Margay (F. Tigrina)
Another South American wild cat that has been kept as a pet is the margay. When fully matured, the margay is about the size of a large house cat. Its basic coat color is champagne, orange or dark orange, with dark spots or stripes. Margay and ocelot kittens are very similar in size and appearance, and it is often difficult to distinguish one from the other.
Also a tree dweller, the margay is a strong and agile cat. It, too, is an excellent jumper and can leap many times its own length; margays can spring in any direction—upward, forward or backward—with ease. The front paws are unusually large when compared to those of the house cat. Margays use their paws to catch and hold small mammals and birds, much in the same way that a house cat cuffs and grips amuse or bird. Although easily frightened, the margay makes a good pet for those persons with patience and understanding for this unique cat.