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
.
.
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.
