The ocelot is a medium-sized spotted cat of the American tropics, about twice the size of a domestic cat. Once heavily hunted for its beautiful coat, it has recovered in many areas and is now one of the most common wild cats in Neotropical forests.
Interesting facts
- Its coat is marked with chain-like rosettes, stripes and spots, unique to each animal.
- Ocelots are mainly nocturnal and rest in trees or dense cover by day.
- They are good swimmers and climbers.
- Fewer than 100 ocelots survive in the United States, all in southern Texas.
- The ocelot is the largest of the small spotted cats in the genus Leopardus.
- Ocelots often use the same trails and latrine sites repeatedly.
Behaviour
Ocelots are solitary and territorial. They hunt mostly on the ground at night, walking slowly and waiting in ambush. Males have larger territories that overlap those of several females.
Breeding and young
After about 80 days, females give birth to one to three kittens, usually in a hollow tree or dense thicket. Ocelots breed slowly, with a litter only every two years, which makes populations slow to recover.
Threats and conservation
Deforestation, road deaths, illegal hunting and the pet trade. In the United States, habitat loss in the Rio Grande Valley and road collisions are the main threats.
Where to see it
- Pantanal, Brazil, at night on guided drives
- Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
- Belize’s forests and wildlife reserves
- Amazon lodges in Peru and Ecuador
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
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