- HB Length: 53-76 cm (21-30″)
- Tail Length: 31-52 cm (12-20″)
- Height: 25-30 cm (10-14″)
- Weight: 3-7 kg (6.6-15 lbs)
- Pop. Trend: Decreasing
Jaguarundi Herpailurus yaguarondi are one of the strangest looking of the small cats. Their slender, elongated bodies, small flattened heads, and long tails are more reminiscent of an otter than a cat. The short, smooth, unmarked coat shows three distinct colour phases: black, brownish grey, and a reddish brown phase known as the Eyra. The dark or grey pelage is associated mostly with wet, dense forests, whereas the red coat colour is associated with dry, open habitats. The blackish phase is more associated with rainforests. Nevertheless, all color phases can be found in all environments.
The ears are short and rounded, and this is one of the few cat species not to have a contrasting colour on the backs of the ears. Their eyes are small, set closely together, and are light amber or brownish in colour. The legs are short and slender, and the tail is long and tapered.
These cats are not closely related to the other small South American cats. Genetic analysis has grouped them more closely to the Cougar Puma concolor and the Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus. Like the Cheetah, Jaguarundi cannot retract the claws of their hind paws completely, and their behaviour resembles the Puma more than other medium-sized cats in the same habitat. Their ancestors probably evolved in Eurasia and migrated to the Americas via the Bering land bridge about 16,000 years ago.
Distribution
A cat of the lowlands not generally found above 2,000 metres, Jaguarundi range from northern Mexico through Central America down to central Argentina.
A radio telemetry study in Belize found the home ranges of these cats to be huge. Territories varied considerably between males and females, measuring 88 – 100 km² for each of two adult males and 13 – 20 km² for an adult female. The ranges of the males overlapped less than 5%. Both sexes used different and widely spaced portions of their ranges for irregular periods of time, rather than making regular boundary patrols.
In the savannas of Brazil, home ranges for males and females varied from 18 to 40.2 km², whereas in forest and forest/agriculture mosaic in Brazil it ranged from 1.4 to 34.9 km².
By comparison, a study in Mexico found home ranges of 9.6 km² for males and 8.9 km² for females, with extensive overlapping between all genders. The higher number of cats in this area results in smaller home range sizes and more overlapping territories.
The Mexico study also found that radio-collared Jaguarundi used mature forest 53% of the time, and pasture and grassland 47%. Jaguarundi are thought to exist in very low densities in Brazil with 1-5 cats per 100 km², but in Mexico the population is estimated at 20 cats per 100 km².
Habitat
These cats occupy a broad range of both open and closed habitats from grasslands, dry scrub, swamp and savannah woodland to primary forest. Access to dense ground cover seems to determine habitat suitability for these cats, and their low, slender bodies allow them to easily slip through this vegetation. They have been reported to prefer forest edges and secondary bush, but this may simply be where they are most frequently seen.
As a generalist carnivore and the largest and most adaptable of the small cat species in tropical America, the Ocelot Leopardus pardalis dominates the other small cat species. In areas where the Ocelot occurs, species like the Jaguarundi avoid them 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 Jaguarundi has a remarkable characteristic which is very unusual in cats: it uses at least thirteen different calls to communicate. These range from purring, whistling and chattering, up to chirping like a bird.
In a radio telemetry study in Belize, activity peaks were from 2:00 to 4:00 pm with very little activity after sunset. This pattern was confirmed through camera trap studies in Brazil and Argentina. This behaviour enables the Jaguarundi to segregate and thus minimize competition with the nocturnally active Ocelot.
In spite of its mostly terrestrial activity the Jaguarundi is an agile climber and good swimmer. They can jump up to 2 meters in the air to catch birds, have been seen pursuing marmosets up in trees. Their long tail aids in balance jumping from branch to branch.
More active during daylight hours than other small wild cats, Jaguarundi are the most observed small cat in South America for that reason. They have frequently been observed travelling and foraging in pairs.
