Andean mountain cat: status, range, size and diet
A rare, pale grey cat of the high Andes that feeds almost entirely on mountain viscachas, listed as Endangered.
Also known as Leopardus jacobita, Andean cat, gato andino, mountain cat
At a glance
| Scientific name | Leopardus jacobita |
|---|---|
| Group | Small wild cats |
| Weight | 4-6 kg |
| Length | Head and body about 57-75 cm, tail 41-48 cm |
| Known for | Being among the rarest cats in the world, tied closely to a single prey animal. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Endangered |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2024 |
| Population estimate | Fewer than 2,500 mature individuals |
| Estimate from | 2024 |
Where it lives
| Range | High Andes of Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and northwestern Argentina, with some records on the lower Patagonian steppe |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid, rocky, sparsely vegetated slopes, mostly above 3,000 m and recorded up to about 5,180 m |
| Diet | Mostly mountain viscachas, plus small rodents, birds and reptiles |
Main threats
- Mining and other land use
- Loss of prey
- Hunting and ceremonial use
- Dogs and disease
- Very low genetic diversity
About
The Andean mountain cat is a stocky, grey cat with a thick coat, a broad bushy tail marked with dark rings, and a black nose. Its closest look-alike is the pampas cat, which has a pink nose. The cat is solitary and mainly active at night and dusk, and it is seldom seen. Few people have photographed one, and only a small number have ever been studied closely.
Litters usually have a single kitten. Home ranges recorded by researchers vary a great deal, from about 19 to 80 square kilometres depending on the study.
Where it lives and what it eats
The species lives in the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and northwestern Argentina, in a dry, cold landscape of rock slopes and sparse shrub. Recent camera-trap and field records show that some cats also live far from the high mountains, on the Patagonian steppe of Argentina and Chile at much lower elevations.
Mountain viscachas, rabbit-sized rodents that live in rocky colonies, make up the great majority of what it eats, with smaller amounts of rodents, birds and reptiles. This narrow diet means the cat's fate follows that of one prey animal.
Threats and conservation
The 2024 Red List assessment listed the species as Endangered, with fewer than 2,500 mature individuals and a continuing decline inferred. Threats include mining and fuel and water extraction, particularly in the high-altitude lithium region, as well as road building, farming and livestock management. Viscachas have been hunted heavily, and chinchillas, once common, were nearly wiped out by the fur trade. Cats are killed for fur and for ceremonial and traditional uses, and sometimes as perceived livestock predators. Dogs kill them and spread disease, and genetic variation is very low. Climate change is expected to push the cat to higher ground.
Hunting and trade are illegal in all four range countries, although enforcement is often weak. The Alianza Gato Andino, a network of researchers in the four countries, has worked since 1999 on surveys, community education and protection. In 2026 the species also received its first Green Status of Species assessment, which rated it Largely Depleted.
Cats and people
Few people ever see one in the wild. In some highland communities the cat has cultural meaning, and its skin has been used in ceremonies, which creates a pressure that is hard to measure. Local people who help with surveys are central to conservation, because the cat's range lies mostly beyond protected areas.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026