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What wild cats. The biggest wild cats. Jaguar is America's largest wild cat

Almost all wild cats, from huge and rather formidable to small and adorable, are endangered in one way or another. We invite you to pay attention to these amazing graceful animals, which are a real rare treasure of the wild.

1. Asiatic cheetah

This magnificent cat once adorned the vastness of the Middle East, Central Asia, Kazakhstan and the southeast of India.

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Currently, due to the destruction of their habitat, poaching and excessive hunting, there are approximately 70-110 Asiatic cheetahs living in the wild on the planet. All of them live in the arid conditions of the central plateau of Iran.

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2. Irbis (snow leopard)

Found in the rocky mountains of Central Asia, snow leopards are well adapted to the cold conditions of the desert landscapes of their habitat.

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Unfortunately, the chic fur of the snow leopard attracts a huge number of hunters. For this reason, there are only 4000-6500 of these beautiful cats left in the world.

theanimals.pics

3. Fishing cat (speckled cat)

Unlike many of its siblings, who prefer to avoid water activities, this cat is a professional swimmer who lives on the banks of rivers, streams and mangrove swamps.

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In 2008, this species joined the list of endangered animals, as the favorite habitats of fishing cats - swamps - are gradually drying up and becoming the subject of human attention.

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4. Kalimantan cat

Also known as the Borneo cat, this animal can only be found on the island of Borneo. This extremely rare representative of the feline family is listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in the Red Book. The photograph in front of you is one of the few photographs of such a rare species.

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5. Sumatran cat

This cat with a slender body and an unusual (slightly flattened) head shape loves to feast on fish and walks by itself in the vastness of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sumatra. It has been listed in the Red Book since 2008 due to the destruction of the habitat. The current number of individuals living on the planet is estimated at less than 2,500.

wikipedia.org

6. Andean cat

Among the two dozen small species of wild cats that exist in the world, one of the rarest, information about which is rather scarce, is an animal called the Andean cat. Alas, while millions of dollars are allocated to preserve the populations of its larger relatives from the feline family, there are hardly thousands left from the budgets of protective organizations to support such small cats.

wikipedia.org

7. Iberian lynx

The Iberian or Iberian lynx is considered the most endangered wild cat species. Also, this species is currently one of the rarest mammals on the planet.

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A disease called myxomatosis in the 1950s wiped out the rabbit population (the main food for lynxes) in Spain on a massive scale. Now in the wild there are only about 100 individuals of this species of wild cat.

8. Pallas' cat

These handsome men prefer to spend the morning hours in caves, crevices and even marmot holes, going out hunting only in the afternoon. Due to the impoverishment of their habitat, a decrease in food supplies and incessant hunting in 2002, this species was threatened with extinction.

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9. Long-tailed cat (margai)

Margai are created by ideal dart frogs. Only these cats have the ability to rotate their hind legs 180 degrees, which allows them to run upside down in trees like squirrels. Margai can even hang from a branch, clinging to it with only one paw. About 14,000 long-tailed cats are killed annually for the sake of their skins. This tendency of extermination is fatal for margays, because they take two years to bear offspring, while the risk of death of kittens is 50%.

wikipedia.org

10. Serval (bush cat)

These cats love to roam the African savannah. The serval has the longest legs in relation to the body of any other feline. Unfortunately, in pursuit of their elegant skin, hunters do not skimp on bullets and traps, subsequently offering tourists serval fur, passed off as leopard or cheetah.

wikipedia.org

11. Caracal

Also known as the desert lynx, this cat is capable of making barking sounds that serve as warning signals. Caracal is considered an endangered species in North Africa and is regarded as rare in Central Asia and India.

wikipedia.org

12. African golden cat

Only relatively recently did people manage to get photographs of this rare nocturnal inhabitant in his habitat.

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The golden cat is only twice the size of our usual domestic cat. Life expectancy in natural conditions in individuals of this species has not been established, however, it is known that in captivity they can live up to 12 years.