They are thought to hunt mainly on the ground and have a varied diet with rodents being the main prey species. Other foods include birds, reptiles and even fallen fruit. Prey greater than 1 kg, like rabbits, opossums and armadillos is not unusual.
Reproduction
The reproductive season of the Jaguarundi is probably year round with peaks in different months depending on the area. Females are thought to be polyestrous year round in most of their range but peak mating season is late fall in the northern part of their range. Den sites include dense thickets, fallen logs overgrown with vegetation, hollow trees, and thick grassy clumps. One to four, usually two, kittens are born after an average gestation period of 70 – 75 days. The kittens begin to eat solid food at about six weeks of age. Sexual maturity is reached around 24 months. Individuals have lived up to 15 years of age.
Threats
- habitat loss and fragmentation which leads to prey reduction
- hunted around settled areas and commonly killed due to poultry predation
- killed for medicinal or ornamental purposes, or taken as pets
- lack of information about this species’ life history and ecology
Conservation
The Jaguarundi has been considered relatively common over much of its range, perhaps because it is diurnal and uses open habitats, which makes it more readily seen than the other species.
Although actual population numbers are unknown, their large range and lack of threat from the illegal fur trade means that Jaguarundi are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. The danger in this designation is the assumption that the population is healthy, resulting in few or no field studies to determine their actual status.
The Jaguarundi is protected over much of its range and hunting is prohibited in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, U.S. and Venezuela. In Peru hunting is regulated. They are not legally protected in Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana or Nicaragua.
The Jaguarundi is more associated with savannah than with dense forest. The habitat alterations of the Brazilian savannas into industrial agriculture landscapes are therefore seriously threatening it. How far its adaptability reaches and how much competition with other cat species influences its behaviour is unclear. Jaguarundi populations in protected areas are expected to be very low, likely because of the negative impact of the Ocelot.
As little is known about the Jaguarundi, its status should be periodically reviewed. There is an urgent need for further research on its ecology, demographics and natural history to identify threats and their impacts, as well as to ensure that adequate conservation measures can be implemented.
Map courtesy IUCN Red List 2018
Updated 2018
Pat Bumstead
Your cat is very unlikely to have been a jaguarundi in Utah, unless it was an escapee from a wildlife rehab center in the area. We do however, get reports from various states of weird looking cats that don’t seem to look like any normal cat. They are generally hybrids, a result of people breeding exotics with domestic cats, and don’t ask me why. Just as a complete guess, I would say your cat could be a jungle cat/domestic cat cross. Jungle cats are apparently popular in the pet trade. Please do let us know if you get a picture!
Dave Coats
I just saw what I believe to have been a Jaguarundi saunter through my backyard in SW Utah (outskirts of Washington, UT). No other wildcat fits the description of what I saw other than the Jaguarundi, yet its range supposedly doesn’t extend north beyond Mexico. It was at least double the height of a domestic cat, very slender with dark fur and a long tail. I did not get a clear view of its head as it was moving away from me and the light was low as it was dawn. Roughly 8 ft below our back lot line is a street, then a wash, and then a golf course. Beyond the golf course and surrounding our neighborhood is rugged open area typical of southern UT.
S. McCrory
I have seen one of these in central Mississippi. I have a B.S. in Biology and I know that the animal I saw was a jaguarundi. It was only a few yards from me in the gravel road. The cat was tan/light brown in color and very muscular. I have yet to get a photo of the animal. My wife and a neighbor have also seen the cat.
Will McCarthy
Hi Jessica, I’m writing a story about Jaguarundi and I’d love to talk with you about your sighting. Feel free to reach me at wrmccart@gmail.com.
Will McCarthy
Will McCarthy
Hi Lloyd, I’m writing a story about Jaguarundi and I’d love to talk with you about your sighting. Feel free to reach me at wrmccart@gmail.com.
Will McCarthy
Pat Bumstead
Can’t help you without seeing some photos.
