While the tiger often commands attention in wildlife conservation, India is also home to nine small wild cat species which serve as sentinels of their respective habitats and ecosystem services. These felids are some of the most elusive and enigmatic meso-predators such as the tiny rusty-spotted cat, wetland-dwelling fishing cat, and the semi-arboreal clouded leopard, each are uniquely adapted to a range of habitats, dense forests, grasslands, deserts, mangroves, and the Himalayan foothills. With rising interest in lesser-known species, the forum has embarked upon collaborative approaches to safeguard small wild cat habitats, while addressing their conservation needs through planning, field actions, and outreach actions. Some of the ongoing initiatives include collaborations under the GEF-7/MoEFCC/UNDP supported Wild cats project being implemented in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Additionally, we are also working closely with the State of Meghalaya and the MoEFCC, Govt. of India on their conservation across the state. The themes of engagement include science-driven strategy on landscape scale planning, scientific monitoring efforts, outreach programs, resource mobilization, policy and advocacy. Some of the notable outreach efforts with the community included a special small wild cats themes sports (football and badminton) tournament in Arunachal Pradesh, which led to emergence of young champions pledging for small wild cats monitoring and conservation. Conservation of meso-predators, such as small cats is also being specifically deliberated during GTRP and TRC level consultations, and transboundary engagements on the subject are also being worked out ensuring they continue to thrive in the shadows of the subcontinent’s rich landscapes. Integration into national biodiversity frameworks is key to ensuring these enigmas are not only protected but thrive alongside their more prominent counterparts in India’s complex ecological tapestry.