Tiger Cat, a name commonly applied to several small species of felinoe, in America, Asia, and Africa, especially to those ornamented by bands and bars. Among the American species, the ocelot has been described under that title, and under the same the mar-gay (felis tlgrina, Linn.). The F. eyra (Desm.) is called tiger cat; it is about the size of the house cat, but with longer neck, body, and tail; it is uniform brownish red, with under jaw and nose spot white, paler below; like the ocelot, it comes from Guiana and as far north as Mexico and Texas. The F. yagua-rundi (Desm.) is larger, with a much longer body; it is grizzled brownish gray without spots; hairs ringed and tipped with black; the young more rufous; it extends from Paraguay to Texas. Both of these cats frequent woods and thickets, feeding on small mammals and birds, and are excellent climbers. The chati (F. mitis) of South America is also sometimes called tiger cat. (See Chati.) - There are several tiger cats in Asia, of which the largest and handsomest is the rimau-dahan (F. macrocells, Temm.). It is about 3 ft. long, with a tail of 2½ ft. more, and 16 in. high at the shoulders; the head comparatively small, ears short and rounded, body cylindrical, limbs very robust, tail very full and long, and fur thick and soft; it is ashy or brownish gray, with irregular spots and bands of velvety blackness arranged longitudinally and unbroken along the back; border of mouth black, and feet gray.

It is a native of Sumatra, and lives much on trees, hence called tree tiger; the food consists of birds and the smaller deer; it is not very common, and not dangerous. - The animal commonly called tiger cat by the furriers has been described under Serval. Other tiger cats are F. minuta and F. Diardi, bath inhabiting the islands of the Malay archipelago, and F. Nepalensis, inhabiting the Himalaya mountains.

Rimau-dahan (Felis macrocelis).