The 

Andean mountain cat  is a small wild cat native to the high Andes that has been listed
as Endangered on the IUCN Red List because fewer than 1,500 individuals are thought to exist in
the wild.[2] It is traditionally considered a sacred animal by indigenous Aymara and Quechua people.
The Andean mountain cat has ashy-gray fur, a grey head, face and rounded ears. The nose and lips
are black with the areas around them being white; two dark brown lines run from the corners of the
eyes across the cheeks. There are some black spots on the forelegs, yellowish-brown blotches on
the flanks. The long bushy tail has six to nine rings, which are dark brown to black. Its rounded
footprints are 4 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. Its pads are covered with hair. Adult individuals range from
60 to 85 cm in head-to-body length with a 40 to 49 cm long tail. It also has a body weight up to 6 kg .

This long tail is probably an aid to balance when hunting in rocky habitat. It is likely
also used for warmth, wrapping it around the body when asleep, tucking the nose
inside.
Also The Andean mountain cat and pampas cat look similar.
The Andean cat occurs mainly in the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia, the north of Chile and northern
Argentina up to 5,000 m. Recently it has been found outside the Andes, in the Patagonian steppe and
scrub habitats at much lower altitudes (as low as 650 m).
In 2002, an Andean Cat and kitten were sighted in a reserve in San Juan province,
Argentina, which extended their known distribution south by 500 kilometers. Field work
in 2004 found evidence of these cats in the foothills on the eastern side of the Andes
Mountains. These records extend their distribution to scrub habitat within the
Patagonian steppe. 

The Andean cats are specialized in their habitat requirements, having been found in the
rocky arid and semi arid zones of the Andes. Vegetation consists mainly of small
scattered dwarf shrubs and clumps of bunch grass, with numerous rocks and
boulders. Valleys with patchily distributed rock walls are the preferred habitat. Rock
piles and boulders are the only type of cover available at such altitudes and are also
important for its main prey species. The habitat of the Andean cat is naturally
fragmented. Because of the uneven distribution of its prey, it is quite patchily
distributed and populations are not connected.

The Andean cat feeds on small mammals, small birds, waterfowl, lizards and insects. Its
primary prey is the mountain vizcacha. A recent study in Argentina found that small
mammals were the most frequent prey items . Previously mountain chinchillas were the
most important prey but those are now locally extinct and have been extirpated from
most of their range due to over hunting for their fur.

The ecology and behaviour of these cats is barely known. Most of the reported sightings
of Andean cats have been during daytime. However, current studies through camera
traps and observations of a radio-collared animal indicate the activity is mainly at night
or dawn and dusk. The activity pattern of the Andean cat is likely related to feeding
habits of its main prey species. And also In Bolivia, the mating season is reported to be
between July and August but could also be longer as cubs have been observed from April to
September and in October.
As of 2022 the Andean cat population is less than 1,400 and declining
 Main threats for Andean cat populations are related to loss and degradation of the unique
altiplanic habitat, such as the desiccation of bofedals (wet meadows) due to water extraction
by local mining activities and other human impacts.
Historically, the native communities that coexist with the Andean cat have recognized it as a
symbol of fertility linked to the spirit of the mountains. They credit the sacred cat of the
Andes with the prosperity of livestock and plentiful agricultural yields