Genet cat at night. He looks somewhat like a cat. by Hans Hut

It may look somewhat like a cat, but it is not a member of the cat family. It belongs to the Viverridae family, closely related to mongooses.

Was I ready for it? It is a stunning creature, with a somewhat gray undercoat and striking black stripes. Night after night, I waited patiently in the same spot to capture this magnificent animal. Finally, I succeeded.

When I saw it through my lens for the first time, I couldn’t believe my eyes. What an incredible moment. I thought to myself: What a privilege to witness this.

Now, I can finally share this experience with you and try to recover a small part of the costs I incurred. That’s unlikely to happen, but that’s not the most important thing. Working with the genet fuels my passion for capturing wild animals.

I strive for authentic, rare images of wildlife—scenes you don’t encounter easily. This is not the kind of work where you casually click away with your camera. It requires time, preparation, and patience. Every shot is intentional and carefully crafted.

At the location where this genet appeared during the evenings and nights, I also observed other solitary animals. But genets remain mysterious creatures. When they spot a mouse or bird, they move lightning fast. Their entire demeanor changes. Suddenly, they are no longer a cuddly-looking animal but a pure predator, entirely focused on survival.

The cork oaks and other majestic trees in the area made the experience even more special. These stunning natural elements allowed the genet to search for food undisturbed.

I captured these moments with the best equipment I could use.