Fun Civet Facts For Kids

Found across the continents of Africa and Asia, the civet cat is not a native of the cat family. It is called so because its appearance resembles that of a cat. Civets are nocturnal animals found to inhabit tropical forests and grasslands. There are almost 10 to 12 genera of civets and about 25 different species. However, the most common types of civet cats are the African civet, Asian palm civet, and Sunda civet. The more rare types of civets include the Malabar civet and the semi-aquatic Congo water civet. Most civets are arboreal in nature.The African civet, or Civettictis Civetta, is commonly found in the Southern and Central African region or Sub-Saharan Africa. The Asian palm civet inhabits South and South-Eastern parts of Asia such as Southern China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, parts of India, and Madagascar.For more relatable content, check out these cheetah facts and jaguar facts for kids.‍

What do they prey on? Fruits, Small Mammals, Insects, Snakes

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.3-44.1 lb (1.5-20 kg)

How long are they? 15.8-33.1 in (40-84 cm)

How tall are they? 15.8 in (40 cm)

What do they look like? Gray, White Fur, Spots

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans, Pet Trade, Habitat Destruction

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands, Tropical Forests, Scrublands

Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Southern China, Madagascar, Indonesia, South And Southeast Asia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Civettictis, Viverra (there are 10-12 genera of the civet cat)

Class Mammalia

Family Viverridae and Nandiniidae (African palm civet)

Civet Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a civet?The civet is cat-like and has a long, lithe body covered in gray fur. This animal also resembles weasels, raccoons, and mongooses. It is a nocturnal animal, it comes out only at night.What class of animal does a civet belong to?The civet belongs to class Mammalia.How many civets are there in the world?Due to there being multiple genera and species of civets, there is no formal collective data available on the population of civets across the world. Civets have a wide population range across the continents of Africa and Asia, according to the IUCN.Where does a civet live?Civets live mostly in the tropical forests and grasslands of Africa and Asia. Some varieties are also found in North America.What is a civet’s habitat?A civet’s native habitat consists of greenery like trees, tall grasses, and shrubs. It inhabits tropical forests, grasslands, forests, savannahs, etc. Some species are especially fond of palm trees because of the juice produced on them. The juice is called ’toddy’ and so the civets are also called toddy cats. Civets do not settle far from water sources. Most species of civets will frequently be found near rivers, streams, and lakes. African civets are commonly found in the Sub-Saharan grasslands and scrub forests.Who do civets live with?Civets are mostly nocturnal, solitary animals. They are found in packs of up to 15 members during the mating season.How long does a civet live?Civets have a lifetime of 15 to 20 years.How do they reproduce?The most commonly found African civet is known to mate in the months of November to December. African civets attain sexual maturity within a year of birth. The captive female civets are polyestrous. Civets are solitary animals and come together only for the purpose of mating. The gestation period is about two months, after which the female gives birth to pups. The litter size is between one and four civet babies. Their birth and feeding occurs in underground nests or burrows by the female civet. Baby civets or pups are quite agile and furry since birth, unlike other similar animals.What is their conservation status?African civet: Least ConcernAsian palm civet: Least ConcernSmall Indian civet: Least ConcernMalabar large-spotted civet: Critically EndangeredMalabar’s large-spotted civet is a species that is kept under extreme conservation. There are various threats to Malabar civets like habitat loss especially in lowlands, human-wildlife conflict, domestic dogs, and hunting.Asian palm civets also have to face various threats. They are hunted for the pet trade and bush meat. In South China, their hunting is quite frequent. Oil is extracted from the small pieces of meat of Asian civets and kept in linseed oil. This works as a cure for scabies. The Asian civet is also captured rapidly from the wild to produce a special kind of coffee (Luwak coffee).African civets are hunted in large numbers in Nigeria and Cameroon. African civets are hunted for trade in bush meat. African civets are also hunted for a very interesting property peculiar to their glands. Their perineal gland secretions are extremely vital. These glands produce civetone, a yellow/white waxy substance that has been very popular as an ingredient in African perfumes for a long time.Civet Fun FactsWhat do civets look like?Civets closely resemble raccoons. However, apart from that they physically appear to be a mix of a cat and a hyena. They have gray or brown coats with black spots and stripes. They have a face like a raccoon and tails with stripes. Some civet cats do not have striped or spotted bodies. They have rounded ears and small limbs. They have long and coarse hair on their tails.Civets have long necks with black and white stripes running down the sides. They are very agile climbers and spend parts of their life on trees (partial arboreal life). Their tails are used for balancing while they move across the treetops. They have an extended and pointed muzzle.The species Civettictis has larger molar teeth as compared to Viverra.How cute are they?Civets are cute in their own way. They have small ears, shiny eyes, and cute whiskers along with a furry body. Wild civets are not tamed easily but pet ones can be very affectionate.How do they communicate?The civet is known to be a solitary animal. However, it has various modes of communication at its disposal. The modes of communication available to civets are visual, auditory, and olfactory. In civets, the scent glands have a primary role in socializing. They leave scents along a certain path to convey important information. The civets are also known for marking their territories. They do this by crouching down and then pressing the perineal glands against the desired object.Civets deposit fecal matter in special piles. The piles of dung include secretions from the anal gland which helps them to mark their area and attract a partner. Civets make some characteristic sounds like - a growl, a scream, and a cough-spit. While making contact, they are commonly known to make ‘ha ha ha’ sounds, similar to that of a hyena.How big is a civet?Civet cats are approximately two times the size of a domestic cat, or about the same size as that of a raccoon.How fast can a civet run?An African civet can run at speeds of about 40 mph (64.4 kph).How much does a civet weigh?There are different varieties of civets all varying in their weights.Asian palm civet : 7.1 lb (3.2 kg)Masked palm civet : 9.5 lb (4.3 kg)African civet : 15.4-44.1 lb (7-20 kg)Large Indian civet : 20.1 lb (9.1 kg)Malayan civet : 16.1 lb (7.3 kg)Malabar large-spotted civet : 26.5 lb (12 kg)Brown palm civet : 7.7 lb (3.5 kg)Golden palm civet : 6.2 lb (2.8 kg)What are the male and female names of the species?Both the male and the female of the species are called civets.What would you call a baby civet?A baby civet is called a pup.What do they eat?Civets are omnivores by nature. Their diet includes a mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. They eat rodents, insects, birds, eggs, reptiles, crabs, fruits, and many kinds of vegetation. Mangoes, berries, and bananas also form a part of their diet. These animals are nocturnal by nature and hunt at night. They are active for about one hour in the dark and search for insects, reptiles, frogs, etc. which they might even scavenge. Apart from the carnivorous contributions, they also hunt for fruits and vegetation. They often eat small snakes.Are they dangerous?Civets are nocturnal animals and are also carnivores. They are often known to be on the prowl for prey at night. However, civet cats are not known to attack humans unless it is a matter of defense.Would they make a good pet?If a young civet cat is brought home as a pet, it can be domesticated. The Asian palm civet can be a good and affectionate pet.Did you know…The African civet’s feces, also called civetries, are used by them to mark their territories. Civet’s feces act as a medium for the dispersion of seeds around the forest. The Civettictis Civetta, or the African civet, is also known for secreting a type of pheromone from its anal glands. About 0.1-0.2 oz (4-5 g) of musk is secreted by the African civet every week. This is for the purpose of mating and marking territory, but due to its distinct musky smell, this substance is used in perfumeries.This substance, also called ‘civet’ or civetone after this African animal, is secreted by both the male and female African civets. It is highly valued in the perfume industry, and African civets have often been hunted in the past for this purpose.Why are civet coffee beans popular?The Asian palm civet, or the Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus, is known for its contribution to the production of coffee. Kopi luwak, a type of coffee, is produced from the coffee beans that are excreted by the Asian palm civet. This animal eats coffee cherries and is unable to digest the seeds, which are passed out in its feces. This fecal matter is collected, processed, and yields one of the most expensive varieties of coffee, called civet coffee. Luwak coffee is extremely popular because of its peculiar origin.What does civet smell like?The musk or civetone secreted from the perineal glands of the African civet makes it smell rather distinct. In concentrated and unprocessed form, this could smell rather sickening, but once diluted, it has a sweet perfume. The scent of this secretion can last in the air for many days as it is very strong and pungent.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our ringtail cats facts and leopard cat facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Malayan civet coloring pages.

