The common genet is solitary. The common genet uses five distinct calls. The “hiccup” call is used to indicate friendly interactions, such as between a mother and her young, or between males and females prior to mating. Conversely, clicks, or, in younger individuals, growls, are used to indicate aggression. The remaining two calls, a “mew” and a purr, are used only by young still dependent on their mother.

It has a varied diet comprising small mammals, lizards, birds, bird eggs, amphibians, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions, insects and fruit, including figs and olives. The wood mouse is a favourite prey item, It also prey on squirrels and dormice. Genets locate their prey primarily by scent, and kill with a bite to the neck, like cats. Small rodents are captured by the back and killed with a bite at the head, then eaten starting with the head. Both male and females mark their territor and they defecate at specific latrine sites which are usually at the edge of their territory.