The cat gecko is a truly unique and beautiful species. These sleepy, slow-moving geckos can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. If You want to learn more about these fascinating geckos, keep reading!
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Quick Facts
Scientific Name: Aeluroscalabotes Felinus
Common Names: Cat Gecko, Fox Faced Gecko, Malaysian Cat Gecko
Geographic Range: Found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand
Life Span: 10+ Years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Top 10 List – Cat Tail Gecko
1. The Cat Gecko Got Its Name Because Of Its Unique Behaviours
There could be a few different reasons that the cat gecko got its name. The first reason I found was because of their way of wrapping their long tails around themselves to sleep, just as cats do. They also have verticle cat-like pupils and retractable claws. Finally, they seem to have a slow, cat-like walk as they move around. Any of these reasons or all of them combined could be why they got their name.
2. Their Unique Eyes Stand Out
While many geckos do not have eyelids, the cat gecko does, just like leopard geckos! Due to the fact they are nocturnal, their eyes are quite large to help them see better in the dark. Their heads are elongated and angular, as is their body. Slender limbs help them walk around, and their prehensile tail helps them hold on to various branches as support. Their retractable claws also help them grab onto various surfaces. These beautiful geckos have a body color that is usually brown or rust-brown, with various orange, light-colored, and dark-brown markings on their body. Their lips and throat are paler in color. Cat geckos can grow to 18cm (7 inches) in length, with females usually being larger than males.
3. They Are Arboreal Geckos, Spending The Majority Of Their Time In The Trees
Cat geckos prefer cool humid lowland and hill forests. They are mainly considered arboreal and can often be found on low vegetation and bushes that are usually near forest streams. While they may be found higher up in the trees, they can be hard to detect as they are slow-moving, as well as their coloring helps them blend in with their surroundings. They are mainly found in cooler areas that tend to be more humid.
4. There Are Two Subspecies Of The Cat Gecko
Cat Geckos currently have two recognized subspecies. The two subspecies are:
Aeluroscalabotes felinus felinus (Günther, 1864)
Aeluroscalabotes felinus multituberculatus (Kopstein, 1927)
Scientists think there could be more subspecies of cat geckos (Aeluroscalabotes felinus) out there, but more research is needed to determine if this is true or not.
5. Cat Geckos Lay Two Eggs At A Time
Like many geckos, cat geckos are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. After mating female cat geckos will lay around two eggs at a time, 4 to 6 times during breeding season. She will lay these eggs somewhere with adequate cover, to keep the eggs safe and protected. After around anywhere from 75 – 120+ days, the eggs will hatch, and out pops two beautiful babies. They seem to resemble adult cat geckos, just smaller.
6. Cat Geckos Are Insectivores
The cat gecko’s diet primarily consists of a wide variety of small insects they can hunt in their habitat. They are thought to hunt their prey by slowly stalking them before catching them. As they are nocturnal, they are most active during the nighttime, which is likely when they do most of their hunting for food.
7. Primitive Geckos
Cat geckos are thought to be one of the most primitive living gecko species that can be found today. The physical structure of the cat gecko is quite similar to fossilized geckos that have been found in the past, giving us a unique look into what older species of geckos could have looked like.
8. Cat Geckos Are Not Considered Threatened
According to the IUCN Redlist, cat geckos are considered at least concern for extinction. Thankfully, in Thailand, the collection and export of this species is prohibited, which will help keep the wild population stable. Two causes for concern for the cat gecko are habitat loss and destruction, as well as the collection of these geckos for the pet trade lowering the number of wild geckos.
9. Some Experienced Keepers Keep Cat Geckos As Pets
It is not recommended for just anyone to try and keep cat geckos as pets, especially if proper research has not been done. However, some cat geckos are successfully kept by experienced keepers in the hobby. For the geckos to thrive, they have very specific requirements that need to be met. If the conditions are not met, cat geckos can become very stressed out and sick. They are hard to breed in captivity, but with perfect conditions and an experienced breeder, it is possible. If you are interested in owning a cat gecko of your own, it is important to do plenty of research beforehand. As well, if possible, reach out to reptile owners who already own them for advice, and to ask them any questions you may have.
We also recommend buying captive-bred if possible. While they may cost more and be harder to find there are two main benefits to making sure you buy babies that have hatched in captivity. The first is that you know you will be getting a healthy gecko that does not have parasites from the wild, and you will know for sure how old your gecko is. The second is that this helps us prevent more geckos from being taken from the wild and damaging the wild population. If people aren’t buying wild-caught geckos, there will be no need for people to collect them from the wild.
10. Cat Gecko’s Tails Are Very Helpful For Them
Cat Geckos rely on their tails for multiple different reasons. The gecko uses its tail to store extra fat for the gecko if they are ever unable to find food, so a fat tail means a well-fed gecko. Their tails are also prehensile, and since they don’t have the sticky toe pads that many geckos have to help them climb, they can use their tails to hold on to things and keep their balance instead. Lastly, as with many geckos, they can drop their tails when in danger. They do this to confuse or distract the predator, which allows them to quickly escape. Cat geckos can regrow their tail once dropped, however, it won’t look the same as the original tail they dropped.
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