Linda Poindexter
Here are three more “strange” sightings in North Florida. I saw what I first thought was a fox along a fence line about 5 miles from my house. It was not a dog or a fox but I do not know what it was. It was kind of brownish with darker patches( not spots). Moved too fast for a dog but didn’t look like a cat necessaroly. Since then, another person has reported seeing it in the same area. Then my neighbor spotted what she said was a large black cat..much larger than a domestic cat and definitely black,
that crossed the road in front of her and jumped effortlessly about four feet up into a tree on our property. She said they startled each other and it happened so quickly that she was not able to get a picture with her phone. We are about 5 miles from where I saw the other “mystery creature”. We are in a rural area with lots of deer, wild turkeys, etc
According to the experts, there are supposed to be no large black cats in our area or jagaurundis, but there are SOME.kind of weird animals around. I wonder what they are? We are between Tallahasse and Jacksonville in North Florida.
Pat Bumstead
Jaguarundi have long skinny tails that look like a piece of rope and are definitely not bushy. You probably saw a fox.
Ben Hargis
I believe I might have seen 2 this morning on the canyon road heading north out of Kernville, California. I thought it was a fox at first but it’s tail, ears, and movements were too feline. Very small ears in proportion to its body and no tips like on a bobcat with an overly large tail that was very fluffy. It was dark in the headlight but I could make out that the colour was rather monotone but the ears and tail were lighter than the rest of the body.
Pat Bumstead
You can email us the photo of this cat so we can see what we’re dealing with. IF it is a jaguarundi, Texas Parks and Wildlife will have to be notified. These cats are listed as endangered in Texas.
Pat Bumstead
Mothers often leave their little kittens alone while they go hunting. The best thing to do is just watch a small kitten, keep him from harm and wait until his mum comes back. Never pick up baby animals without knowing more about the mother.
As this doesn’t seem to be applicable now, is it possible to get him to a zoo or wildlife rehabilitation centre? Or even a domestic animal veterinarian?
Sinead Morrissey
Hi, my family in Colombia found a cub alone and we believe it is a jaguarundi. Can you give any advise on what they should do with him now. He is very young.
lloyd steadman
mineola tex, there is a red jaguarundi in our housing addition. a neighbor has a photo on his cell phone taken in his yard . small dogs and domestic cats are disappearing weekly . we cannot trap him as of yet. what can we do? mineola tex. is located 27 miles east of tyler tex and 85 miles east of dallas tex. area is heavily wooded with small creeks. help!
Pat Bumstead
We have no records of jaguarundi in Alabama, and without photographic proof cannot confirm! Thanks for letting us know though.
Robin
Yesterday, my husband and I were riding bikes down a dirt road in Salem, Alabama. A slick black cat with flat face (otter looking), short legs, elongated body, and long tail low to the ground crossed the road a few feet in front of us. After investigating what this could be, we have come to the conclusion that it was a jaguarundi. This area is near creeks and a river.
Tanya M
My mom and I were leaving my house one night 3/11/21 in Melbourne, FL (Central FL) and we saw a strange animal too cat like to be a fox and too big to be a house cat. Nothing like either of us have ever seen. We watched it slink through an open area in our neighborhood and jump easily into a tree and disappear. When we looked up the description of what we saw a jaguarundi was the first thing that popped up. Upon seeing photos we are sure that this is what we saw. I live in town in a neighborhood with a small canal running behind. There is also a small lot that’s preserved for wildlife with a pond, rocks, and dense forest.
Patrick Sullivan
3 years ago, I saw what I believe to be a jaguarundi in the Sierra Ancha mountains of Arizona. It was early afternoon on a remote hiking trail, hugging the side of a mountain. As I turned a blind corner, I saw, about 50-75 feet ahead, a large, dark colored (almost black) cat and also heard/saw some rustling in the bushes just off to the left of the cat (down the side of the mountain). I think I came across either a pair and one immediately bolted into the brush, or one that was in the middle of catching prey, and the prey animal escaped into the brush. I only saw the cat from behind and only for a few seconds before he took off ahead out of sight. What was very clear is that it immediately slunk down close to the ground when it knew I was there, it had very powerful-looking hind legs, and a very long, powerful-looking tail that was curved upward at the end. It looked a bit larger than a bobcat, but it was hard to tell exactly given the nature of the encounter. At the moment, I had no clue exactly what it was, but after getting home and researching, I’m convinced it was a jaguarundi based on all of the photos I’ve seen. The elevation in that location is ~6,600 ft. The rough Lat/Long was 33.80527, -110.93790.
