The caracal is the largest of Africa’s small cats, standing 18 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing 35-to-40 pounds. The long and slender body is covered with reddish-brown hair, with white markings around the eyes and on the throat, chin and belly. A narrow black line extends from the eyes to the nose and there are no side whiskers. The black ears are narrow and pointed and adorned with long, black tufts extending from the tips. The tapered tail is about one-third of the body length.

The caracal is largely nocturnal and solitary, has excellent hearing and vision and is very adept at climbing and jumping. It stalks prey and captures it with a quick dash or leap. The caracal is territorial and marks its boundaries with urine; vocalizations include miaows, growls, hisses and coughing calls. The combination of strength, speed and agility makes the caracal a formidable predator.

The solitary caracal pairs only when ready to breed. After a gestation of 10-to-11 weeks, the female gives birth to a litter of two or three young. The kittens resemble their parents, but are duller and grayer. The young are atricial, opening their eyes at about 10 days. After two months, the kittens begin to eat solid food, but stay close to their mother’s side for another 10 months. The caracal reaches sexual maturity at six-to-24 months; its lifespan usually 16-to-17 years.