least threatened) under IUCN and as most endangered under CITES. There are other, what appears to be, differences of opinion.

Of course, the criteria between the two is different. One, CITES is concerned with the trade in species and body parts and the other, IUCN, is concerned with the extent of the treat to the existence of the species. One however, is linked to the other.

Assessments – IUCN Red List for Cats

Update: Controversial note: I am sure some, perhaps most, of the Red List assessments are correct. But I am also sure that some are not. Take just one reason. There is a distinct lack of accurate data on wildcat population numbers. A lot of wildcats inhabit countries where there is corruption at governmental levels and where there is an economic reason to misrepresent wildcat population figures. I would not be surprised if the providers of data are sometimes working under a conflict of interest. Do we know the population on a regional basis of the Lynx for example? I don’t think that we do. Without this fundamental data it could be argued that the Red List could achieve the opposite of its intended goal. It could assist the destruction of wildcats rather than preserve them by lulling people into an apathetic stance in respect of wildcats that might in fact require urgent action. I made a post about this: IUCN Red List Assessment.

Spectator

It seems that the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is recording the demise of species rather than acting as a motivator to others to do something about it. I must presume that one of the underlying objectives of the Red List is to alert people to conservation issues that require attention. Yet often these problems are not addressed. This must be because of commercial pressure on the ground that blunts efforts and dictates outcomes. If information is not acted upon there is little use in it. This undermines the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. It might be time for a change in the relationships between the various conservation organizations and to bring in some sort of international enforcement. The wild species of this world, including the wild cats, belong to the world and not individual countries. International treaties should be enforced at an international level. I don’t see this. Some countries fall down badly in respect of enforcement and where this happens in respect of endangered species (I am thinking of the tiger) there is an argument that international teams should be allowed in to enforce legislation (including local legislation) and treaties. It is time for real change and effectiveness. Many people want to see good news and population growth not perpetual decline in wild species, particularly the wildcats.

Regional variations

I also feel that where there are regional differences in the survivability of a wildcat as is the case for the Eurasian Lynx, a choice is presented. The Eurasian Lynx is endangered in Europe (critically in Portugal) yet it is classified overall as Least Concern because of the cats “wide range”. I don’t understand that as illegal hunting is “considered” to be the major threat. A wide range does not mean high and stable population. I presume that the population of the Eurasian Lynx is considered relatively stable and high because of its presence in Russia, a large area. I think that where there are regional variations the choice is:

1. to list the regions separately on a formal basis
2. to assess on the more cautious side
3. to average the regional assessments

I favor number 2 above as there is a general downwards trend and people need to be alerted to this. Least Concern sends the signal that illegal hunting can continue without proper enforcement. In other words, assessing more cautiously is the best route in the long term. And the whole thing is about long-term strategies.

IUCN Red List for Cats — Source: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 27 October 2008.

Photograph:published under a Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs creative commons License

From IUCN Red List for Cats to Wild Cat Species