Ocelot

wild cats · spotted hunters · American forests

Spotted coat pattern. Ocelots have beautiful spotted markings on their fur that help them hide in the forest shadows while hunting. Each ocelot's spots are unique, like a fingerprint.

Big territory. These wild cats live across a huge range from the southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and South America, plus a couple of Caribbean islands. That's one of the largest ranges of any small wild cat.

Perfect-sized hunter. Ocelots are medium-sized, standing about 16 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between 7 and 15.5 kilograms (about 15 to 34 pounds). They're bigger than a house cat but much smaller than a leopard.

Night prowlers. Ocelots are mostly active at night when they hunt for small animals like rodents, birds, and insects. Their excellent night vision helps them see clearly in the dark forest.