The Ring-tailed cat, or Bassariscus Astutus as it is known to zoologists, is a denizen of the American Southwest, much of California and most of Mexico including the entire Baja peninsula. Although called a ring-tailed cat, Civet cat and Miners cat, it is not a cat at all, but a member of the procyanid family, the same family to which the coatimundi and the raccoon belong.
The most striking resemblance to a raccoon is demonstrated by the creatures striking tail, usually longer than the animal itself. Dazzling black and nearly white stripes line the large and bushy tail. There are generally anywhere from 14 to 16 of them on an average adult’s tail. Ringtail body fur is light to dark brown and the underbelly is usually buff to cream color.
Adult body lengths vary from 12” to 16 ½”; their tails will generally be about and inch longer. Ring-tailed cats are far smaller than are raccoons or coatis; they weigh from 1 lb. 12 oz. to perhaps 3 lb. 4 oz.
The ring-tail loves the arid, rocky landscape so typical of the American southwest and nests and dens among rock piles by preference although they will also adapt to brush falls and even human dwellings when the occasion arises. A timid creature preyed upon by fox, owls, bobcats and coyotes the ring-tail will shift its den nearly every day to make its detection by these predators difficult.
The ring-tail is an omnivore and will eat insects, rodents, small snakes and lizards and will also eat fruits and nuts when available. It seems to like various types of human snacks and is known to eat cat and dog food on occasion, although this is not an optimum diet for the species.
Ring tails are small, shy and nocturnal and are seldom seen, but they are not endangered; they are categorized as “least concern” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s list.
Ring-tails’ feet also resemble those of their raccoon cousins, their nimble little paws with semi retractable claws lead to their tracks often being confused where both species are present. Ring-tails wrist joints can be rotated nearly 180 degrees giving them tremendous climbing skills. Thus equipped and aided by their general agility and counterbalancing tails they can perform all sorts of acrobatic maneuvers as they patrol trees looking for their dinners. These include being able to effect a back flip with a roll to instantly change direction either to pursue or avoid pursuit.
Ring-tails are solitary except when they mate in spring time. The young are born after 45 to 50 days. They begin to hunt on their own when 4 months old and are sexually mature at 10 months. Ring-tails may live to reach 7 years of age in the wild and twice that long in captivity.
Although they are by nature solitary and shy, ring-tails readily adapt to human companionship and make friendly and engaging pets. Early settlers in the South West valued them highly since their diet is primarily composed of just those types of vermin that are least desired as co-habitants of cabins or mining shacks. This admirable characteristic is why to the common name “Miner’s cat” came into popular usage, and also to the creature being adopted as the State Animal of Arizona.
The ring-tailed cat is not well known outside of its own range, but this inoffensive and, in fact, beneficial animal had a part to play in the opening of the old west to mines, farms and ranches. It is still a welcome inhabitant of barns and outbuildings when it chooses to move in, and in some circumstances becomes a beloved family pet.
