New Feline Species Pounces into the Wild

Picture taken by Fernando Faciole / National Geographic

​As of September 1, 2026, a newly discovered cat breed has been added to the family. The Leopardus "tilcayo" cat was found in the tropical forest, Yungas, in central Bolivia.
by Finn Brown and Raine Mobley

​As of September 1, 2026, a newly discovered cat breed has been added to the family. The Leopardus "tilcayo" cat was found in the tropical forest, Yungas, in central Bolivia. This little feline friend belongs to the genus Leopardus colocola, also known as the Pampas cat, native to South America and known for its smaller build.
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The tilcayo cat was discovered by National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz. The cat was reported to be male and around 10 years old. Paola stated that the cat was tinier than the average house cat, weighing only 3 pounds and measuring 18 inches long. "Knowing other wild cats, it was peculiar. He really is tiny."

The cat itself has been noted to be quite shy and evasive, as Smithsonian Magazine says. Much research on the creature's behavior is difficult to pinpoint; however, scientists have been able to spot some significant behavior. Wildlife camera footage shows that the tilcayo may be nocturnal, as its activity is predominantly during the night, with the cooler temperatures of the forest aiding it in its hunt. DNA samples have shown it mainly hunts small rodents for its diet.

Now, thanks to the addition of the new cat and more information from Smithsonian Magazine, there are five distinct species of tiger cat. “Beyond the new member, the group includes the northern tiger cat, southern tiger cat, clouded tiger cat, and the eastern tiger cat.” Besides the exciting species of tilcayo, Nogales-Ascarrunz and her colleagues identified a new subspecies of tiger cat in Peru’s Yungas, known as L. tigrinus antisuyo.

As researchers rush to find more exciting information on this feline and its behaviors, one thing is for certain: we’re never quite sure of what new friend could be hiding in the nature of the wild.