Adorable Caracal Kittens Grow Into Elegant Wild Cats That Roam the African Savanna

Adorable Caracal Kitten

It’s no secret that kittens are some of the cutest animals on the planet. Domesticated or wild, these tiny felines are adorably fuzzy with big, curious eyes that are busy taking in their new and exciting world. This sense of wonder is seen in the caracal, a caramel-colored wild cat that lives in Africa and the Middle East to India. Known for its strong build, long legs, and tufted ears, these babies open their eyes around day 10 and progress quickly from there—by one to two months old, they are following their mother to learn life skills like hunting.

The most notable feature on the caracal is its “tassel” ears. As kittens, this trait is especially pronounced—even seeming too big for its body—as black fur makes the ears seem extra pointy. It’s unclear the purpose of this distinct characteristic, but it’s theorized that these tufts might help camouflage the cat, keep flies out of the ears, or be used as a form of communication between fellow caracals. Check out just how adorable it looks, below.

Above photo credit: Sergey Polyushko

Tiny Caracal With Big Curious EyesPhoto source: Reddit

Adorable Fuzzy Caracal KittenPhoto credit: Fiona Ayerst

Cute Fluffy Caracal KittenPhoto credit: Andreas Jansrud

Caramel Colored Caracal KittensPhoto source: snodialove

Once full grown, the caracal can run up to speeds of 50 miles per hour:
Caracal Kittens With Extra Pointy EarsPhoto source: a2ua

Caracal With Signature Tassel EarsPhoto source: a2ua

Caracal Cat With Strong BuildPhoto source: a2ua

via [Bored Panda, San Diego Zoo]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content