13. Cat Temminck

This cat lives in tropical and subtropical humid evergreen and dry deciduous forests. Deforestation, as well as hunting for skin and bones, have become the reasons for the finding of this species under the threat of total extinction.

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14. Sand cat

This unique cat features an extended head shape and fur growing between the toes to protect it when walking on hot surfaces. The sand cat is included in the list of endangered species, and therefore hunting for it is prohibited in many countries.

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15. Far Eastern leopard

The Amur (Far Eastern) leopard is endangered due to the destruction of its habitat, as well as the constant danger posed by humans. According to the latest data, only 30 individuals of this species have been recorded in the wild so far.

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16. Sumatran tiger

The Sumatran tiger is the last tiger species in Indonesia to survive in the wild.

Despite the active policy of protective organizations in the fight against poaching, these tigers are constantly hunted, dooming them to extinction. The world markets are continuously replenished with products made from these wild cats. Under these circumstances, fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the world.

zoo.org.au

17. Clouded leopard

The clouded leopard is considered an evolutionary intermediate between big and small cats. This species is placed in conditions of gradual disappearance of habitats as a result of large-scale deforestation. It also contributes to the extermination of this species by commercial poaching aimed at the trade of wild animals. The total population of the Clouded Leopard is currently believed to be less than 10,000 adults.

wikipedia.org

18. Marble cat

This cat is often mistaken for a marbled leopard, but its size is much more graceful and its tail is very fluffy. The destruction of the habitat conditions of this species in the forests of Southeast Asia, as well as a reduction in the food supply lead to a rapid decrease in the population of marbled cats in the world.

arkive.org

19. Bengal cat

The skin color of a beautiful Bengal cat can range from gray to red and white with very light breasts. This is the first species to have successfully crossed wild and domestic cats. The result is a beautiful and quite friendly beast.

felineconservation.org

20. Maltese (blue) tiger

In the East, this species is considered almost mythical. Most Maltese tigers are endangered subspecies of the South China tiger due to the frequent use of body parts in traditional medicine. Individuals differing in "blue" skin at the moment may have already been completely exterminated.

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21. Golden Striped Tiger

"Golden striped" is not a species name, but a definition of color deviation.

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As a rule, such individuals turn out to be the result of directed breeding of animals in captivity, but in India there is evidence of a meeting with a golden tiger, dating back to 1900.

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22. White Lion

White lions are not albinos. They are the owners of a rare genetic set that was distributed in only one place on Earth, the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Two decades before the creation of the Society for the Protection of White Lions, this species was almost completely exterminated, so a unique program is now underway to restore the population in their natural habitat.

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23. Anatolian Leopard

For the past 30 years, it was believed that this Turkish leopard species has been completely exterminated. However, in 2013, a shepherd in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir killed a large cat that attacked his herd. Later, biologists established that it was an Anatolian leopard. Although this story has such a sad outcome, it still gives hope that the rarest species may still exist.

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24. Rusty Cat

A rusty or reddish-spotted cat, whose length including the tail is only 50-70 cm and weighs about 2-3 kg, is the smallest wild cat in the world. A person practically does not know anything about this species, whose representatives lead an extremely secretive life. Unfortunately, despite this, the rusty cat has already managed to get on the list of "vulnerable" species, since most of its natural habitats have now turned out to be farmland.

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25. Scottish Forest Cat

Known in the UK as the “Highland Tiger,” the Scottish Forest Cat is now critically endangered, with a recent estimate of less than 400.

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26. Black-footed cat

The smallest of all African feral cats, the black-footed cat has black fur on the soles of its paws to protect it from the hot desert sand. These animals are no stranger to rummaging through the garbage in search of food, and this habit puts them in great danger, as in this way they fall into the traps set for other animals.

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Did you know that at the moment there are 41 species of cats living in the world? They are all wild. Absolutely all are predatory. Many of the species and subspecies are on the verge of extinction. In this article, I would like to show all the diversity and beauty of the feline family. But first, I would like you not to get confused in terms.

So, all cats belong to the order of predators, and then this order is divided into two suborders: canines and felines. Felines include hyena, mongoose, viverrids, and felines. They are all very distant relatives, but cats are only those who belong to the feline family!

