Scientists have officially identified a new species of wild cat in Bolivia — and the tiny animal is making history.

Named the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), the spotted feline lives in the cloud forests of Bolivia’s Yungas region near La Paz.

At only around 3 pounds (1.4 kg) and 18 inches long, it’s actually smaller than the average domestic cat.

But genetically, scientists discovered something remarkable: the tilcayo isn’t simply another population of a previously known wild cat.

It’s its own species.

Researchers say it is the first new living cat species formally described by science in more than a century.

They Thought It Was a Regular Kitten

The story of how scientists found it might be even better than the discovery itself.

Around 2017, a local man found a tiny spotted kitten on a road near the forest and brought it home, apparently believing it was some type of domestic cat.

After living with the clearly wild animal for about a year, the family eventually turned it over to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary in Bolivia’s Yungas region.

That’s where Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz noticed something unusual.

The animal had been identified as a known tiger cat, but its markings, tail and physical characteristics didn’t quite match.

That mystery eventually triggered years of research.

Scientists compared genetic material from 38 South American tiger cats, including DNA from living animals and museum specimens. The results confirmed that the Bolivian cat represented a distinct evolutionary lineage that separated from its relatives approximately 1.4 million years ago.

Bolivia Already Knew Its Name

There’s another beautiful part to the story.

While the animal may be new to science, it wasn’t new to the people living around it.

Communities in Bolivia’s Yungas region have long called the small wild cat “tilcayo.”

Rather than inventing a new name, researchers officially adopted the local name for the species — recognizing the knowledge of the communities that had known about the animal long before scientists formally classified it.

Now Scientists Need to Protect It

Researchers still don’t know exactly how many tilcayos exist in the wild or how large their habitat really is.

That’s concerning because Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests face threats including deforestation, agriculture, fires and mining.

The animal studied by researchers remains in protective care at Senda Verde and is currently the only known tilcayo living in captivity.

Scientists will now work to determine the species’ population, range and conservation needs.

It’s a pretty incredible reminder that even in 2026, nature still has some secrets left.

A tiny wild cat was hiding in Bolivia’s forests all along. The locals already knew it was there — science finally caught up. 🇧🇴🐆