Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Geoffroy's Cat

Leopardus geoffroyi

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Geoffroy's cat is one of the most abundant small cats in South America, occurring from Bolivia to Patagonia. It has a coat spotted with black over an ochre or grey ground and a ringed tail. It is nocturnal, solitary and highly adaptable: it occupies everything from the dry Chaco to the Patagonian steppe and riverside woodland. It hunts rodents, birds and reptiles, and unlike most cats it enters water without hesitation and swims well. It was the object of intense fur hunting until this was banned.

Weight

2 kg – 5 kg

Size

43 cm – 88 cm

Lifespan

14 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestDesertGrasslandCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Feline Temperate forest Desert Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

It swims easily and does not hesitate to cross rivers, a notable exception in a family that usually avoids water.
In the southern populations of its range melanistic individuals appear frequently, entirely black, in which the spots can be made out only against the light.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Thorn scrub, pampas, Chaco woodland and riverside forest of southern South America
Sexual maturity: 15.7 months
Gestation / incubation: 2.5 months
Litter / clutch size: 2

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopardus_geoffroyi