The entire feline family is divided into subfamilies: small cats and large cats.

Each subfamily, in turn, is divided into genders. Especially a lot of them in the subfamily of small cats:

Genus Cheetah (Acinonyx)
- genus Caracal
- genus catopuma (Catopuma)
- genus Cat (Felis)
- genus Tiger cats (Leopardus)
- genus Servalus (Leptailurus)
- genus Lynx (Lynx)
- genus Marble cats (Pardofelis)
- genus Asiatic cats (Prionailurus)
- genus Golden cats (Profelis)
- Puma genus

In the subfamily of big cats, everything is simpler:

- genus Clouded leopards (Neofelis)
- genus Panther

Now that we have determined which family the cats belong to and divided them into subfamilies and genus, it remains to divide them into species! And there are 41 of these types. Each view is presented below.
Most likely you will be trying to find among all the species below your domestic cat breed or, for example, the Far Eastern leopard. And you won't find them. Why? Because your domestic cat, like the Far Eastern leopard, is a subspecies.

To make it easier for you to understand what the subspecies means, I will show with an example where your domestic cat is located in the chain:

Family - felines / subfamily - small cats / genus - cats (felis) / species - forest cat / subspecies - your breed of domestic cat

And the Far Eastern leopard is here:

Family - felines / subfamily - big cats / genus - panther (Panthera) / species - leopards / subspecies - Far Eastern leopard.

I will describe the subspecies separately, otherwise this article will turn into such a large one that only a cat maniac like me can read it at once!

Well, now let's finally get acquainted with all types of cats and admire them:

Subfamily - Small cats (Felinae)

genus - Cheetahs (Acinonyx)

species - cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus):

genus - Caracal

view - :


genus - catopums (Catopuma)

view - Kalimantan cat (Catopuma bada):


view - Asian golden cat (cat Temminck) (Catopuma temmincki):


genus - Cats (Felis)

view - Chinese cat (gobi gray cat) (Felis bieti):


view - jungle cat (House) (Felis chaus):


view - ):


view - (Felis margarita):


view - :


view - forest cat (Felis silvestris). This is exactly the subspecies of the forest cat - your domestic cat:


view - steppe cat (Felis libyca):


genus - Tiger cats (Leopardus)(not to be confused with leopards!)

view - :


view - pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo):




view - Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi):


view - Chilean cat (code) (Leopardus guigna):


view - Andean cat (Leopardus jacobitus):


view - ocelot (Leopardus pardalis):


view - oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus):


view - long-tailed cat (margi, margai) (Leopardus wiedii):


genus - Servals (Leptailurus)

view - :


genus - Lynx (Lynx)

species - Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis):


view - common lynx (Lynx lynx):


view - :


view - red lynx (Lynx rufus):


genus - Marble cats (Pardofelis)

- Marble cat (Pardofelis marmorata):


genus - Asian cats (Prionailurus)

- Bengal cat (Prionailurus bengalensis):


view - Iriomotic cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis):


view - Far Eastern forest cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus):


view - Sumatran cat (Prionailurus planiceps):


view - spotted red cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus):


view - fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus):


genus - Golden cats (Profelis)

view - :


genus - Cougars (Puma)

species - puma (Puma concolor):


Wild felines are found on all continents and major islands, with the exception of Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, Greenland, New Guinea and Sulawesi. All types of wild cats are listed in the Red Book, many of which are either on the verge of extinction or under threat of destruction.

The sizes of animals vary greatly. The rusty cat is the smallest representative of the feline, it weighs about 1.5 kg, and its body length reaches 40 cm on average. The tiger has the largest body mass. Individuals of this species often reach a mass of more than 300 kg, and the body length reaches 3.8 m. Nevertheless, all species of the feline family are very similar to each other in both external data and lifestyle. They are excellent hunters, ideally suited to watch and kill prey.

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    Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)

    The tiger cat, better known as the oncilla, is relatively small in size. It is slightly larger than an ordinary domestic cat, the weight of an adult male rarely exceeds 3 kg, and the body length reaches 65 cm. The eyes and ears of the animal are noticeably larger in comparison with the skull than in other representatives of this genus.

