The Andean Cat Is One Of The Rarest And Least-Known Cats In The World

The Andean cat is one of the rarest and least-known cats in the world. It lives high in the Andes Mountains and Patagonian steppe, where food is scarce and weather conditions are extreme. This small, sturdy cat is difficult to find—there have been only ten recorded sightings in 25 years—and even harder to study.

The Andean cat is the most threatened felid in the Americas. Scientists estimate their total population is less than 1,400 animals and declining. Their distribution coincides with the historic range of the mountain chinchilla, which was hunted to the brink of extinction for the fur trade a century ago. Despite great concern regarding the status of the Andean cat, very little is known about its population structure, which is crucial data for appropriate management plans.