Slender-waisted cats are medium-sized wild cats that live in Mexico, Central America and South America, with a total length of 88-138cm. It inhabits lowland shrublands near the source of running water. Its prey includes fish, small mammals, reptiles and birds. In some Spanish-speaking countries, slender-waisted cats are also called "lion cubs." The lifespan of a wild slender cat is 15 years. The slender-waisted cat inhabits grasslands and forest areas below 2,000 meters above sea level. It does not like the rainforest environment. Most of the dark-colored individuals live in the forest, while the brown-red individuals prefer open areas. Unlike most cats, slender-waisted cats often move in pairs or even groups, and their living habits are also very special. They can move around and look for food at any time of the day.

1Introduction to slender-waisted cats

Compared with other small cats in the Americas, the slender-waisted cat is obviously more closely related to big cats such as jaguars and pumas, because they both have 38 chromosomes instead of the 36 of small cats, so The slender-waisted cat is likely to be a remnant of the puma family in ancient times, so in some Spanish-speaking countries, the slender-waisted cat is also called "little lion". The slender-waisted cat has all the hunting skills of cats: galloping, climbing trees, and swimming. Therefore, hares, armadillos, monkeys and other small mammals as well as frogs, lizards, birds, and fish are all on its diet. Sometimes it also eats plant foods such as leaves and fruits.

2 Characteristics of slender-waisted cats

Shape shape: Slender-waisted cats are 25-35cm tall at the shoulders, 51-140cm long, 45-50cm long tail, and weigh 3-9kg. They are small and medium-sized cats.

Head: The head is flat and short, the eyes are very close together, the ears are not big, the limbs and tail are slender, and the appearance looks very much like an otter or a weasel, so it is commonly known as an "otter cat".

Coat: Its body color is divided into three color types: dark black, gray-brown, and brown-red. It was once considered to be different species: the gray-brown slender-waisted cat was called "Jaguarundi" or "Jaguarondi", while the brown-red slender cat is called "Eyra". But they are the same species.

3 Slender-waisted cat breeding

Slender-waisted cats can mate and breed all year round, but they mainly breed between 9 and 12 years old. The gestation period of female cats is about 70-75 days, with 1-4 kittens per litter. Newly born kittens are covered with dense black spots. The growth gradually disappears, and the lactation period is about 1-2 months. Male cats sometimes participate in raising young cats, and the children of the previous generation may still live with their parents and younger siblings., newborn cubs can live alone after living with their mother for 10-15 months, become sexually mature at 2-3 years old, and have a lifespan of 15-22 years.

4Distribution of thin-waisted cats

Slim-waisted cats are widely distributed in most American countries from Chile to the United States. They are divided into 8 subspecies: Puma yaguarondi armeghinoi, Puma yaguarondi cacomitli, Puma yaguarondi eyra, Puma yaguarondi fossata, Puma yaguarondi melantho, Puma yaguarondi panamensis, Puma yaguarondi tolteca, Puma yaguarondi yagouaroundi.

5 ways to raise thin-waisted cats

Diet The diet of slender-waisted cats is mainly based on cat food. Cat food contains a large amount of nutrients and can meet all the needs of cats. Owners can appropriately provide some meat, fish, and protein-containing foods to cats.

Care The coat of a slender-waisted cat is short and easy to care for. The owner does not need to comb it for him. The cat can do it himself. Although cats love to be clean, owners also need to clean them regularly to keep their coat clean.

Sports Cats, like dogs, also need enough exercise. They are very playful. Owners can feel free to let cats go out to play. If conditions do not allow, owners can place some cat climbing frames and cat scratching boards at home to allow cats to play. Relieve boredom.

6How much does a thin-waisted cat cost?

There is no unified price for slender-waisted cats. The cheaper ones are around 800-1,500, while the better ones are more than 2,000-5,000. Prices vary in different regions, this price is for reference only.