The nose and lips are black, and the areas around them are white; two dark brown lines run from the corners of the eyes across the cheeks.

There are black spots on the forelegs, yellowish-brown blotches on the flanks, and up to two narrow, dark rings on the hind limbs.

[8][9][10][11] This terrain is arid, sparsely vegetated, rocky and steep showing that the Andean Mountain Cat prefers a temperate and terrestrial habitat.

[9] Results of a survey in the Jujuy Province of northwestern Argentina indicates a density of seven to twelve individuals per 100 km2 (39 sq mi) at an elevation of about 4,200 m (13,800 ft).

[12] Deep valleys fragment its habitat in the Andes, and its preferred prey, mountain viscachas (Lagidium), occurs in patchy colonies.

This difference is because the mountain viscacha is significantly larger in biomass than the other prey animals that the Andean cat hunts.

[14] Based on residents' observations of Andean cats in coupled pairs with their litters, it is thought that the mating season is in July and August.

Due to kittens being seen in April and October, the mating season could extend into November or December, although not much information is known about their breeding habits.