Leopardus pardalis albescens has been hunted and prized for its fur which along with the degradation of much of its habitat, has led to the cats virtual extinction in some of its range. It is particularly threatened by the conversion of large areas of plain into arable farm land.
It is reported that as few as 120 ocelot survive in Texas at the end of the 1990's.
Leopardus pardalis albescens is considered as "Endangered" by the IUCN. CITES lists the species as "Appendix 1".