    Oncilla has a soft, short coat of an ocher hue. On the face, in the area of ​​the abdomen and chest, the color turns to whitish. Thanks to the pattern on the skin, the small predator is very similar to the baby jaguar. On the back and sides of the animal, ring-shaped spots of irregular shape are located in longitudinal rows. In the area of ​​the tail, the spots become transverse, gradually merging into rings closer to its end. There is a white speck on the black rounded ears.

    The representative of this breed lives in subtropical forests, giving preference to moist evergreen forests in mountainous areas at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters above sea level. You can meet oncilla in Costa Rica, northern Argentina, northern Panama, Brazil and in the dry forests of Venezuela. In most of the animal's habitat, hunting for them is prohibited, since the species is endangered.

    This species has been little studied due to its secretive lifestyle in nature. The animal shows its main activity at night, while during the day it prefers to hide in the branches of trees. The predator feeds mainly on birds and small rodents. But it can also attack small primates, non-venomous reptiles.

    The breeding of the breed in the wild has not been studied, all the information collected has been obtained by observing the oncilla in captivity. The duration of a cat's pregnancy is 2.5 months. There are usually 1 or 2 kittens in a litter. Individuals become sexually mature at the age of 1-2 years.

    Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

    This type of feline is considered to be quite ancient. The body length of representatives of the breed reaches 1 meter, the tail is up to 92 cm, and the height at the withers ranges from 50-55 cm. Adult male clouded leopards weigh up to 21 kg, females are somewhat smaller, their weight reaches 15 kg.

    The beautiful pattern on the yellowish fur of the animal is formed by large dark spots of various shapes. In the area of ​​the neck and back, the spots are elongated. There are few spots on the belly and ribcage of the clouded leopard, the color of the coat is almost white. The animal's skull is noticeably longer than that of other felines. Another distinctive feature of the beast is its larger canines compared to body size. The tail of the cat is large and heavy, towards the end its color becomes darker.

    The clouded leopard is found in southeast Asia. The predator is found in the south of China, you can find it in the territory from the eastern Himalayas to Vietnam. At the moment, the species is endangered. Because of the beautiful spotted skin, which was dearly valued, the leopard was hunted for a long time. But the main threat to the cat's existence is the massive deforestation of tropical forests, which are the home of the animal.

    The predator prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle and mostly hides in the thickets. The animal masterfully climbs trees and swims beautifully, the massive tail helps to maintain balance. These magnificent cats hunt reptiles, birds, goats and small deer. A monkey can also become a victim of a leopard. The predator prefers to hide on tree branches, suddenly jumping on top of its prey.

    It has not yet been possible to collect information on animal reproduction in the wild. All knowledge on this matter is obtained by observing individuals in captivity. Pregnancy lasts about 3 months, after which 1 to 5 babies appear on the account. The mother feeds the offspring with milk for 5 months, but already from 2 months, their diet begins to be supplemented with the food of adults. By the age of 9 months, young leopards become independent and fully prepared for life apart from their mother.

    Wild steppe cats - lifestyle, character, the possibility of domestication

    Temminck (Catopuma temminckii)

    The temminka cat, whose second name is the Asian golden cat, looks very similar to the puma, but differs in size and color of the fur. The body length of an adult individual reaches an average of 90 cm, the weight can reach up to 16 kg.

    The coat of the cat is most often golden or dark brown, but there are other color options, for example, black or gray. On the small head near the eyes there are stripes of white and black. Depending on the region in which the animal lives, spots may be visible on the animal's skin.

    The territory in which these graceful predators live covers southeastern Tibet, Vietnam, China. And also the cat is found on the island of Sumatra. The animal prefers tropical and subtropical forests, can climb mountains to a height of up to 3 thousand meters above sea level. Hunting for individuals of this species and deforestation in their habitat led to the fact that temminka is included in the list of rare animals.

