The endangered flat-headed cat, once considered \u201cpossibly extinct,\u201d was recently rediscovered in Southern Thailand for the first time in three decades. Called \u201cone of the world\u2019s rarest wild felines,\u201d the flat-headed cat\u2019s existence was confirmed with remote camera trap images.<\/p>\n
Thailand\u2019s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) and Panthera<\/a> Thailand, a global wild cat conservation organization announced the rediscovery.<\/p>\n Remote cameras detected the flat-headed cat thirteen times in 2024 and sixteen in 2025 in what was the largest-ever survey of the species, Panthera said. That marks the first time it\u2019s been seen since 1995.<\/p>\n In one instance, scientists recorded a female flat-headed cat with her cub, showing that there is ongoing reproduction in the area.<\/p>\n Why are flat-headed cats so hard to find?<\/p>\n Because of its small size, limited numbers and nocturnal behavior, scientists said the species has an \u201celusive nature\u201d that makes it \u201cexceptionally difficult to observe.\u201d In addition, litters typically only produce one cub.<\/p>\n There are an estimated 2,500 adult flat-headed cats in the world. It is currently classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is deemed \u201cpossibly extinct\u201d in Thailand. <\/p>\n Athapol Charoenshunsa, director general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand, called the cat sightings a \u201clandmark moment for Thailand and a powerful reflection of our long-standing commitment to conservation.\u201d He attributed them to sustained protection, strong scientific partnerships and community stewardship.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flat-headed cat\u2019s resurgence is a well-timed reminder that when we safeguard our natural heritage, we safeguard our nation\u2019s wild habitats and future,\u201d Charoenshunsa said in a statement.<\/p>\n What is the flat-headed cat?<\/p>\n The flat-headed cat gets its name from what scientists say is a \u201cdistinctive flattened forehead and elongated skull.\u201d They are the smallest wild cats in Southeast Asia and typically weigh less than half as much as typical domestic cats. They are thought to be closely related to leopard cats<\/a> and fishing cats.<\/p>\n Even with its small size, the flat-headed cat\u2019s webbed toes help it be the apex predator in wetland and peat swamp ecosystems. Flat-headed cats have been threatened by \u201chuman-induced habitat loss from land conversion, fishing, agricultural encroachment, hunting, pollution of waterways and the spread of disease from domestic animals,\u201d according to Panthera. <\/p>\n