Pat Bumstead
We do not raise any wild cats here so are unable to advise. Our programs deal with in-situ field research and we have no information on captive cats. Sorry – hope the little guy makes it!
Jane
I am raising a jaguarundi in my wildlife rehabilitation centre in Ecuador. He has ben with me for 3 days, very malnourished. He is about 2 months old. At the moment taking milk (Royal Canin Kitten milk) every 4 hours to build up weight and strength. Not interested in solid food. Very bright and alert, all claws and hissing. I am having to keep him very wrapped up as he is not maintaining temperature too well yet probably because he is so underweight. He has not defecated yet but is urinating normally. Any suggestions/tips welcome. I am used to raising ocelots from a few days old.
Pat Bumstead
Here’s hoping you get a photo of this cat – please share if you do!
Jessica
I saw one in June while hiking the trails in Williamson County Park, Cedar Park/Round Rock/Leander, TX. It was around 8pm (still broad daylight), it crossed the trail about 20 feet ahead of me and then jumped back into the brush. I couldn’t grasp what I saw, it looked so odd to me. I googled it by the features that caught me as the most odd- it’s small head and rounded ears, it’s color, and it’s body shape- low and long and almost resembling a weasel or otter. Jaguarundi came up immediately even though supposedly extinct in TX, the description I entered was exactly what others had used to describe them! I’ve been obsessed ever since! I go back to the park looking in the same area, and search online for other sightings constantly to confirm I did see what I saw!
Pat Bumstead
Please send any photos to us a smallwildcats[at]gmail.com as we are still waiting for a photo of any jaguarundi in the US!
Brian
I live in Alabama and am pretty sure I have a family of jaguarundi behind my house in the woods. Set a trail cam and got a couple pictures. Still trying to get better ones.
Anthony Orozco
I saw a Jaguarundi at a distance of 25 yards. We saw each other at the exact same time when our eyes locked we both froze for at least 20 to 30 seconds. It was in the city limits of San Antonio, Texas on N.E. side of town. The year was 2019 months September – October. On another occasion I could have sworn I witnessed at least 3 kittens or cubs under and around a 20 ft. Patch of Cactus. My peripheral vision caught movements in cactus at 60-100 feet. As I turned my head they froze in place as any wild newborns are trained to. Both sightings were within a 20 yard radius. Approximately 200 – 500 acres with tons of wildlife and easy access to water and or open land between Austin and San Antonio. Untouched pristine land it was amazing.
Dave
I absolutely saw one of these at Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, Marina Del Ray, Los Angeles, around 2008. At the time I googled it and couldn’t find out what it was. Today I tried to google it again and sure enough, this is what I saw. I had a face off with it, at dusk. There was no one in the park but me (it was closed and I wasn’t supposed to be there). It froze when it saw me. I took pics but they didn’t come out good (sorry).. I inched closer to it and it turned around and ran from me super fast, in giant leaps. It was a really cool and crazy experience!
Judy Manning
I saw a jaguarundi at Inks Lake State Park, Burnet, Texas a few years ago. I was hiking and what I thought was a house cat crossed the path in front of me. I walked in the direction it went hoping to get a picture of it but it was too fast for me!
Misty
Idk if I’ve posted but a few years ago I was driving on hwy 6 (Josephine, Tx) it was almost daylight but not quite. I had my headlights on and something ran across the street in front of my car. I had never seen anything like it. It’s face and ears were cat but body looked like a skinny dog. It’s tail was about as long as it’s body. I slammed on my brakes to keep from hitting it and watched it leap towards a field. It was a burned orange color. I came home and instantly googled the description of what I saw and there was a picture of a jaguarundi I Knew that was it. Definitely felt like it was once in a lifetime I’d see something like that.
