Are clouded leopards dangerous?

The clouded leopard weights about 18 kg (35 pounds) but it varies between 11 and 23 kg. So they are quite large. Like a largish dog. They have the ability to bring down, kill and eat prey animals such as small deer, goats, pigs, monkeys and orangutans.

Clouded leopard. Photo in public domain.

There have been no reports of people being harmed or killed by a clouded leopard. I suspect they’d steer clear of any human they encountered. The human would be more dangerous to them than they’d be to the human.

Clouded leopard lap cat. Picture: in public domain.

I have never read a report of a clouded leopard attacking a person. The conclusion I can come to right away is that although the clouded leopard has the theoretical ability to harm a person they never do because they keep away as they perceive people as a danger to them when they are in the wild. In captivity they seem to be friendly.

Clouded leopard purring. Screenshot.

I have never heard of someone keeping a clouded leopard as a pet but I am sure there is someone somewhere who does.

They appear to be quite friendly as mentioned. You’ll see zookeepers getting close to clouded leopards. They purr and can be playful.

Clouded leopard nibbles Patrick Ayree’s ear and climbs all over him in a sanctuary. The cat is female and about one year old. Very inquisitive. Photo: Sky One.

Perhaps the question is slightly irrelevant? I’m sure domestic dogs are far more dangerous that clouded leopards! There are millions of reported dog bites, some very nasty causing deaths, annually on the planet. There are no clouded leopard bites reported!

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