 |
Wild Cat BreedsBoth wild cats and domestic cats are in the same family of animals, known as Felidae. The cat family is further divided into a number of genus groups, but there are basically small cats and big cats (often referred to as great cats). Domestic cats are, of course, a genus of small cats. Other "small" cats include lynxes, cheetahs and mountain lions.
Find books about wild cats. The Great Cats
Lions,
tigers,
jaguars and
leopards
comprise the genus panthera, the most magnificent of the wild cat breeds. There are also hybrids known as ligers and tigons, though of course these animals are only bred in captivity. The liger is a cross between a male lion and a female tiger, while a tigon is the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion. The largest cat (on average) is the Siberian tiger, though some male lions can grow larger than tigers. The great cats are the only types of cats that can roar. They are skilled hunters with sharp senses that enable them to hunt well at dawn and at dusk.
Mountain Lions
Cheetahs
Back to All About Cats Home Page
|
Mountain lions are also called pumas, panthers or cougars. These cats are smaller than the great cats, with adult males weighing about 150 pounds and measuring about 8 feet in length. They have very long tails and solid coats. Mountain lions live throughout the western and southwestern United States. They are unique among cats in that they tend to be active during the day. Mountain lions can purr, but they do not roar. They communicate visually as well as through scent markings.
Of course, no discussion of wild cats would be complete without mentioning the fastest land animal – the cheetah. Cheetahs are sprinters and can only run in spurts of about 20 seconds, but in that 20 seconds they reach speeds of 60 miles per hour. In case you’re wondering, that means they can cover about three tenths of a mile in a flash, certainly an advantage when trying to catch prey or escape danger!
