6 Interesting Facts About Ocelots: These Felines Use a Shared Toilet

The name "ocelot," also known as the "leopard cat," comes from the Aztec word ocēlōtl, which originally meant jaguar. We've thrown another feline into the mix just to make things a little more complicated! If you enjoy this confusing mess and mystery, you'll love our next article as well.

The ocelot, a solitary but beautiful feline, is found in every South and Central American country except Chile. It now appears that its poaching and capture have been successfully reduced. It was not only hunted for its fur but also at one point attempted to be kept as a pet.

1.) Called by Many Names

Another possible origin of the name “ocelot” can be traced back to the Latin word ocellatus, which means “small-eyed” or “marked with eye-like spots,” referring to the animal’s spotted coat.

Ocelots have many folk names, including cunaguaro (Venezuela), gato onza (Argentina), gato tigre (Panama), heitigrikati (Suriname), jaguatirica and maracaja (Brazil), manigordo (Costa Rica, Panama, and Venezuela), mathuntori, ocelote, onsa, and pumillo (Belize), and tigrecillo (Bolivia) and tigrillo (Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru). We wonder if it responds to all of them!

2.) The Ocelot’s Closest Relative Is Almost Its Twin

The ocelot’s closest relative looks so similar that the untrained eye could easily confuse them. Perhaps the biggest difference for us lies in their gaze; the margay’s eyes appear almost alien-like. They also differ in body structure: the ocelot has a shorter tail and a more robust body.

Genetic studies suggest that the margay and the ocelot diverged into separate species about 2.41 to 1.01 million years ago. They belong to the Leopardus genus, which includes cats like the pampas cat, the oncilla, and Geoffroy’s cat. The ocelot has 10 subspecies.

3.) They Use a Shared Toilet

According to data from camera trap studies, several ocelots defecate in one or more communal spots, known as latrines. This is likely practical because it reduces the chance of drawing predators’ attention across their habitat with the smell of their waste.

Ocelots are territorial animals and may fight to the death to defend their territory against others of their species. However, they try to avoid predators and all possible confrontations. Fortunately, they have their methods: they are excellent climbers and swimmers, skills they use effectively during hunting.

4.) Communication Is Their Strength

Studies show that ocelots communicate with each other not just through body language but also with sounds. Their repertoire ranges from various meows to growls, and they even purr. However, they do not roar. Observations at the San Diego Zoo indicate these wildcats “chuckle” when excited and often “mutter” to each other. Listening to an ocelot conversation is definitely on our bucket list.

5.) They Track Like Dogs

For wildcats, this is an unusual technique, but ocelots use their sense of smell to track prey. They walk very slowly along a scent trail and are willing to wait for 30-60 minutes in one spot for the prey to appear. They consume rodents, small mammals, insects, beetles, fish, and birds; they even pluck the birds’ feathers before eating them. It seems that these amazing creatures also excel in plucking, a skill our grandmothers would appreciate!

6.) Salvador Dalí, the Ocelot Owner

Ocelots have had a relationship with humans since the times of the Aztec and Inca civilizations, who depicted them in their art and mythology on ceramics, murals, and architectural elements. Their bones were even used to make thin, pointed tools suitable for ritual bloodletting by piercing ears and limbs.

They were so captivated—just as we are today—by these extraordinarily beautiful wildcats that they often wanted more than just to depict or wear their fur; they wanted to keep them as pets. The most famous ocelot owner was Salvador Dalí, whose cat, Babou, even traveled on airplanes. In a New York restaurant, one diner was frightened by the unusual creature—who was reportedly very affectionate and well-behaved—only for Dalí to reassure them that it was an ordinary house cat “painted in op-art design.”

We cannot conclude this article without emphasizing that the ocelot is a wild animal, and keeping one as a pet is dangerous and irresponsible!