ONCILLA/MARGAY HYBRIDS

In the 1950s or 1960s there were attempts to cross-breed the Little Spotted Cat (F tigrina, also called the Oncilla) with the Margay (F wiedi) by Dutch cat specialist Mme Falken-Rohrle. Mme Falken-Rohrle. She kept the cats alongside her Abyssinian breeding cats and succeeded in breeding domestc x Oncilla hybrids using a domestic Abyssinian male and a female Oncilla. There seem to be no records as to whether she also succeeded in breeding Oncilla x Margay hybrids.

ONCILLA GEOFFROY'S CAT HYBRIDS

A paper published in 2006 suggested that Oncillas and Geoffroy's Cats may hybridise in parts of southern Brazil where their territories overlap. The paper contained 3 photos: one of an oncilla, one of a Geoffroy's Cat and one of a possible hybrid. Eizirik and colleagues characterised the geographic distribution of these two closely related felids in southern Brazil, where their ranges met. Individuals with atypical coat color patterns which appeared to be mixtures of characteristics of the two different species were observed in overlap region. This suggested to the researchers that hybridization may occur in the contact zone. Since these cats are somewhat variable in colour, hybrids annot be confirmed on visual appearance alone.

E Eizirik, C Indrusiak, TC Trigo, DA Sana, FD Mazim and TRO Freitas (Autumn 2006) Refined Mapping and Characterization of the Geographic Contact Zone Between Oncilla and Geoffroy’s Cat in Southern Barzil. IUCN Cat News 45: 8-11.

In May of 1977 the Long Island Ocelot Club announced the birth of a "marlot", a margay x ocelot hybrid bred by Barbara Brocks using a captive-bred female ocelot and a captive-bred male margay. I can find no description of the offspring, but the parent species are similar in appearance with a rosetted pattern (with some marbling) on a tawny or sandy background. 

BOBCAT/OCELOT HYBRIDS

I have been asked if there are known bobcat/ocelot hybrids following the sighting of a bobcat-like animal with blotched markings. These have adjoining ranges which overlap in Mexico and the southern USA. A hybrid is unlikely as they prefer different habitats and have different lifestyles. Bobcats inhabits woodland, scrub, semi-desert and swampland. Ocelots prefer denser cover and are more arboreal.

Their sizes are similar. Bobcats average 36 inches (90 cm) long including tail; 14 -15 inches (36-38 cm) at the shoulders and weigh 16-30 pounds (7-14 kg). Ocelots can reach 38 inches (100 cm) excluding tail and weigh 20-33 pounds (10-15 kg). Spotted subspecies of bobcat occur and this is the most likely explanation, rather than a hybrid. Retained juvenile spotting is also possible. I have found no confirmed reports of hybrids between these 2 species.

OCELOT/PUMA HYBRIDS

Clouded leopard hybrids have been suggested. The intention would appear to be hybridisation with domestic cats rather than with big cats. No actual Clouded Leopard hybrids are known - Clouded Leopards are the smallest of the big cats and probably cannot be hybridized with domestic cats - although a similar size difference proved no obstacle to ocelot/puma matings.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

For more information on the genetics of colour and pattern:
Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders & Veterinarians 4^th Ed (the current version)

For more information on genetics, inheritance and gene pools see:
The Pros and Cons of Inbreeding
The Pros and Cons of Cloning

For more information on anomalous colour and pattern forms in big cats see
Karl Shuker's "Mystery Cats of the World" (Robert Hale: London, 1989 - some of the genetics content is outdated)