However the body size of geoffrey's cat varies considerably throughout its range - cats found in the northern areas are generally somewhat smaller than those found in Southern Argentina and Patagonia. The base fur coloration is also greatly dependent on location. The cat is marked by small black spots of equal size, spaced evenly over its body, these coalesce into stripped markings around the neck, chest and face. The undersides of the body and chin are lighter and the tail is covered with black bands ending in a solid black tip. The backs of the ears, in common with many species of wild cat, are black with a central white spot.
Melanistic cats are sometimes common to the north of the cats range.
Geoffrey's cat is associated with a wide variety of habitat types. However it appears to have a preference for thick cover and scrubby vegetation and is not commonly found in tropical rain forest or at elevations much above 3,000 metres. This preference for dense ground cover enables geoffrey's cat to share much of its range with the Pampas Cat which is more closely associated with open woodland and grasslands. Described as primarily nocturnal, crepuscular activity has also been observed in this predominantly solitary cat. Although spending much of its time, hunting and foraging on the ground, there is much evidence to suggest extensive arboreal activity.