Jaquarundi Characteristics

 (Snipped from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguarundi)



The Jaquarundi is a very shy cat from being debated into the domesticated cat family and puma. The Jacquarundi is a little larger than a housecat, but it also is very long and slender. The cat lives in lowland areas like swampy and near water in the Southeastern United States. They are particularly solitary cats but mate like any other animal. They usually have 1-4 cubs and their gestation period is usually about two months to two months and a half.

They love eating small rodents, birds and animals near and in water. Like domesticated housecats, they eat small insects especially at night. They can be domesticated in captivity They are very endangered and need your help to gain attention so hunters and poachers won’t kill them. Jacquarundis have a unique way of vocalizing that may help scientists link them with other felines.. They are diurnal unlike house cats. There are 13 seperate vocalizations used to communicate amongst one another. There are a number of calls it has purrs, screams, short bird chirps and whispers.  Biologists could really enjoy more observation into the breed because it has links to both the housecat and the Carolina Panther. Eventhough it has links to the Panther, it has a long slender body and short legs unlike the Carolina Panther. 

It also takes another interesting twist, the animal changes colors. It starts out a grey and changes into a reddish color. Some housecats with black in color turn colors during the winter and summer months. Black cats are a reddish color sometimes during the summer and during the winter they turn reddish burgundi. Not all black cats do this, only those who have a bit of Persian in their blood.

Resources:

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/jagurandi.htm
http://lib.colostate.edu/wildlife/item.php?id=136664
http://www.arkive.org/jaguarundi/puma-yagouaroundi/image-G115570.html