Ocelots are medium-sized spotted wild cats kept in zoos across the Americas and beyond. Their territorial, nocturnal nature makes welfare management in captivity challenging.
Ocelot welfare in captivity is significantly challenged by their territorial nature and nocturnal activity patterns. Inappropriate social housing (forcing two ocelots to share without adequate space and visual barriers) causes chronic aggression and stress. Daytime exhibit demands conflict with natural nocturnal schedules. High-welfare ocelot management provides individually housed animals with complex, enriched enclosures, nocturnal feeding schedules, and extensive olfactory enrichment (prey scents, novel objects). Their small size relative to big cats sometimes leads to underestimation of their space and behavioral needs.