Charlotte Muller, age 9, of Freeport, I11., for her question:

WHAT DOES THE JAGUARUNDI EAT?

The jaguarundi is a strange looking cat that lives in the Western Hemisphere. It roams during the day and eats rodents, birds and farm animals.

The jaguarundi really doesn't look like a cat at all. It has a long neck, a weasel shaped head, short ears, stubby legs and a long tail.

The cat can be found in areas from southern Arizona to South America.

The jaguarundi stands about one foot high at the shoulder and is from three to four feet long. It weighs from 20 to 30 pounds. Some jaguarundis are dark grayish brown or black. Others are reddish yellow.

The jaguar is related to the jaguarundi. This is a much bigger cat, measuring up to about eight feet long and weighing up to 290 pounds. It can roam as far north as the deserts of Arizona and Southern California but generally can be found only in Mexico, Central America and South America.