Pat Bumstead
Thanks for the update -added to the list of Texas sightings!
Laura ottmers
I live in Round Rock Texas and saw a jaguarundi in our neighborhood cul-de-sac last night (2-12-2020). Though sun had set, the cul-de-sac is well lit and my headlights allowed me to see full on before it bolted across neighbor fence to small farm plot close by.
Pat Bumstead
As long as you have a good supply of prey animals in your area, I doubt there is any way to get the predators to move on. Jaguarundi weigh less than 15 lbs and couldn’t take down a pig, but they will certainly follow a corridor along rivers. So will bobcats and puma. The only sure way to protect your cats is to keep them inside if possible.
We are still awaiting that elusive photograph of a jaguarundi in Texas so if you happen to get a picture, please let us know at smallwildcats @ gmail.com.
Betty Ann Taylor
I live in Nacogdoches Texas. I walked out onto my front porch and there was a Jaugarundi. It took off with the speed of lightning. Rusty grey. One of my domestic ferals had a rumble in the low brush behind my house. I screamed and my cat came back. I have lost two without a trace in the last 2 months. I was in animal rescue for 25 years. I never saw this animal. With the overpopulation of pigs we have new predators moving into our area by way of a corridor by rivers and creeks nearby. Any ideas how to make them move on?
Pat Bumstead
Jaguarundi are about half the size of a German Shepard or black Lab, and much skinnier. It’s not likely you saw a jaguarundi but I cannot even guess what you did see. You are correct that science says there is no such thing as a black mountain lion/cougar, but we are continually getting reports of large black cat sightings. No idea what’s going on!
Elke Goodno
I am from California and I was hiking inPalos Verdes. It was last week that I came across this amazing cat. I estimated it to be the size of a German Shepard or black Lab. When I saw it I first thought “ Oh, it’s a Mountain Lion” but then I found out they are never black. I now believe I saw a Jaguarundi.
Pat Bumstead
We’ve never had a jaguarundi reported in California, but we will add your sighting to our list of reports. You are a long way north from their Mexican range, but as no one knows where these cats actually are, we continue to keep the list!
Alex Brahney
I spotted what I can only assume is a Jaguarundi in California off highway 131 west of Patterson. In The last 5 years on my night drives, I almost hit a mountain lion and have seen roughly 10 bobcats, and all sorts of other animals. Nothing that ever looks like this creature that I spotted just last weekend. Running down the road straight in front of me with a long thick tail, dark body, running like a cat. I did not get the best look at it but from what I did see it was nothing I’ve ever seen before. I never even knew that the jaguarundi existed up until my search of what type of animal is dark and has a long tail in California. It was no skunk, it was no possum, it was no weasel. It looked like a cat, a cat I had never seen before. The only animal that it could possibly be other than a jaguarundi would be a badger but those are much broader and lower then I jaguarundi and I really highly doubt that’s what I saw.
Kathleen
I have seen jaguarundis twice by our house in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Once in the daytime when it came to drink from a birdbath at ground level, and once again, just last night when it passed near the back of our house screeching and meowing. As I had already seen one in daylight, I could tell this was the same species, as I could see its shape and outline in bright moonlight. The first one I saw was gray. We live at 4600 feet elevation in the western Sierra Madre mountains.
Pat Bumstead
Very likely location for a jaguarundi and the color is right. I’ll add your sighting to the long list of them. We’re still waiting for that elusive photograph though!
Sue Woodard
My husband and I were riding the trails near the Rio Grande river and saw one of these cats, fairly close up. It was a reddish color. Thought at first glance it was a feral cat, but as we approached it, we realized the tail was way too long for a feral cat. It jumped back into brush along the river. Beautiful!