    Presented breeds prefer to live alone. They are shy, very careful and nocturnal. Moving mainly on the ground, the golden cat nevertheless climbs trees perfectly. In search of prey, the animal often travels long distances. A cat's diet includes young deer, birds, small mammals and reptiles.

    The process of bearing cubs lasts 80 days. The number of kittens in a litter is from 1 to 3 pieces. Feeding babies with milk lasts up to 6 months with a gradual transition to an adult diet. The male takes part in raising offspring.

    Red lynx (Lynx rufus)

    The red lynx is a type of lynx native to North America. It differs from the usual lynx in noticeably smaller size. Its body length rarely exceeds 80 cm, its tail is short. The height of the animal at the withers is up to 35 cm, the weight varies between 6-11 kg.

    The coat color of representatives of the species is reddish-brown with a clearly visible gray tint and small specks. The tip of the animal's tail has a white spot on the inside. The ears of the animal are triangular in shape with pointed tips, on which there are small tassels. The muzzle is round, with a noticeably longer coat growing along its edges.

    The red lynx is distributed throughout the territory from the east to the west coast of the United States, in Canada and Mexico. The animal lives in coniferous and deciduous forests, in wetlands, in the subtropics and even in arid regions. Can be found near cities. The existence of the species is not threatened.

    Moves on the ground, climbing trees only in search of shelter and prey. The cat's diet includes snakes and rodents, often it attacks birds, including domestic ones. But the main food source of this predator is the American rabbit. When hunting for prey, it can walk up to 10 km per night.

    Mating period starts in February. The duration of pregnancy is 50 days. Upon its completion, up to 6 blind babies are born. Within a month, young animals begin to diversify their menu with adult food. Sexual maturity in females occurs at the 12th month of life, in males at 2 years of age.

    Lion (Panthera leo)

    Representatives of this species are among the largest cats in existence at the moment. The body weight of individual males reaches 250 kg or more. The length of the powerful muscular body of the predator is up to 3 meters, the tail reaches 90 cm. Females are somewhat smaller in size and their weight rarely exceeds 180 kg.

    The appearance of the animal is very peculiar. In addition, it is one of the few species with clearly visible sexual dimorphism. Individuals of the male sex of these cats differ not only in weight and body size, but also in the presence of a mane. Its hair covers the head, part of the back, chest and shoulders of the animal. The skin of the animal is covered with short sandy-gray hair. A thick mane can be either the same shade as the main color, or darker, up to black. There is a tassel at the tip of the tail.

    The habitat of the predator has undergone dramatic changes under the influence of humans. Previously, the area of ​​distribution of this species was much wider, for example, cats could be found in the Middle East and in the southern part of modern Russia. Now animals can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. A small number of individuals live in the Gir forest in the south of the Kathiyavar Peninsula.

    Unlike other representatives of the feline family, lions are social animals and they live in whole groups, called prides. Most often, the lion family consists of cubs, several related females and 1-2 adult males. All females are engaged in feeding and protecting young animals, regardless of whose litter it is. If one of the mothers dies for some reason, the rest of her kittens are raised. Females from the pride are reluctant to accept. Young grown males are expelled from the pack, after which, at the call of instincts, they look for families of lionesses and fight for supremacy in the new pride.

    Pride hunts at dusk, while in the daytime cats prefer to rest in the shade. Most of the prey is taken by females, lions rarely take part in this event. Hunting for large prey, the pride tries to isolate it from the herd, after which they attack and kill. A buffalo, wildebeest, or a zebra can be the target of a lion family.

    Tiger (Panthera tigris)

    As the most massive and heaviest member of the feline family, the tiger can weigh up to 320 kg. The elongated and flexible body of the predator sometimes reaches 2.9 m in length without a tail. The height at the withers is 1.15 m. The sizes depend on the habitat: in more northern territories, the size of cats is larger than in southern ones.

    Depending on the subspecies of the animal, the basic color of the coat varies from light yellow to rusty brown. The entire body is adorned with brown or black vertical stripes arranged asymmetrically. The lower part of the body is white. The outer side of the ears is black with a white spot in the middle.

