Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

Breeding in Managed Care

• Reproductive physiology not well studied
  • Historically, reproductive success low in managed care for small cats like margays, tigrinas, and ocelots (Moreira et al. 2001)
• Estrus cycle
  • Apparently cycle every month of the year
    • Ocelots may have periods of ovarian inactivity of unknown causes, according to a study of individuals in Brazilian institutions,  (Moreira et al. 2001)
      • Possibly due to inappropriate social or husbandry conditions
• Artificial insemination (AI)
  • First successful oviductal AI in 2011
    • Project initiated by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
    • Resulting kitten represents one of only 30 endangered ocelots of the Brazilian subspecies L. p. mitis, at the time

Housing and Care

• Enclosures and habitats
  • Minimum sizes, based on felid's weight of 10-20 kg (22-48.5 lb) (Mellen 1997)
    • 4 x 2 x 2.5 m (13 x 6.5 x 8 ft)
  • Structural complexity deemed more important than size: (Mellen 1997)
    • Vertical space should be available
    • Perching platform at top of space is important
    • Localized heating areas preferred
    • Logs for sharpening claws needed

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Kaemmerer et al. (2011)
Mansard (1990)
Mellen (1997)
Moreira et al. (2001)