Scientific Name - Leopardus Tigrinus The tiger cat is also known as the Little Spotted Cat, Tiger Ocelot or Oncila, is grouped along with the Ocelot and Margay into genus Leopardus.  Of these three species of wild cat the tiger cat is by far the smallest, weighing around 7 pounds and having a body size smaller to that of a domestic cat.  The general markings of the tiger cat are similar to those of the Margay, having tawny/buff fur covered with dark brown or black enlongated spots - the under parts of the cat are lighter in colour and are less densely marked.
		Little is known about the life style of this small cat who lives in the dense rain forests from Costa Rica through to Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador.  Although an excellent climber and jumper the tiger cat is not as adept at tree top living as the near arboreal Margay and although birds feature highly in its list of prey the tiger cat is more likely to feed on land based rodents, reptiles and insects. In common with other wild cats living in the rain forests of Latin America, the tiger cat is becoming threatened by deforestation and this along with pressures brought to bare by its continued hunting by local fur traders has led to the tiger cat being listed as an endangered species.
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