These amazing animals are very wary of humans and are spotted less often than their close cousins, the raccoon. Because you see, while they are known as ringtail cats, they are actually not related to felines at all but belong to the raccoon family known as Procyonidae. The ringtail does have certain characteristics that remind us of a cat, though. For example, it cleans itself by licking its forepaw then uses it to wipe and clean its ears, face, and snout.

The ringtails are also known by other names. They are called miner's cats in some areas of the Midwest because they were commonly seen around mining camps, hunting for the rodents that were attracted to the miners and their food. These animals closely resemble small foxes, but with characteristic massive bushy tails. Not unlike mice, ringtail cats can use their tails to navigate tight areas and manage to pull off impressive feats of climbing and balance. With these traits, ringtails can navigate all manner of tricky architecture with ease, meaning that they can access your attic or wall voids as long as they have a large enough point of entry. Image credits: timlawsonphoto

Some people also call them civet cats because when something or someone frightens them, and they feel like they are in danger, they secrete the most disgusting odor from their anal glands in self-defense. Not so cool, that particular feature of these cute animals! These North American animals have a long and bushy tail, usually longer than the rest of the body. The large, dark brown eyes are masked by vivid white, and their pointy ears give an almost fox-like appearance. Image credits: Daderot

Like foxes, they have a developed set of sharp teeth, perfect for their omnivorous diet which primarily is made up of rodents, insects, rabbits and ground squirrels. The agile climbers and hunters will quite happily munch on snakes, lizards, birds, and frogs too, as well as acorns, berries, and fruit from the orchards. Hungry little things they are! Image credits: solivagaserpent

It might be hard to see the ringtail, being nocturnal creatures and also very shy, but you just might be able to hear them if they are close by. With load and varied range of calls, this is probably what will first alert you to their presence. When attacked the ringtail will not only release its foul skunk-spray, but it will emit an ear-shattering scream to go along with the stench. Adult ringtails communicate with each other via loud barking or a long-high wailing, whilst the young speak in a series of chirps and squeaks. Image credits: crittergal

In 1988, when schoolchildren were given the task of voting for the state's animal, they decided on the ringtail. With cute and cuddly looks like these, who could blame them? We can only assume that very few of those schoolchildren accidentally activated that stinky anal gland though. Ring-tailed cats were once common, but their extensive population began to decline as the West was colonized. Many early settlers took to fur trapping to make a living on the frontier, and trappers targeted ring-tailed cats as an easy-to-obtain knock-off of the favored raccoon pelt, which was the most drastic cause of decline. Image credits: angellicatorres1

However, people began to domesticate the ring-tailed cat, offering it a warm and comfortable place to den in exchange for catching mice in the area. Because of this, ringtails were given the alternative name of "miner's cat." When the extensive trapping eventually led to a drastic decline in ringtail populations, the California Department of Fish & Game added the ring-tailed cat to the state's list of "fully protected species," thereby prohibiting the harming or possession of ringtails under any circumstances. Image credits: caseysmarttphoto

Today, while the ring-tailed cat is common and widespread throughout much of the southwest and populations in California are thought to be recovering from heavy declines due to fur trapping, there remains very little research or understanding of current population trends and distribution–which experts agree is cause for concern. Image credits: Robertbody

Despite their reputation as active hunters of smaller prey, the ringtails have got to be careful of predators themselves. Such American animals as great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), coyotes, (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus) and mountain lions (Puma concolor) all have ringtail cat on their menus, so our cute little friends need to be wary when they are out and about on the hunt. Image credits: CSERC

And while fur trapping of ringtails has virtually ceased, individuals are still at risk of collisions with vehicles, contraction of disease from stray cats and dogs, and destruction of den habitat. Have you ever come across one of these adorable creatures in the wild? What do you think? Would you vote for the ringtail in a cuteness contest? What are its main rivals in North America? Let us know what you think in the comments!