About Leopardus geoffroyi (d'Orbigny & Gervais, 1844)
Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) is roughly the size of a domestic cat, with many black spots and dark bands across its cheeks, head, neck, tail, and limbs. The base color of its fur changes across its range: northern populations have brownish-yellow coats, while southern populations have more grayish coats. The fur on its underbelly is cream-colored or white, and the backs of its ears are black with white spots. Melanistic (all-black) individuals are common. Head and body length is about 60 cm (24 in), and it has a relatively short tail measuring around 31 cm (12 in). Adults weigh between 2 and 5 kg (4.4 and 11.0 lb), though some individuals have been recorded reaching up to 7.8 kg (17 lb). Males are generally larger than females, and southern individuals are larger than those from the northern part of the species' range. Its bite force quotient at the canine tip is 106.3. This cat species is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It lives across pampas and savanna landscapes in the Gran Chaco, extending from southern Bolivia to the Straits of Magellan, and occurs at elevations ranging from sea level up to 3,800 m (12,500 ft) in the Andes. It prefers open woodland or scrubland with abundant cover, but can also be found in grasslands and marshy areas. It is thought to be rare within Chile. Geoffroy's cat is nocturnal and a solitary hunter, only meeting other members of its species during the mating season. Individuals have been observed standing on their hind legs to scan the surrounding area, using their tail as a balance support—an unusual behavior among cats. It is capable of climbing trees but rarely does so, except when leaving faeces to scent mark its territory. It primarily preys on rodents, hares, other small mammals, birds, snakes, small lizards, and insects, and will occasionally eat frogs and fish. Females hold home ranges between 2 to 6 km2 (0.77 to 2.32 sq mi), while male home ranges can be as large as 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi). The species' breeding season runs from October to March. During this period, females enter estrus for up to twelve days at a time, with estrus events occurring between three and five weeks apart. Mating is brief and frequent, and often occurs on high ledges or similar sites. Gestation lasts 72 to 78 days, and most births take place between December and May. Litters have one to three kittens, with one or two kittens being more common. Kittens are born blind and helpless, weighing around 65 to 95 g (2.3 to 3.4 oz), and develop more slowly than domestic cat kittens. Kittens' eyes open between eight and nineteen days after birth, and they start eating solid food at six or seven weeks old. Kittens become independent of their mother at around eight months old, but do not typically reach sexual maturity until 18 months for females and 24 months for males.