    This powerful predator lives in the northern parts of Iran and Afghanistan, in Nepal, Thailand, in some provinces of China. You can meet the animal in India, Indonesia, Russia, Vietnam and Pakistan. Tigers have inhabited many types of landscapes: dry deserts and semi-deserts, tropical rainforests, taiga, highlands and mangrove swamps. The species is on the verge of extinction, hunting for it is prohibited throughout the world.

    Tigers are territorial solitary animals that fiercely defend their possessions. Despite its impressive size, the predator silently moves through forests and mountain slopes. He disguises well and is endowed with incredible strength and agility. He knows how to climb trees, but he rarely does it. The animal hunts for rather large prey, including wild bulls, deer, moose, wild boars and even bears. This animal swims well and can catch fish and small crocodiles. When hungry times come, the tiger can feed on amphibians, reptiles, rodents, birds, and even plants. Carrion eats in exceptional cases.

    Breeding of cats takes place throughout the year. The duration of pregnancy is 3.5 months. Before giving birth, the female searches for a suitable den. Most often, 2-3 blind kittens appear in one litter. From the age of two months, in addition to milk, babies begin to eat adult food. The tigress is a caring mother. Having reached the age of 2 years, young animals begin to participate in hunting with her. At 3-4 years old, young individuals leave their home and look for a separate territory.

    Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

    Outwardly, this graceful predator differs from its feline counterparts. The structure of his flexible body by anatomical features resembles the structure of a greyhound dog. The cheetah has long and strong legs, on which claws are located, which are only partially retracted, which is not typical for cats. A large chest and voluminous lungs serve for active breathing while running.

    The cheetah is considered the fastest mammal: the speed that the animal is able to develop while hunting is about 130 km per hour.

    The height of the predator at the withers is 80 cm. The body length of an adult cat can reach 130 cm, the tail - up to 80 cm. The weight of a mature individual varies from 40 to 75 kg. The color of the animal's coat is sandy yellow. The entire hide is covered with small black spots. There are thin black stripes on the side of the muzzle.

    Almost the entire population of cheetahs has survived only in African countries: South Africa, Tanzania, Algeria, Angola, Zambia, Kenya and others. The number of these cats in Asia is minimal, their finding is confirmed only in the central part of Iran. The conservation status of the species is vulnerable animals.

    Cheetahs are diurnal, hunting either in the morning or in the evening, since it is at this time that it is quite light and not very hot. The main prey of these cats is Thomson's gazelle, but they also hunt impalas, wildebeests and hares. Sometimes they can attack ostriches. Unlike other cats, cheetahs hunt by pursuit rather than ambush. The speed developed by the animal is high, but does not allow jogging for long distances. If a predator does not catch prey in the first 10–20 seconds, then, most likely, it will end its pursuit.

    The duration of pregnancy for a female cheetah is 3 months. 2-6 kittens are born. Feeding babies with milk occurs up to 8 months. The young stays with their mother for up to 20 months. The average life expectancy in captivity is 20 years.

    Puma (Puma concolor)

    The cougar is the 4th largest feline. Only a lion, a tiger and a jaguar are larger than a cougar. An adult male of this species can weigh up to 105 kg. The height of the animal at the withers is on average 80–90 cm, the length of the flexible elongated body is 150–180 cm, the length of the tail is about 70 cm.

    The animal's coat is thick and short. The color is monochromatic, ranging from brownish-yellow to brownish-gray. The lower part of the body is light. The relatively small head has round ears. The feet are strong with wide feet and retractable claws. The tail is dark in color.

    The cougar is distributed in the south of North America and almost throughout the entire territory of South America. The number of the species is such that its existence is not threatened. It inhabits many types of terrain: mountainous areas, forests, plains and swampy areas.

    Except for the breeding season, cougars are solitary. In the daytime, cats prefer to relax, basking in the sun, while they go hunting at dusk. Moose, deer, wild pigs, small crocodiles, squirrels, beavers, etc. become the prey of the predator. It attacks from an ambush, does not like long chases, quickly fizzles out.

