What is an Ocelot?
Description and Ecology
The Leopardus pardalis, more commonly known as the Ocelot is a wild feline about twice the size of your average house cat. They tend to weigh between 18 and 34 pounds and have fine, luxurious fur. Their colors vary from creamy tan to tawny yellow, and even an orangey grey. Ocelots have blotched fur with dark spots bordered with black, similar to a leopard. These spots run about their body in a chain-like style. Typically, they have dark black stripes running from their inner eyes to top of their head, stripes across their cheeks, and two transverse bars on the insides of their forelegs.
Ocelots are nocturnal and use their keen sight and follow scent trails to hunt rabbits, rodents, iguanas, fish, and even frogs. These beautiful cats have pointed fangs used to deliver killer bites, and sharp molars for tearing apart their food in which they eat whole. Unlike cats we are familiar with, the Ocelot isn’t afraid of water, and can actually swim quiet well.
These mammals are in the Felidae family, and Felinae subfamily. The ocelot is closely related to the margay, or Leopardus wiedii, as they are both descendants from a recent ancestor. Female ocelots reach reproductive age between 18 and 22 months while males around 15 months old. Mating season varies geographically, however, they typically produce a long-range “yowl” and a short-range “meow.” During mating season, it is typical for these cats to mate anywhere between 5 and 10 times a day as it is very hard for female ocelots to get pregnant. When a female does become pregnant, she will have a gestation period of about 82 days and give birth to 1 to 3 kittens. The kittens are born with their eyes sealed and will not open them until about 14 days old. Kittens live with their mother for up to two years before they become completely independent.
The Leopardus pardalis, more commonly known as the Ocelot is a wild feline about twice the size of your average house cat. They tend to weigh between 18 and 34 pounds and have fine, luxurious fur. Their colors vary from creamy tan to tawny yellow, and even an orangey grey. Ocelots have blotched fur with dark spots bordered with black, similar to a leopard. These spots run about their body in a chain-like style. Typically, they have dark black stripes running from their inner eyes to top of their head, stripes across their cheeks, and two transverse bars on the insides of their forelegs.
Ocelots are nocturnal and use their keen sight and follow scent trails to hunt rabbits, rodents, iguanas, fish, and even frogs. These beautiful cats have pointed fangs used to deliver killer bites, and sharp molars for tearing apart their food in which they eat whole. Unlike cats we are familiar with, the Ocelot isn’t afraid of water, and can actually swim quiet well.
These mammals are in the Felidae family, and Felinae subfamily. The ocelot is closely related to the margay, or Leopardus wiedii, as they are both descendants from a recent ancestor. Female ocelots reach reproductive age between 18 and 22 months while males around 15 months old. Mating season varies geographically, however, they typically produce a long-range “yowl” and a short-range “meow.” During mating season, it is typical for these cats to mate anywhere between 5 and 10 times a day as it is very hard for female ocelots to get pregnant. When a female does become pregnant, she will have a gestation period of about 82 days and give birth to 1 to 3 kittens. The kittens are born with their eyes sealed and will not open them until about 14 days old. Kittens live with their mother for up to two years before they become completely independent.
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