| Andean Mountain Cat is a little known wild cat of | | | | dark rings and is light colored at the tip. |
| South America. It leads a reclusive lifestyle in the | | | | Believed to be an opportunistic predator, the Andean |
| mountains of Andes. | | | | Mountain Cat is thought to prey on small animals |
| Also known as Andean Highland Cat or simply the | | | | including chinchillas, viscachas, insects, lizards and birds. |
| Andean Cat, the Andean Mountain Cat lives in the | | | | Little is known about the social structure and |
| arid deserts of the high Andes. Classified as | | | | behavior and reproductive profile owing to the |
| Leopardus Jacobitus or Oreailurus Jacobita, the | | | | extreme rarity of scientific observations of this |
| beautiful cat is often likened to the elusive Snow | | | | elusive feline, due to its remote geographical |
| Leopard owing to similarities in the lifestyle of the | | | | distribution. |
| two cats. The Andean Cat is nearly two feet long | | | | The Andean Cat is considered to exist in scattered |
| with an approximately one and a half foot tail and | | | | territories across high altitudes of Andes in dry, rocky |
| stands just over one foot tall at shoulders. Weight is | | | | and harsh areas in four countries: Argentina, Bolivia, |
| in the range of ten to fifteen pounds. | | | | Chile and Peru. It has low population densities and |
| In adaptation to its high altitude habitat, the cat's | | | | lives a solitary life in areas often separated by human |
| coat is long and thick with a base color ranging from | | | | settlements. No subspecies are recognized. |
| gray to reddish brown. Irregular stripes, spots and | | | | Owing to our lack of research data and information, |
| markings are found on the body, in particular on limbs | | | | the exact numbers in the wild and conservation |
| and the lighter under surface. Tail is long and thick, | | | | status of this beautiful cat are unknown. No |
| possibly aiding the cat in its quick movements on | | | | specimens exist in captivity. |
| rocky cliffs and uncertain terrains. It is banded with | | | | |