Ocelot Facts
The ocelot is a spotted wild cat of medium size, a mammal of the Americas that stands 40 to 50 cm at the shoulder and hunts mostly at night.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Leopardus pardalis
- Conservation status
- Least concern (IUCN)
About the ocelot
Ocelots weigh 7 to 15.5 kg on average and range from the southwestern United States and Mexico through Central and South America, plus the Caribbean islands of Margarita and Trinidad. Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1758, and two subspecies are recognized. They climb, leap and swim well and prefer thick vegetation near water where prey is easy to find.
Small land mammals such as armadillos, opossums and rabbits and their relatives are typical prey. Ocelots are active at twilight and after dark and live alone on territories they defend. Both sexes mature at about two years and can breed in any season. After two to three months, a female has one to three kittens, which stay with her for up to two years before leaving to find their own ranges.
Did you know?
- The IUCN lists the ocelot as Least Concern, though some populations are falling.
- Traffic accidents are one of the threats ocelots face.
- Ocelots were linked with people as far back as the Aztec and Inca civilizations.
Questions about the ocelot
Where do ocelots live?
From the southwestern United States and Mexico through Central and South America, and on Trinidad and Margarita.
What do ocelots eat?
Mostly small land mammals such as armadillos, opossums and rabbits.
Sources
- Wikidata Q33261, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Ocelot, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.