Click on the thumbnails
below to see the
full-size photos.
Baby Tiger ©photo by Jessie
Cohen/NZP
Lioness with cubs ©photo by
Jessie Cohen/NZP
Jaguar ©photo by Jessie Cohen/NZP
Puma ©photo by Jessie Cohen/NZP
Cheetah @ photo by Jessie
Cohen / NZP
Bobcat ©photo by Jessie Cohen/NZP
Serval ©photo by Jessie Cohen/NZP
Ocelot©photo Nancy Vandermay
Cats
There are 36 species of cats. Most of
them are not truly nocturnal, they're crepuscular. All are carnivores
who love the hunt...mostly at night.
Big
Cats- (genus-panthera)They can roar but, they can't purr. All big cats are
endangered.IIt is illegal to hunt endangered species.
But, they are still at risk from poachers.
, Tigers- There are 5 subspecies of
tigers:Siberian (the biggest), South China, Bengal, Indochinese, and Sumatran.
They live in Asia from cold Siberia to hot India. Adults live alone unless
they are a female with cubs. Preferring to live and hunt in tall grasses and jungle,
tigers can eat 40 lbs. of meat in one meal.
Lions- There are 2 subspecies of lions: African and Asiatic (the
smaller of the two). Asiatic lions have smaller manes than African.
Unlike tigers, lions live together in prides where there are many
females and only one adult male. The females hunt. The male watches the pride.
Jaguars-Jaguars live in South America. They are the most powerful wild cats in the American continents. Cattle owners hire professional hunters to hunt the jaguars, because they kill the cattle.
Puma- Also known as the Mountain Lion and the Cougar, the Puma lives in North and South America and is the second largest cat found there. A male can weigh up to 220lbs.There are up to 30 subspecies. Preferring to live alone ( unless it's mating season), a puma can kill prey larger than itself...such as horses.
Cheetahs-Although they are able to, they don't hunt at night usually, because their bigger cousins are too competitive. These are the fastest runners, reaching speeds of up to 65MPH! But, they can't do it very long.
Small cats- (genus-felis)Small cats are smaller than big cats, but bigger than house cats.They can purr, but, can't roar.
Bobcats- Bobcats are common to North America in nearly every type of environment. Weighing from 18-30 lbs, the Bobcats prey on rodents, but will settle for a farmer's chicken if they can get away with it.
Servals- Servals live in Africa in the savannahs. They are very agile and great jumpers. Weighing up to 40 lbs, Servals prey on fish, birds and rodents.
Ocelots- Also known as the Painted Leopard and the Tigrillo, Ocelots live from Arizona-Texas down to Argentina. Only weighing between 25-35 lbs. , Ocelots prey on animals that weigh 2 lbs. or less.