What does Geoffroy’s cat look like?

Geoffroy’s cat looks somewhat like a domestic tabby cat but with a higher contrast spotted tabby coat and stronger facial markings. They are about the same size as a domestic cat but their tails are a bit shorter and their heads are more flattened.

The backs of their ears are black with a white spot. The background colour of their coat varies from smoky grey to lion-coloured but there are many shades in between.

There is a variation in the coloration of their fur between the four subspecies together with a variation in size. Sometimes you will see a black Geoffroy’s cat. These are melanistic forms of this wild cat species and they are quite common apparently.

Melanism is due to a dominant autosomal allele. The belly fur is white or cream-coloured. And what is most noticeable about this cat’s coat is that it is covered in small black spots.

The experts say that the spots on the side and limbs of the cat tend to “coalesce into transverse bands”. In other words, was the spots join up to create a line or stripe.

Useful links
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FULL Maine Coon guide - lots of pages
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The tale is ringed with dark bands and the cheeks are marked with two dark streaks. There are several dark lines on the crown of the head and the neck.

Fur traders believe that the coat is very attractive because after the bobcat Geoffroy’s cat was the world’s most frequently traded cat skin. In 1981, West Germany imported over 70,000 Geoffroy’s cat skins. In 1986 the European Union prohibited the import of Geoffroy’s cat from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

My research indicates that international trade in Geoffroy’s cat pelts is now prohibited under CITES Appendix I except for non-commercial purposes. And legislation was introduced in the 1980s which made hunting and the domestic trade of this cat’s pelt illegal in Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina.

There are some more articles on the Geoffroy’s cat below.

Geoffroy's cat

Can you own a Geoffroy’s cat?

The question in the title is unspecific. In order to answer the question, you have to specify where you live ...
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Geoffroy's Cat Facts For Kids

Where does Geoffroy’s cat live?

The maps on this page tell you exactly where Geoffroy's cat lives. In words, this small wild cat is found ...
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geoffroys-cat

Geoffroy’s Cat

The name Geoffroy’s Cat is unusual as it is named after French naturalist, Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, “who identified Geoffroy's Cat ...
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Normal coated Geoffroy's cat

What does the Geoffroy’s cat eat?

Let's get one point clear at the outset. The name of this cat is "Geoffroy's cat" not "geoffroy cat". I ...
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Normal coated Geoffroy's cat

How do Geoffroy’s cats reproduce?

The earliest recorded age for a captive Geoffroy's cat to reproduce is 18-months-of-age for both males and females (as at ...
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Useful tag. Click to see the articles: Cat behavior

Note: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified.

Michael Broad

Hi, I'm a 74-year-old retired solicitor (attorney in the US). Before qualifying I worked in many jobs including professional photography. I love nature, cats and all animals. I am concerned about their welfare. If you want to read more click here.

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