Geoffroy’s Cat

The Geoffroy’s cat is a small wild cat that inhabits South America. It is similar in size to a large domestic cat.

CLASSIFICATION

 Interesting Geoffroy’s cat facts

• Strong swimmers who frequently go into the water, including large rivers.
• The Geoffroy’s cat is related to the kodkod.
• Will stands on its hind legs using its tail for support to scout the area.
• Sometimes, it gets confused with the kodkod and leopard cat.
• Southern cats are larger with lighter fur than northern cats.
• Black spots on fur in the neck area form what looks like a necklace.

More About the Geoffroy’s cat

Physical Appearance

The fur of Geoffroy’s cat ranges from deep ochre to tawny to grey with spots. It has black bands on its checks, head, neck, tail, and limbs. The back of the cat’s ears is dark with a white spot. The underbelly of Geoffroy’s cat ranges in color from white to cream.

Eye color varies from a deep golden color to grey-green.

Its tail is half the length of its body, with a black tip with several black rings.

All-black (melanistic) Geoffroy’s cats have frequently been observed.

Males are typically larger than females. Geoffory’s cats that live in the north are usually smaller than Geoffory’s cats that live in the south.

Location

The Geoffroy’s cat can be found throughout Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is often seen in dry areas with dense vegetation, including forests, grasslands, savannas, woodlands, steppes, and semi-deserts. You can also find them in grasslands and marshes. They prefer areas with lots of cover.

The Geoffroy’s cat usually shares its territory with the pampas cat and puma (cougar).

These nocturnal cats are good climbers but spend most of their time on the ground. The Geoffroy’s cat is also considered an excellent swimmer. They can climb but only do it sometimes.

Hunting and prey

The range of male Geoffroy’s cats is around 4.5 sq. miles, while the female’s is less—underchest 2.5 square miles.

You will find the Geoffroy’s cat mostly hunting at night. It will stand on its legs and scan the area for threats and prey.

The diet of the Geoffroy’s cat varies depending on where it lives. It feeds on small rodents, birds, hares, frogs, fish remains, and reptiles.

Reproduction

The Geoffroy’s cat breeding season is six months, from October to March.

Kittens are born from December to May. Gestation is 72 to 78 days. They are born blind and weigh between 2 and 4 ounces. They become independent after eight months and sexually mature between 18 and 24 months.

Conservation

Geoffroy’s cat survival in the wild is threatened by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and retaliatory killing.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, cats were killed in large numbers for their fur.

Geoffroy’s cat research and quotes

2012 Home range size and habitat selection of Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi, Felidae, Carnivora) in the Pampas grassland | Manfredi, Castillo, Lucherini, Vidal – “Geoffroy’s cats most frequently used Exotic Woodland areas followed by Rocky and Agricultural areas.”