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leopard cat
noun
: a small spotted wildcat (Prionailurus bengalensis synonym Felis bengalensis) chiefly of southeastern Asia
Examples of leopard cat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The first three all originate in the Far East, while Bengals are a hydroid cross between cats and Asian leopard cats.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024
For example, Bengals, which are a cross between domestic cats and the Asian leopard cat, tend to be extremely adventurous and sleep for only about half the time that a typical domestic cat does.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2018
The Bengal and the Caracat, for example, resulted from crossing the house cat with the Asian leopard cat and the caracal, respectively.
—Andrew C. Kitchener, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
In the photo, a leopard cat strolls casually into the frame of the camera, walking on snow, against a backdrop of white ski runs on Xiao Haituo mountain.
—David Culver and Cnn Staff, CNN, 28 Jan. 2022
This little leopard cat had a low-key debut into zoo life.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 20 Apr. 2020
Allowing a luxuriant understory to grow in plantations can protect insects and some small mammals, such as the leopard cat—and ultimately benefit the oil palm trees as well.
—Dyna Rochmyaningsih, Science | AAAS, 11 July 2019
In April, National Geographic reported on a man who had taken a leopard cat from the wild after apparently mistaking it for a domestic kitten.
—Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 16 May 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
1866, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near leopard cat
Cite this Entry
“Leopard cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leopard%20cat. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on leopard cat
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leopard cat
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