Leopard cats may have been the first cats domesticated in Neolithic China about 5,000 years ago.

The leopard cat is a small wild cat found across South, Southeast, and East Asia. Similar in size to a house cat but longer-legged and slenderer, it generally measures 38–76 centimetres long, with a tail about 18–30 centimetres. Depending on the region, adults weigh roughly 0.5–7 kilograms. Their appearance varies widely: southern individuals tend to have warm golden coats, while those farther north often have pale grey fur that thickens for winter.