Definition

Noun: 1. A medium-sized wildcat of Central and South America (Leopardus tigrinus), also known as the oncilla or little spotted cat, characterized by a dark-striped or spotted coat. 2. Any of various wild or domestic cats that have a striped coat pattern resembling that of a tiger.

Usage

The term is used to describe specific wild feline species, primarily in zoological or wildlife contexts. It can also be used more generally for any striped domestic cat. * The tiger cat is a nocturnal hunter found in the forests of Brazil. * We adopted a grey tabby, a common type of domestic tiger cat.

Examples

• Researchers are tracking the population of the endangered tiger cat in the Andes.
• My grandmother's cat is a beautiful tiger cat with distinct black stripes on an orange background.

Advanced Usage

• As a zoological common name: The primary use refers to the specific neotropical wildcat species, . It is important to note that this species is more accurately called the "oncilla" to avoid confusion.
  • The oncilla, often called the tiger cat, is one of the smallest wildcats in the Americas.

Variants and Related Words

• Oncilla: The more precise zoological name for the primary species referred to as a tiger cat.
• Tabby cat: A domestic cat with a striped, dotted, lined, or swirled coat pattern. Many domestic "tiger cats" are tabbies.
• Wildcat: A general term for small undomesticated feline species.

Synonyms

• Oncilla
• Little spotted cat
• Striped cat (general)

Different Meanings

1. Specific Zoological Meaning: Refers exclusively to the wildcat species .
2. General Descriptive Meaning: Can describe any cat, wild or domestic, with prominent stripes on its coat.

Noun

1. a cat having a striped coat
2. medium-sized wildcat of Central America and South America having a dark-striped coat