Clouded leopard

Physical features

• Clouded leopard males typically weigh up to 50 pounds, and females typically weigh up to 35 pounds.

• These cats’ short legs give them a lower center of gravity, which aids in climbing. They also have specialized rotating joints in their ankles, which allows the ankle to rotate backward. This enables them to go down a tree headfirst.

• They have larger canine teeth in proportion to their body size than any other wild cat.

• They have incredible eyesight and binocular vision.

• The length of the tail is nearly equivalent to the length of the rest of the body.

• Their patterned coats provide camouflage in their forest habitat. This camouflage assists in stalking prey and helps clouded leopards stay hidden from predators.

• Clouded leopards are considered primarily nocturnal, but both diurnal and crepuscular activity patterns have also been observed.

Diet: Carnivore

• Wild – Fish, monkeys, small deer, wild boars, birds and rodents

• Zoo – One to two pounds of commercially prepared beef diet, supplemented on occasion with whole carcass foods for enrichment

  • • One day a week the clouded leopard receives only a bone, as a clouded leopard in the wild would not eat every day. Bones are also an excellent way for cats to keep their teeth and gums healthy and are enriching because they require more time to process than meat.

Reproduction

• Clouded leopards are sexually mature by 2 years of age.

• Gestation is around 85-95 days, but it can last up to 109 days.

• A litter is generally produced once a year. Most litters consist of one to five cubs, but two is most common.

• Cubs are weaned around 5 months old and are independent at about 10 months old.

• Clouded leopards are one of the most challenging animals to breed in zoological settings due to extreme aggression between males and females. Many facilities experience better success if the pair is introduced before the age of 1.

Interpretive Information

• Clouded leopards are some of the best climbers of the Felidae family. They can climb upside down along the underside of branches and can also hang from branches using their hind feet. They are also very capable swimmers.

• They are capable of hunting in the trees, but most of their hunting occurs on the ground. Whether in trees or on the ground, clouded leopards will stalk quietly and pounce quickly.

• Most hunting occurs at night. During the day, clouded leopards are often found resting in the trees.

• Despite their name, clouded leopards are not a type of leopard. They are a separate wild cat species, as are the leopard and snow leopard.

• Clouded leopards are unable to roar, but they do growl, hiss, and chuff.

• In China, clouded leopards are known as mint leopards (their spots are thought to resemble the shape of mint leaves). In Malaysia, they are known as tree tigers.

• Clouded leopards are very secretive and not often seen in the wild. Therefore, very little is known about the social structure of wild clouded leopards. They are believed to be solitary, like most other cats, except for mating encounters and raising cubs.

Updated June 2020