Tilcayo

The Ttilcayo is a species of wild cats, from Bolivia. The species discovery was announced in September 2026.

Ticayo are smaller than the average domestic cat, and they inhabit the Yungas forest. They are believed to be tree-dwelling and nocturnal.^[1]

They are closely related to other forest cats, from South America, colloquially known as the "tiger cat".^[1] It is believed the average weight of an adult would be 3 kilograms (6.6 lb).

The first Ticayo was found as an orphaned kitten, rescued by the side of a road.^[2]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "New cat species identified for first time in more than a century in Bolivia". The Guardian. 2026-09-17. Retrieved 2026-09-18.
↑ "This Odd Little Kitty Turned Out To Be A New Species". Animalogic. 2026-10-16. Retrieved 2026-10-17 – via YouTube. We have a brand new cat! For the first time in over 100 years scientists have discovered a new species, and the most amazing thing is that it was a tiger cat who had been found as a kitten on the side of the road. In the same research, scientists also found evidence to elevate 2 other subspecies to full species. So check out this kitty galore as we dive into the brand new world of tiger cats.

[theguardian-Tilcayo-2026-09-17-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "New cat species identified for first time in more than a century in Bolivia". The Guardian. 2026-09-17. Retrieved 2026-09-18.

[YouTube-Animalogic-2026-10-16-2] "This Odd Little Kitty Turned Out To Be A New Species". Animalogic. 2026-10-16. Retrieved 2026-10-17 – via YouTube. We have a brand new cat! For the first time in over 100 years scientists have discovered a new species, and the most amazing thing is that it was a tiger cat who had been found as a kitten on the side of the road. In the same research, scientists also found evidence to elevate 2 other subspecies to full species. So check out this kitty galore as we dive into the brand new world of tiger cats.

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