One of the rarest cats in the world has finally resurfaced

A A strange Southeast Asian cat disappeared in Thailand about 30 years ago. The flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) is unmistakable with its long, flattened forehead and short, tubular body. Other strange features include webbed toes that allow them to move around in their preferred habitat of wetlands and bogs. Despite their small size (barely half the size of a domestic cat), flathead cats are apex predators in their swamp ecosystems, preying on fish, shrimp, and perhaps small birds and rodents.

The last detection of a flat-headed cat in Thailand was in 1995, contributing to its classification in 2008 as an endangered species by the IUCN. Now, thanks to camera trap surveys, flat-headed cats have been spotted again in southern Thailand. Their rediscovery was reported today by Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and Panthera Thailand, a global wild cat conservation organization.

Based on images from the largest ever camera trap survey of the species, flathead cats were spotted 13 times in 2024 and 16 times in 2025 in the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Reserve in Thailand. A mother with cubs has also been documented, indicating a breeding population. There are only about 2,500 flat-headed cats thought to exist across their entire range in Southeast Asia.

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“This is a historic moment for Thailand and a powerful reflection of our long-standing commitment to conservation,” said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin, who added that “the resurgence of the flat-headed cat is a timely reminder that when we protect our natural heritage, we preserve wildlife habitats and the future of our country.”

This discovery comes just in time for Thailand’s National Wildlife Protection Day, celebrated annually on December 26.

“The discovery of the existence of a species once considered lost in the region highlights the dedication and effectiveness of DNP officials in protecting border forests and preserving populations of rare wildlife despite difficult political and social circumstances that make conservation work difficult,” said DNP Director General of Thailand, Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa.

But the work is not done, as ongoing threats to flat-headed cats include land conversion for agricultural and residential purposes, hunting, pollution and the spread of disease by domestic animals.

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Main photo: A rare image of a flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) at night, Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. Credit: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera.

• Devin Reese

  Published on December 26, 2025

  Devin Reese is the editor-in-chief of Natural history and a science writer based in Alexandria, Virginia.