Key facts on the ocelot, including its life span, litter size, and weight. The fur of the Ocelot, with its dark brown irregular shaped spots and stripes, edged with black on a yellowtawny background give this lithe, medium size cat a most distinctive appearance. It is grouped, along with the Margay, Tiger Cat into the subgenus Leopardus. The cats underlying coloration varies with its habitat, with the base colour of its fur being a rich yellowcream in more arid areas to a darker yellowbrown in forested habitats. The slender body of the ocelot can measure up to four foot and weighs in at twice that of a large domestic cat. The ocelots hunting technique is varied and is carried out mostly by night its prey includes small deer, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and when available, fish. The ocelot swims well and although not as adept in climbing as the Margay, will hunt for birds and also sleep in the lower branches of trees in its forest habitat. Male and female cats often share territories which can be up to 3 square miles in area.

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