Ocelots are small wild cats whose striking spotted coats made them targets for the fur trade - while that trade has largely ended, illegal pet trade and habitat loss continue to threaten welfare.
Ocelot welfare in captivity is severely compromised when animals are kept as pets. They retain wild instincts, require complex nocturnal environments and hunt prey - requirements utterly incompatible with domestic settings. Even professional zoo facilities struggle to fully meet ocelot welfare needs due to their cryptic, solitary nature and large space requirements. Wild population welfare is threatened by habitat fragmentation and illegal trade. Conservation priorities include habitat corridor maintenance, trade enforcement and public education to eliminate demand for wild cat pets.