The revised taxonomy of the Felidae provisionally recognises the following species of the Genus Felis: Felis chaus (Jungle cat), Felis nigripes (Black-footed cat), Felis margarita (sand cat), Felis bieti (Chinese mountain cat), Felis silvestris (European wildcat), Felis lybica (African wildcat) and Felis catus (domestic cat). The Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica ornata) is considered as a subspecies of Felis lybica and inhabits South-West and Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Mongolia and China. 

The Afro-Asiatic wildcat is smaller than the European wildcat and its fur is more yellow or reddish in colour with characteristic small black or reddish-brown spots and sometimes stripes. Its fur colour varies from region to region with paler coloured individuals living in dryer areas and darker more heavily spotted and striped individuals in more humid areas. 

The Afro-Asiatic wildcat is considered as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The status of Felis lybica ornata is not very clear and recent population estimates are missing. Due to its cryptic behaviour and its hybridization with domestic cats, it is difficult to assess its status. In the central parts of its range, in the lowlands of Kazakhstan, the population of the wildcat was reported to be stable in 1993. It has been photographed recently in Afghanistan, Armenia, Iraq and Tajikistan, but its status in those countries is still unknown. In Iran, the species occurs in a variety of habitats throughout the country (apart from Caspian forests).

The Afro-Asiatic wildcat has a very wide distribution, found throughout most of Africa, southwest and central Asia into India, China, and Mongolia. The wildcat is widely distributed from the Caucasus and Turkey to western India, northward to Kazakhstan, western China and southern Mongolia. In Iran, it was found in 27 of the 31 provinces. It was absent from the northern provinces Gilan and Mazandaran dominated by Hyrcanian forest, and from Alborz and Qom. India is the south-eastern border of the wildcat’s range and its occurrence is reported from the drier areas of west and central India. There are some reports of phenotypic wildcats from various locations in Nepal. However, this preliminary evidence still requires confirmation from genetic or craniometrics studies.

The western extent of the Asiatic wildcat distribution is unknown. It has been suggested that Felis lybica ornata, Felis silvestris and Felis lybica lybica divide in the region of Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus. However, recent camera trap pictures from Armenia, western Iran, Eastern Turkey and Kurdistan Mountains in Iraq reveal a common coat pattern, suggesting that the division of the European wildcat and Felis lybica lybica and Felis lybica ornata might occur further west. A genetic study of wildcats in Iran indicates this country to be the separation area between F. l. lybica and F. l. ornata, but found no individuals of European wildcats. Comprehensive genetic analyses are required to map the distribution of Felis lybica ornata in Southwest Asia.

The wildcat occurs in a wide variety of habitats. It can be found mostly in scrub deserts, up to 2,000–3,000 m elevation, mountainous areas with sufficient vegetation, as well as temperate forests. It avoids vast deserts, dense forests and deep snow. The wildcat usually occurs close to water sources but can also live in low-water areas. It does not seem to avoid cultivated areas and human settlements. 

The wildcat is mostly nocturnal but can also be observed during daytime. It hunts on the ground and yet is a very good climber. It hunts its prey by stalking followed by a quick attack. The mother teaches her cubs to hunt by providing them injured prey individuals or by giving them beetles and the eggs of ground dwelling birds. The wildcat rests and dens in burrows. It is a solitary and territorial species. Home ranges of males and females are recorded from 1.7 – 51.2 km², depending on habitat and prey abundance. Density estimates range from 0.7 - 10 individuals per km².

The mating season seems to vary according to the range. In India, the mating season has been recorded to be from March to April and from November to December whereas in Central Asia it took place in January to February. In Pakistan, the mating season seems to be year round. Litter size is usually 2 – 4, rarely up to 8. The gestation lasts for 56-68 days and age at sexual maturity can be at 9 - 12 months but first breeding probably takes place at 18 - 22 months. 

The wildcat is included in Appendix II of CITES and is fully protected across most of its range in Asia. Hunting and trade are prohibited in India and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, the  wildcat was placed on the country’s first Protected Species List in 2009. All hunting and trading of the species is prohibited and it is proposed as a priority species for future research. In Armenia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, hunting and trade is regulated. In Georgia, Iran and Mongolia it is not legally protected. No information is available for Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkey.

There is an urgent need for more information about the status and distribution of the wildcat as little information is available and its population size and status are largely unknown. It is likewise important to identify genetically pure populations and to prevent hybridisation with domestic cats. Also, mapping the distribution of this subspecies using genetic sampling is of high priority.