What type of animal is a civet?

The civet is cat-like and has a long, lithe body covered in gray fur. This animal also resembles weasels, raccoons, and mongooses. It is a nocturnal animal, it comes out only at night.

Fun Civet Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Fruits, Small Mammals, Insects, Snakes

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.3-44.1 lb (1.5-20 kg)

How long are they? 15.8-33.1 in (40-84 cm)

How tall are they? 15.8 in (40 cm)

What do they look like? Gray, White Fur, Spots

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans, Pet Trade, Habitat Destruction

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands, Tropical Forests, Scrublands

Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Southern China, Madagascar, Indonesia, South And Southeast Asia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Civettictis, Viverra (there are 10-12 genera of the civet cat)

Class Mammalia

Family Viverridae and Nandiniidae (African palm civet)

Fun Civet Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Fruits, Small Mammals, Insects, Snakes

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.3-44.1 lb (1.5-20 kg)

How long are they? 15.8-33.1 in (40-84 cm)

How tall are they? 15.8 in (40 cm)

What do they look like? Gray, White Fur, Spots

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans, Pet Trade, Habitat Destruction

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands, Tropical Forests, Scrublands

Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Southern China, Madagascar, Indonesia, South And Southeast Asia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Civettictis, Viverra (there are 10-12 genera of the civet cat)

Class Mammalia

Family Viverridae and Nandiniidae (African palm civet)

Fun Civet Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Fruits, Small Mammals, Insects, Snakes

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.3-44.1 lb (1.5-20 kg)

How long are they? 15.8-33.1 in (40-84 cm)

How tall are they? 15.8 in (40 cm)

What do they look like? Gray, White Fur, Spots

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Humans, Pet Trade, Habitat Destruction

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands, Tropical Forests, Scrublands

Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Southern China, Madagascar, Indonesia, South And Southeast Asia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Civettictis, Viverra (there are 10-12 genera of the civet cat)

Class Mammalia

Family Viverridae and Nandiniidae (African palm civet)