Scientists have confirmed a new spotted cat species in the Bolivian forests.
The small cat, about the size of a domestic moggy, slipped under the radar because it was mistaken for other wild cats which have similar spots and stripes.
But DNA studies suggest the cat is in a class of its own, showing how much is still unknown about some of the world’s most elusive mammals, named Leopardus tilcayo.
“It’s an amazing result that we have a new species for the world, which is the Leopardus tilcayo,” said the study co-lead author, Dr Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz.
Despite the fact that there is only one known member of the species, a cat that resides in a rescue sanctuary in Bolivia, scientists are of the opinion that there may be additional members of the species.
Bolivian scientist Dr Nogales-Ascarrunz was providing assistance at the sanctuary when she observed the cat appeared strange.
A local resident found it in the forest and at first thought it was a domestic kitten. But as it grew older it was obvious it didn’t behave like a kitten.
The study was published in Current Biology on September 17, 2026.
It further revealed that there are five species of tiger cats instead of just three, including the recently described Bolivian Tilcaya cat (Leopardus tilcayo), bringing the total number of recognised cat species to 44 or higher.
Tiger cat species are considered vulnerable to extinction due to deforestation, habitat loss, and illegal hunting.
For context, both wild and domestic cats are members of the biological family Felidae, which includes all living cat species, from the smallest pet to the largest tiger.