Mark Vanden Branden
While riding my bike on a trail in Oscar Scherer State Park FL. around 10 AM, I observed a very dark grey – almost black – Jaguarundi. It was 20″ to 24″ tall at the shoulder with a rather short tapered tail maybe 16″to 18″ long. I rounded a curve and saw it maybe 20′ in front of me so I got a very good look at it. While searching for information on what I saw, I noticed that there were very few sightings of this animal in Florida. My lucky day.
Pat Bumstead
Thanks for letting us know. We’ll add your sightings to the ever-growing list of jaguarundi reported in Texas!Still waiting for that photo…
TomRichey
I have seen 2 jaguarundis in Erath County, Tx. Two years ago I saw a black one 6 miles south of Bluff Dale, Tx. and then last year I saw a gray one behind my house 1 mile south of Bluff Dale. I contacted the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Services) in Stephenville and their chief manager said he has had several people report them over the past 8 years. I also contacted the Erath County Trapper and he knows of one rancher who treed one with coon dogs about 3 years ago, but didn’t shoot it. They are very illusive, so was unable to get a photo. Wish I had though!
Wes Hodges
Wow, hope you get it on camera!
Susan Mittelstadt
Four of us in the Sierra del Carmen along Rio Grande saw a strange shaped dark low slung animal. I thought it was a giant squirrel or otter. With binoculars we thought feral cat. Have a photo of prints. Thinking jaguarundi. We were up a remote rarely visited side canyon.
Pat Bumstead
Excellent! If you manage to get any footage please email us at smallwildcats [at] gmail.com
Mark Sanders
I saw a jaguarundi in SW Arizona a couple of weeks ago . Wasn’t sure what it was but after seeing a few photos I am now 100% positive . I have a game camera set up in the area and hoping to get a shot of it .
Pat Bumstead
We’re not doubting all the sightings in Texas as we receive so many reports of them. However, we still have not received a photo of these cats from anyone who has reported seeing them. If you could manage to get a photograph of your sightings I know a few scientists who would be very happy! You can email us at smallwildcats [at] gmail.com if you get a picture.
Carolyn Fairless
I’ve had three sightings of jaguarundi within a few miles of my house in northeast Texas over the last few months. The first two times I thought it was an odd looking creature but wrote it off as distorted views. Friday I saw two cross a county road directly in front of me, one following another. I wasn’t able to get my phone in time to take a photo but immediately looked up wild cats of Texas and there it was, the animal I’m certain I saw.
Pat Bumstead
We’re still waiting for a photograph of this cat in Texas – anywhere in Texas!
John Deal
Saw a jaguarundi on hiking trail at George Bush. Park in Houston on September 6th 2018.
Tammy Gonzale
We live in an area 10 miles from Lake Whitney and 20 miles out of Waco, Texas along the Brazos River. We have observed this cat 2 nights in a row. Amazing to watch as it crosses our 30 acres. Hopefully will come back and we can get pictures.
Pat Bumstead
Thank you for sharing! We appreciate any information we can get on the jaguarundi.
Florencia
Hi ! The species has been recorded in Uruguay for the first time in 2015 and again in 2016 in a participatory monitoring programme.
Here’s the article (in Spanish): http://szu.org.uy/old/journal/index.php/Bol_SZU/article/view/23/16
Pat Bumstead
Can you give us more details? We would love to hear the history on this cat, or see a photo of the stuffed animal.
Pat Bumstead
Please send your photos to smallwildcats [at] gmail.com – looking forward to seeing them!
James
I live by laguna atascosa, I see these little guys on a regular basis. I have game cams all over my compound and I catch these little critters on the regular. Those and Ocelots even a puma. Lots of wildlife near me. Where do I send pictures?
Nancy Beams
There is a “stuffed” Jaguarundi on display in Eustis, FL. It was hit by a car while crossing Rte. 42.
Pat Bumstead
There have never been any jaguarundi recorded in Florida. If that’s what you saw, it might have been an escapee from a zoo or other captive situation.
