The ringtail of the southwest is also known as ringtail cat, miner's cat and cacomistle. It is not really a cat at all, but a relative of the raccoon and coatimundi.
Ringtails are small, slender animals, about two and one-half feet long.
Half of this length is a bushy tail, ringed with black and white. The body is grayish-buff, darker along the back, with black underparts. Huge, round eyes, ringed with white dominate their fox-like face. The ears are large and rounded. They have claws that are partially retractable.