The Margay is a magnificent spotted feline that hails from Central and South America. It thrives in the thick rainforests where it loves to wander around freely. Although it bears a resemblance to its kin, the Ocelot, the Margay sets itself apart with its remarkable tree-climbing prowess. As a result, it is one of the most agile arboreal cats found on the planet.
The Margay is a small wild cat that has a penchant for nocturnal hunting, similar to the Sand Cat. With a body length that matches its tail and a weight range of 2-9 kg (6-20 pounds), this solitary creature possesses several physical traits that make it an excellent climber. Its flexible joints, long legs, and lengthy tail allow it to navigate through tree branches with remarkable ease and agility. To avoid predators, they prefer to stay in trees. Furthermore, their tails serve as a balancing tool and enable them to leap from one branch to another with great ease. Interestingly, the Margay can hang by its hind legs like primates and twist its ankles 180 degrees outward to hold onto two feet while using its front legs to reach out for food. The Margay boasts large, round eyes that grant them exceptional night vision and glow brightly at night during their hunt. These elusive creatures reside in remote areas with limited human population and feed on a variety of prey such as rats, birds, opossums, monkeys, squirrels, and insects.
These magnificent felines are famous for their remarkable lifespan of up to 20 years in captivity.