About Tigrillo Cats

"Tigrillo" is Spanish for the Leopardus tigrinus. These spotted cats are commonly known as oncillas, and are one of the smallest species of cats in Central and South America, reports the International Society for Endangered Cats. Little is known about the tigrillo, which works to its disadvantage. Perhaps those who know the tigrillo best are the fur hunters. As of 2010, tigrillos are vulnerable to becoming endangered if hunting and encroachment into their habitat does not cease.

  1. Statistics

    • Tigrillos are tiny cats. They grow in length from approximately 30 to 39 inches, weigh in at only four to eight pounds and achieve an average height of 10 inches. No wonder they are nicknamed "little spotted cats." As with most feline species, the male tigrillo is generally larger than the female. These cats live from 11 to 17 years.

    Appearance

    • Tigrillos' coats are an array of color and spotting which is what, no doubt, makes them in such high demand in the fur market. The tigrillo coat ranges in color from yellowish-red to grayish-yellow, with the top of their coats darker, giving way to a whiter underbelly coat. Tigrillos are covered in spots, making them look like mini-ocelots. Black ringlets surround their tails, and their faces are spotted with lined eyes.

    Habitat

    • The tigrillo cat is found in Central and South American forests. Their habitat ranges from Costa Rica to northern Argentina, according to the International Society for Endangered Cats. Higher is better to these agile tree climbers, and they prefer to live in elevations ranging from 4,921 to 14,764 feet. The tigrillo inhabits many different forest ecosystems, including the montane cloud forest, subtropical forests, early secondary forests and thorny scrub.

    Behavior

    • Tigrillos are solitary creatures that are believed to hunt birds, insects, reptiles, rodents and small primates at night. Tigrillos will cohabitate only when mating, and the female usually gives birth to a litter of one to three kittens after a 75-day gestation period. The kitten(s) are tiny at birth, weighing less than a pound, and develop rather slowly. Tigrillos are also known to be good swimmers, not exhibiting the domesticated cat's aversion to water.

    Conservation

    • Unfortunately, as of 2010, efforts to prevent this little big cat from becoming extinct have not been very successful. Tigrillos held in captivity suffer from a high infant mortality rate. Fortunately, Brazil's Sao Paulo Zoo understood the delicate circumstances surrounding all the South American wild cats and built a breeding facility for several of them, including the tigrillo. Hopefully, the efforts between the two Americas will remove this little spotted cat from the vulnerable list.