Ocelots are medium-sized nocturnal spotted cats from Central and South America whose welfare in zoos requires attention to their nighttime activity needs and sensitivity to artificial light cycles.
Ocelots experience a fundamental mismatch between their nocturnal biology and typical zoo operating hours. Visitors see apparently inactive cats during the day — not because the animals are healthy and resting, but because their activity peaks overnight when no one is watching. Reversed light-dark cycles in nocturnal houses allow ocelots to be active during visitor hours while maintaining their natural temporal patterns. Without such accommodation, ocelots may show daytime lethargy, reduced behavioral diversity, and elevated stress responses to visitor crowds. Olfactory enrichment — using prey scents, novel vegetation, or conspecific odors — engages their sensory-driven hunting behaviors and provides positive welfare experiences.