Animal lovers will not remain indifferent at the sight of a Pampas cat. Although outwardly it resembles a domestic purr, there are still noticeable differences between them. So, the Pampass cat (photos are shown on this page) is distinguished by an unusual, expressive muzzle.
Animal description
A grassy cat is another name for this animal - the same size as its domestic counterpart. Growth at the withers is about 30 cm. The body itself is knocked down, about 75 cm long. Since its coat is too thick, the legs seem a little shortened. The cat's head is large, with sharp ears. The transition from forehead to nose is a bit flattened. The spout itself is large. It is brown in color, often with a thin black border, like the eyes. A fluffy, thick tail is the same length as a regular cat (25 cm). The animal weighs from 3 to 7 kg.
Pampassa cat has a brown color, but the shade depends on its habitat. It can be light wool in sand colors or any other up to a dark brown, almost black color. There is also a pattern that is pronounced or almost invisible. On the ridge, the shade is darker than the main color, and the tail is often decorated with dark stripes.
Behavior and lifestyle
Pampassa cat is a nocturnal animal that sees well and navigates in the dark. But sometimes the animals go for a walk or hunt in the daytime. These animals lead a solitary life. Each cat has its own territory, which he controls. Typically, the boundaries of possessions extend for 30, and sometimes 50 km. From dangers, these cats, like domestic ones, flee. And at the first opportunity they climb a tree. If there is nowhere to run or an animal meets an opponent, it raises its coat on end to visually increase in size and scare off the enemy. In relation to humans, these cats are often aggressive, so they are poorly tamed. In captivity, they can live up to 12 years.
Nutrition
Pampassa cat hunts on the ground, therefore, rodents are mainly present in its diet. Also, furry animals can ruin the nests of birds, which are arranged in shrubs. Often birds fall into their paws. Sometimes the menu is diluted with insects and lizards. In rare cases, a herbal cat can attack poultry.
Breeding
Puberty in these animals occurs between the ages of 6 and 21 months. Also, presumably Pampass cats breed, like ordinary yard cats. Walks begin from April to July. Sometimes they begin to hunt for a partner a little earlier. After mating, the female carries offspring up to 85 days. The broods are small: only two or three kittens.
Area
Pampassa cat lives in South America. It can be found in Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina. She settles in the foothills of the Andes, where she can climb to the top, the height of which reaches 5 thousand meters above sea level. In these places, they prefer to settle in grassy areas. These are steppes and pampas (fertile plains with a flat relief). Thanks to the habitat, cats got their name. Animals do not like mangrove swamps, moist forests, thickets of dried thorny bushes, although they are rarely found there.
Pampass cat: interesting facts and information
In the CIS countries, a grassy cat was found out only in our days, since it was isolated in a separate species not so long ago. From the rest of his brothers he is distinguished by the structure of the skull and the features of the coat. But, despite this, some zoologists refuse to recognize the Pampass cat as a separate species. Despite the fact that in the homeland this animal has been known for a long time, there are no published detailed studies and observations about it. So, there are still no details related to the reproduction of these furry animals. The enemy of the Pampass cat is large birds of prey and animals, as well as a person who hunts them for their skins.