When deciding what wild cat species live in the US state of Louisiana, the best source of information will be the geographic range maps on the IUCN Red website, which are reproduced on PoC. The only possible wild cat species in this state are the puma, bobcat, jaguarundi and ocelot.
The bobcat is ubiquitous throughout the USA so the bobcat can be found in Louisiana. Officially, the Puma’s range extends east as far as Texas but not as far as Louisiana. Therefore, the puma (cougar or mountain lion) should not be seen in Louisiana. However, some wandering young males might enter the state looking for a home range.
As for the jaguarundi and ocelot, you can bracket these together as their geographic range extends as far north as Mexico (jaguarundi range – ocelot range). They do not exist, according to the experts, in Louisiana.
That said there may be some in the state and some might have escaped from a private zoo. That’s it really. There is nothing much more to say. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries don’t appear to tell us what wild cat species are in their state but the answer is straightforward. If a visitor to this page has seen any of these cats it would be nice if you could leave a message. All four species are discussed in detail on this website. Please use the search box or go to this page to start.
I live south of Houma, LA in Terrebonne Parish. There is a strip of land along the bayou where all the homes are and the highway runs north-south about 20 miles. There is swamp and open water immediately behind this strip of land. Today, I saw either a bobcat or lynx walking across my neighbor’s property which was cut very low (so he was out in the open) as I sat quietly on the back porch of my elevated home. He then came onto my property and crossed another clear area as he turned toward the back of my property and trotted off into the brush. We have left a “wildlife trail” where there is thick brush and we don’t cut the grass there. We also see deer tracks and have spotted deer along this same trail. We used to have many, many rabbits but I guess the big cat(s) have eaten them. We don’t see anymore evidence of rabbits. He was brown, with slight black markings around the edge of his furry wide hanging tail(that was approx 6-8 inches long and on each lower leg and foot, like the individual hairs had black tips. His rear looked at least 2 feet tall. I got a pretty good look at that because he turned away from me. He was only about 75 -100 feet away and didn’t even look my way as he crossed the open field or my yard. Didn’t have a camera! Will try to get a pic!
Thanks for the sighting Stephanie.
“OMG”!wow! Chrissy I live in Tioga Louisiana! I have seen something like your describing. last night it was the biggest cat I’ve ever seen! IDK the color it didn’t run away walked away slowly across the street into another wooded area . I seen the eyes at night like you described. I have no actual woods behind my house just a little small part of trees and bushes were I seen the eyes. It was really beautiful though glowing
What about a Fisher cat? Not sure if they are in your state.
I have lived in franklinton, lousiana all my life. I have several packs of coyotes around my house along with fox. The past couple of months I’ve been hearing different animal noises which has made my hair stand up. I am used to coyotes, bobcats, and fox but never in my life have I ever heard this sound. Couple months back it sounded like a woman screaming in agony. I live in the sticks so definitely wasn’t anybody you could tell it came from an animal. Last night I was outside heard this high pitch feline sound it was loud and close. After the initial call you could hear another animal responding back to the same calls. It’s deinfately not a coyote, fox, bobcat, or screeching owl but I’m clueless as to what else it could be please help me to identify what it could be. I have small kids and my two protecting dogs recently got poisoned and passed away so I’m concerned.
The encyclopedia stated that panthers are not indiginous to louisiana and what most people see is actually a black leopard whic is indiginous to louisiana. The picture it showed was exactly like what I saw. I have also seen some large bobcats this was not a bobcat. The tail was long and as the body of the cat was so long the whole tail wasn’t in the headlights however I did see it out side window as it went into the woods on a full moon night. In headlights it looked like a black panther in moonlight it looked like a leopard. The 1970 version of encyclopedia britanica.