What *Is* this animal? Anyone?

It looks like an overfed ocicat. See the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocicat.

I think it's a bobcat, but you might be able to find out more by looking at the small cat section here:

http://www.exoticcatz.com/

Google translated the name from Russian to "fish cat", saying it was protected by CITES, which would rule out a domestic hybrid. There is a "Fishing cat" listed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_Cat that could be it.

I believe that is a first generation Bengal, or a F1 Bengal. Also known as Asian Leopard Cat.

http://www.norcastle.co.uk/

F1 cats are usually only kept with breeders as they are high maintenance, can't be litter trained, picky eaters and expensive. You also can't "show" them at cats shows. F1-F3 are breed with domesticated house cats to get an F4 or higher domesticated Bengal.

I had an F4 Bengal, they are very cute! Though she died from a birth defect...

Actually, it's not Russian but Ukrainian, and it is a fish cat.

Translation:

"Fish cat - rare animal, it is introduced into appendix II CITES. The weight of 15 kg, length only is more than meter, a height of 40 cm."

Prionailurus Viverrinus

Whoa! That is awesome... I wonder where can I find a cat like that (Just Kiddin.. :D) Anyway, I still believe that if that cat is so rare, it must be take over to government agencies which protects endangered animals to protect its breed. Still that cat is so cool and its nice to know that it is friendly with other domestic cats too :)

Thanks for sharing this.

Cheers!
Micgui

i know a site that provide a lot detail about animal, it is a good place to learn