Ocelot FOOD AND HUNTING

Although its sense of smell is highly developed, the ocelot relies more on its hearing and eyesight to detect prey, which it hunts at night. The hearing of small cats like the ocelot is more acute than that of larger cats, and they are better able to pinpoint the location of their prey. Its whiskers are also important to the ocelot when hunting. They a re so sensitive to touch that they help the cat maneuver in tight spaces.The ocelots' prey includes agoutis, hares, mice, monkeys, and birds. Although it spends a lot of time in the trees, all hunting is done on the ground. It will lie flat on its stomach once prey is spotted. It will slowly creep forward in this position and then rush at the prey over a short distance before pouncing the catching it with its razor like claws. The ocelot sharpens its claws by scratching them against tree trunks. The prey is killed quickly with a bite to the neck. Small prey is devoured headfirst, but with large prey, the ocelot begins eating at a soft part of the animal's body