SMALL WILD CATS OF AMERICA

Most of the small cat species live in North and South America. There are 11 different species in all.

LYNX

The lynx is found over southern Canada and reaching into the USA. Its coat is buff-coloured and mixed with blackish hairs. The difference to other species it has long, black ear tuffs which serve as antennae to increase its hearing extremely precise. It lives deep in forests and has unusually large paws with fur between the pads.

BOBCAT

The bobcat is the most widespread wild cat in the USA. Its appearance is similar to the lynx.  The bobcat spread across the country from southern Canada to Mexico but not so much in central and southern mid-west.  The colour of its coat differs very much but still has the spotted black hairs. It s territory also varies from scrubby areas to forests to dry areas with rocks or some growths.

PUMA

Although the puma acclimatised from the original areas it is the most prevalent cat in the Americas.  As a matter of fact the most widely spread species of any native mammal in the New World.  It spread from north Canada to Argentina but lives mainly in mountains which are covered with forests.  Its fur’s colours are tawny or grey or black. When they are young their coat is spotted but as they mature the spots disappear

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JAGUARUNDI

This species is not very often seen in the USA. Their territories are fond in Mexico south down to most of South America. It lives in bushy thickets and scrubby areas preferable near water.  It is also a uniformly coloured cat with a black, grey, or reddish-brown coat. It differs to other species that it eats fruit.

OCELOT

The ocelot lives in areas from Arizona to Northern Argentina. It is one of the most well know species. It has a beautiful patterned fur of black stripes and spots on a yellowish background. Their habitations are forests and thick brush and it is not unusual to be seen in pairs. They are good swimmers and climbers and sleep many times in trees.

MARGAY CAT

The margay cat has a coat of brown spots on a greyish-yellow background. It territory reaches from Mexico to northern Argentina and lives only in forests. It is a remarkable climber and is the only known cat which climb down a tree with the head first. In the wild it is very rare and almost extinct.

MOUNTAIN CAT

The mountain cat lives in the area from southern Peru to northern Chile and mostly in dry mountain steppes up to 500m. Its coat varies but mostly it is a silvery grey spotted and stripped wit brown.

TIGER CAT

The tiger cat is also known as the little spotted cat. Its habitat reaches from Costa Rica to Argentina. It is very much looks like the Margay cat and also loves to live in the forests. For unknown reason it had been misnamed because it has not got stripes but a spotted coat.

GEOFFROY’S CAT

The geoffroy’s cat lives in the higher mountain forests at an altitude of up to 3,300m. Its territories reach from Bolivia to Patagonia. Its fur varies form silver grey to a bright yellow with black spots and a ringed tail.

KODKOD

The kodkod is found from central and southern Chile to western Argentina. This small cat looks very much like the geoffroy’s cat. It usually lives in wooded area but also in more open country with some covers.

PAMPAS CAT

The pampas cat lives in areas from Ecuador to Patagonia. It differs by unusually tapered ears and a long-haired coat. Mostly their coats are coloured reddish with brown spot. It can be found in open country with grassland or scrubby areas or forests or high steppes.