The "ringtail" cat is also called the "miner's" cat, because the gold rush miners keep them as pets, "Coon Cat", and "Civet Cat" are some of the others names for this cat.Though they are called "cats", raingtail cat is one of the smallest members of the raccoon family (Bassariscus astutus) about the size of a small domestic cat, 12 to 15 inches when full grown, with a raccoon like tail, and a face resemble a fox .
Ringtails live in dry areas in the western USA. The Ringtails cat ranges from Louisiana to California, across Arkansas, Kansas , Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and Arizona. The ringtail cats are the state mammal of Arizona.
If you think you have seen a Ringtails or Civet Cats in West Virginia, you are not alone. Ringtail cat may be present in other states, including West Virginia as pets.
Read this if you're thinking about buying an ringtail cat for an exotic pet or already share your home with an ringtail, do your homework and be sure to check with your state, county, city, town, subdivision, and other local government on possible restrictions, some states have strict laws over exotic.
Where: Ringtail Country
When: 2005
Photographer: Billybob Photo
Submitted by: Bobbie Lauren Driskell
Ringtails cat are strictly nocturnal, shy and solitary animals.
They eat food, such as reptiles, small mammals, insects, nuts, vegetables and fruits. They forage for food mostly at night and ringtails will climb trees or run from predators. |
