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South American kitty
The adorably fluffy Pampas cat is native to South America and can be found in the wild in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly southwestern Colombia. Unfortunately, the odds of running into one are small as Pampas cats are rather shy and there may not be many of them left.
Near threatened
While there are no official population estimates available for the Pampas cat, the adorable furballs are classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. In Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Uruguay, the situation is believed to be the worst. The main threat to the survival of the species is habitat loss, though in some regions the kitties are hunted for their beautiful thick coat.
Don’t let the name fool you
Despite their name, Pampas cats don’t strictly live in areas covered with Pampas grass. These adaptable cats thrive in various habitats, including shrubland, open woodland, swamps, savannas, and even dry forests at elevations of up to 5,000 meters (16,000 feet). The one place these fluffy felines usually avoid is lowland rainforests.
Chubby kitty
Pampas cats are only slightly larger than a domestic feline, measuring about 50-75 cm (19-30 in) in length, and 30-35 cm (12-14 in) in height. Due to their thick fur and bushy tail, Pampas cats look like adorably chubby pet cats, and because of their broad head and eye stripes, they always seem a little grumpy.
So many different coats
The Pampas cat comes in so many different colors and patterns that in 2017 the IUCN Cat Specialist Group ruled that the Pampas cat is actually a collective term for a group of 7 subspecies! All Pampas cats have striped legs, dark eye stripes, and lighter spots on the back of their ears, but the rest of their coat can be striped, rosetted, or ticked, depending on the subspecies.
Lone ranger
Like many wild cats, Pampas cats are solitary, which means they must stand up for themselves when predators are nearby. When feeling endangered, Pampas cats will climb in trees or raise the long hairs on their back to appear bigger—just like domestic cats do. However, don’t mistake them for lap cats; even in captivity, Pampas cats are notoriously aggressive and seem impossible to tame.
Small body, big appetite
Not much is known about the hunting habits of the Pampas cat. In some areas, these cats hunt at night or during twilight hours, while in others, they seem to search for food whenever it suits them—even during the day. Their diet varies greatly depending on their habitat, ranging from small reptiles and mammals like guinea pigs and viscachas to even penguin chicks. Who would have thought!
