Baby tiger

Tiger cats are one of the smallest cat species in the Americas, averaging just 2.5 kg. However, while some individuals are small, weighing only 1.8 kg, others are large with a weight of 3.5 kg. They are daintily built cats, with a narrow head and a white line above the eyes. The large ears have a black backside with a central white spot. The irises are golden or light brown.

Males are slightly, but significantly, larger than females. Northern Tiger cats are pale yellow to ochre or grey, marked by small dots that tend to form an open rosette. Melanism is common. The paler belly fur is covered with dark spots. The fur is firm, lies close to the skin and does not turn forward in the nape region as it does on the Ocelot Leopardus pardalis and Margay Leoparus wiedii. Limbs are spotted on the outside and the long tail has spots at the root, developing into a thinly ringed tail with a black tip. The tail measures about 60% of the head and body length.

Habitat
The Northern Tiger cat lives in a wide range of forest habitats, semi-arid thorny scrub, savannah and wet/swampy savannah. In Central and northwestern South America, it is mainly associated with montane cloud forests, where it is usually found at higher elevations than the Ocelot and Margay. The Northern Tiger cat occurs up to an elevation of 3,000 m, occasionally above. In Colombia, it seems to be restricted to elevations above 1,500 m but has been recorded up to 4,800 m. Most records in Costa Rica come from the forests along the flanks of volcanoes at elevations from 1,000 m up to the tree line where it inhabits cloud forests. On the other hand, in Brazil it mainly occurs in the lowlands below 500 m and is commonly associated with savannah, semiarid scrub, as well as forests. Even though it is found in Amazonian rainforests it is not clear to what degree they use this habitat. It can be found in disturbed habitats, even close to human settlements, as long as there is natural cover and prey base.

As a generalist carnivore and the largest and most adaptable of the small cat species in tropical America, the Ocelot dominates the other small cat species. In areas where the Ocelot occurs, species like the Northern Tiger cat avoid those areas because of the threat of predation. This negative effect on other small cat species is called the “ocelot effect”. When Ocelots inhabit protected areas, the smaller cats can be forced into adjacent unprotected areas, where the threat of habitat loss and human interaction is greater.
Ecology
The Northern Tiger cat is a solitary felid. It is active predominantly at night, but can also show varying degrees of diurnal activity. This activity during any time of the day is suggested to be a strategy to avoid the Ocelot. On the other hand, Tiger cat numbers are not affected by the presence of the Margay and Jaguarundi, which are more likely potential competitors for similar sized prey.

Tiger cats are excellent climbers, but spend most of their time on the ground as most of their prey is terrestrial. When threatened, they show an aggressive behavior with arched back and raised hair, besides showing the teeth and producing a “whistling-spiting” vocalization.

The Northern Tiger cat’s diet is still very poorly studied, but is known to be based on small mammals, birds and reptiles (especially lizards). Stomach contents from specimens in Costa Rica and Venezuela included mostly small rodents. Conversely, in the semi-arid Caatinga scrub of northeastern Brazil, the diet comprised 28 items. The main part consisted of lizards, but also included significant amounts of birds and some small rodents. It is suggested that this small felid is a generalist predator, taking advantage of the most readily available resources in the area.

Reproduction
Very little information about the Tiger cat’s reproduction in the wild is available. Reproduction occurs year round, but could show different peaks in different areas. The gestation period lasts for 75-78 days, after which 1-3 kittens are born, but the normal litter is one kitten. The eyes are open at 8–17 days. Weaning occurs at two to three months and young are about adult body size at 11 months of age.

However, sexual maturity is achieved only at about 2-2.5 years, which is rather late for a felid this size. The lifetime number of young potentially produced by a 7 year old female Tiger cat in the wild is generally up to 5. This shows a very low reproductive potential, considering its small size and, especially compared to other felids from other continents. Longevity is reported as 21 years.

Threats
habitat loss and fragmentation
persecution by humans
killing due to poultry depredation
vehicle collisions on roads
exposure to domestic carnivore diseases.

The Northern Tiger cat is classified as Endangered in Brazil and Vulnerable in Colombia. Brazil is the main range country for both the Northern and Southern Tiger cat species.