Jaguar

Panthera onca

Facts, Natural History and Conservation Status

Image of Cat Haven's "Rose"

Did you know?

A jaguar’s roar is also called a “saw” which sounds similar to the noise of a chain saw.

They are the 3rd largest cat in the world and can weigh up to 300 pounds or more, over twice as much as a leopard.

Jaguars have one of the strongest jaws of all the species of cats, allowing them to prey upon tortoises and caiman.

In the wild, jaguars are often found near or in the water and are considered very good swimmers.

The gene for melanism (dark color) is dominate in jaguars.

Jaguars are ambush predators, stalking their prey to get as close as possible without being detected.

Natural History

The jaguar is the largest cat found in the Americas. These cats are currently found from Mexico going South to Argentina. In North America, the historical range of the jaguar extended from Oregon to Pennsylvania. While the last California jaguar was killed in 1860, jaguars continued to survive in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas until the 20th century.

While other big cats normally kill large prey with a throat or a neck bite, the jaguar will also bite through the animal’s skull. A jaguar’s diet can consist of hoof stock, small mammals, fish, and reptiles; they have even been documented biting through the hard shells of river turtles and tortoises. 

Jaguars have no natural predators except for man. Due to habitat loss and human encroachment, jaguars are losing their natural prey items and are turning to ranchers’ livestock as a source of food. Cat Haven works with a variety of conservationists, including ICMBio and Dr. Ronaldo Morato in Brazil, which help to mitigate the human-animal conflict by tracking animals via radio collars.

Conservation Status: Threatened

Jaguars of Cat Haven

B'alam

Betia

Caipora

Juanita

Morato

Oz

Rose

Samba

Wicked

Project Survival Conservation Projects