Diet consists mainly of small mammals and birds. Through scat analysis, prey remains, stomach contents and direct observation, it has been determined that the diet of caracals in an irrigated agricultural area of Israel consisted of 62% mammals, 24% birds, 6.1% reptiles, and 1.4% insects.

Caracals occasionally tackle larger prey, including adult goitred gazelle note a report from southern Arabia of a caracal killed by a wounded oryx it had attacked. Caracals have also been observed to feed on carrion: Mendelssohn describes garbage dumps at poultry farms as rich food sources, and once saw a caracal leap onto a cart of dead turkeys and select one. A. Livne observed a caracal chase two sub-adult striped hyaenas from a donkey carcass.

Caracals rest during the day in dense vegetation or a rock crevice, and were generally active from dusk to dawn and in early morning. Burrows are also used for shelter. Nocturnal travels up to 20 km have been documented.

Biology
Reproductive season (W): Year-round
Estrus (W): 5-6 days (n=3). Females copulate with several males in a “pecking order” which is related to the age and size of the male. One female was found to have mated with three different males during every estrus period, each time the same individuals in the same sequence

Age at independence (W): 9-10 months

Habitat and Distribution
The caracal is widely distributed through the region, absent only from true desert. In North Africa, it is common in the humid forest zone of the northern coastal regions, and is also found in the Saharan mountain ranges and semi-arid woodlands. In microhabitat preference, it is typically associated with either well-vegetated or rocky areas, which provide cover for hunting as well as shelter. It is often found near water points, but is apparently capable of satisfying its moisture requirements from its prey.

The caracal is described as rare in India, the eastern limit of its range. Overall, and especially compared to the larger cats, the caracal is relatively secure, still widespread and occasionally common.

Hunting prohibited:
Algeria, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

No legal protection:
Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

No information:
Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Syria, Western Sahara

Principal Threats
Caracals prey mainly on small mammals, which are generally not adversely affected by human settlement. However, caracals are capable of taking small domestic livestock, and surplus killing can result when the animals are attacked in enclosed spaces. Such incidents could lead to vigorous persecution by pastoralists. Several authors have reported caracals to be susceptible to trapping with fresh bait. However, Saharan nomadic pastoralists stated that problem caracals were difficult to eliminate because they did not take bait, and must be chased and treed by hounds. Caracals are more disposed towards taking easily acquired prey (e.g. bait, carrion and domestic animals) in the colder months of winter as an energy saving strategy. In the absence of heavy persecution, caracals can adapt well to living in settled areas in the region.