Sue
I saw a jaguarundi in North Port Fl yesterday am 5/3/18. I never have heard of them before seeing one. Smashed face, shorter front legs and dark brown. Found a picture and that’s exactly what I saw.
Pat Bumstead
Thanks for the update! Your description certainly sounds like a jaguarundi. We’ll add your location to our list of sightings.
Luke Haffeman
Thought you might be interested, just saw a jaguarundi 3 miles east of Sterling City tx. at about 6:00 p.m. Didn’t know what it was until checking. Definitely cat family. Over 3 foot long, at least half of it tail. Low slung and solid brown leaning towards red. Flat head. Very healthy looking beautiful and fast.
Patrick T Crissy
Saw one in North Port fl 3 yrs ago at dawn. It was considering making a snack out of a small dog out on a neighbors patio. I startled it. It stopped and looked at me for a moment and then bounded for the woods. I called Universities and Florida Wildlife. everyone said I was crazy and I saw a large Black Cat. Funny how I had a giant black cat living with me for 3 years who did not have round ears or look anything like that.
Norma Sandoval
I’m in Laredo tx, around 730pm 9/14/17, I saw one try to cross a busy road headed for a park that has a pond. It ran back into the brush located at the west side of Laredo airport. Couldn’t take picture it happened too fast. It was cinnamon Brown, with black stout face, bushy weird tail, short legs, bigger than a cat,
Lindsey
My mother in law saw a large cat by her house in Brazoria on Saturday, and then had a chicken come up missing the same day. She later found some feathers. After looking up a jaguarundi, she is convinced that is what it was. I will have her take a picture next time.
William schendel
Around 3 this afternoon we saw a light redish tan colored cat with a long thin tale and a short face on are ranch in goliad texas. We are going to put some cameras out at the water holes tomorrow and see if we can get a picture of it. 110 percent sure it was a jaguarundi it was 30 feet from the truck!
Pat Bumstead
With all the reports we get of jaguarundi in Texas, we are still waiting for any kind of photo. Please keep us posted and if you get lucky with a picture, let us know at smallwildcats@gmail.com. Fingers crossed!
Melinda Lively
I think my husband and I may have seen one of these this evening right at dusk here on Lake Fork near Yantis Texas. It ran is front of our golf cart a ways ahead of us, it had the gait of a domestic cat, but much larger. Approx 18-in tall 2 ft long with a really long tail for the body. I did not get a good look at the head before it disappeared into heavy brush. But I will be putting up a game camera tomorrow! Hope it comes by again! Pretty cool. It was very dark in color, almost black, but with dusk setting in it was hard to tell if it had any other color.
Pat Bumstead
From your description, it certainly sounds like a jaguarundi. It might be worth a phone call to local wildlife authorities to see if anyone else has seen this animal.
Ron Lasseter
My wife and I believe we saw a Jaguarundi on the north shore of Lake Travis. We were sitting on our patio one morning in early June 2017. We had no idea what it was. We saw it in the green belt behind our home. It was grayish brown with a long tail, a long body and short legs. The head was flattened. It had a strange gait almost like a reptile. We eliminated cougar, bobcat, house cat, ring tailed cat, racoon and continued. It looked more like a Jaguarundi because of the short legs, long body and long tail. The tail was not erect, but was low near ground.
Pat Bumstead
Jaguarundi are small cats and never reach 6 feet long, but we would really love to see some photos of these cats you’re talking about!
Rose
We have lived and hiked along the lakes and creeks in Belton, TX with Jaguarundis as common sitings for the past 30 years. They are prolific here, often seen at dawn or dusk, are not afraid of people or dogs. Our Jaguarundis are larger than noted above, often nearly 6′ long and appear to weigh well over 40 lbs. It is always a joy to see a large wild animal lumbering along without concern for humans nearby.
Regina Barrett
Is thought I saw a mother and her young in a Cross the street in front of me to get to a swamp area. It had the same build and rust color. This occurred about ten years ago, in a suburb north of Tampa, FL. Just Inquiring. They were beautiful and exquisite animals.🐱