    Pregnancy in an animal lasts about 3 months, in one litter there are from 2 to 6 kittens. At birth, kittens differ from an adult animal in color: their color is darker with black spots, and their tail is surrounded by dark rings. Young animals live with their mother for up to 2 years.

    Caracal caracal

    Outwardly, the caracal is very similar to a lynx, but it is smaller in size and color. At the withers, the animal reaches about 45 cm, the body length is no more than 86 cm, the tail is 30 cm. At the tips of the ears, tassels are clearly visible, sometimes reaching up to 5 cm in length. The weight of the cat is not more than 22 kg.

    The thick and short hair of the caracal has a sandy or reddish brown color, in the abdomen and chest the color approaches white. There are black markings on the side of the head. The outer side of the ears and tassels are black.

    The predator chooses arid regions as its home. The animal is well adapted to long-term living without water, usually the liquid that it receives from the prey is enough for it. The caracal lives in Asia Minor and Central Asia, in the Middle East, in Africa. It is rare on the territory of the CIS. The existence of the species is not threatened.

    The predator shows its main activity closer to the night, but in winter it hunts in the daylight. Despite strong and long legs, the caracal does not like long running, so it hunts from an ambush. Rodents, birds, reptiles and small ungulates can become its food.

    Caracals breed all year round. A cat's pregnancy lasts 80 days, in one litter the female brings up to 6 babies. Every day, a caring female carries kittens from one secluded place to another until they reach one month old. Already at the age of 6 months, young individuals begin to live independently.

    Jaguar (Panthera onca)

    As the third largest feline, the jaguar can reach a weight of 90-120 kg. The height of the animal at the withers is 75 cm, the body length reaches 1.8 m, the tail length is up to 75 cm. Females of this species are on average 20% lighter than males.

    Outwardly, the animal is very similar to a leopard, but noticeably larger than it. The jaguar's legs are strong and short, with rounded ears on the massive head. Outside, ears are black with a yellow spot in the middle. The thick short fur of the animal has a pattern similar to that of a leopard. The main color of the coat is sandy or bright red. The lower body is white. Inside the spots, the color of the skin is slightly darker than the main one.

    The animal is widespread in the Americas. The species is not threatened, but controlled. The jaguar can inhabit almost all types of terrain, but tries to avoid open spaces. Prefers tropical forests with high humidity.

    Moves on the ground, but climbs trees well. And also this representative of the feline swims beautifully and loves to spend time in the water. It is active at any time of the day, but hunts mainly at night. The predator feeds on ungulates, crocodiles, birds, wild pigs, sea turtles and even fish.

    During a pregnancy lasting 3-3.5 months, the female brings up to 4 spotted kittens, which she hides in the den. At the age of 1.5 months, babies begin to leave the shelter and observe the mother's hunt. Among the young of this species, there is a high mortality rate, only half of the litter survives to the age of 2 years. At the same age, young individuals begin to live independently.

    Pallas' cat (Felis manul)

    Outwardly, this steppe cat is very similar to domestic cats, and even practically does not differ in size. The length of the dense and massive body of the animal is from 50 to 65 cm, the tail is from 23 to 30 cm. The weight of an adult varies from 3-5 kg.

    Pallas' cat has a very thick and fluffy coat. The color is combined and consists of a mixture of light gray and pale ocher color, while the ends of the hair are white. There are dark stripes on the muzzle, as well as on the back of the body. The lower part of the body is slightly lighter, and the tip of the long, thick tail is colored black. An interesting feature of the cat is the round rather than the usual cat's pupils.

    These beautiful animals are listed in the Red Book, their numbers are not known for certain, but the species is endangered. Pallas' cat is common in Central and Central Asia. On the territory of Russia, this species lives in three zones:

    • in the steppe zone of the Chita region;
    • steppe and forest-steppe zones of Buryatia;
    • in the southeast of Tyva and Altai.

    Pallas' cat is well adapted to survive in a harsh continental climate with low temperatures in winter. The animal is sedentary, being active at night and early in the morning. Lives in a den among rocks or in abandoned burrows of various animals. The main prey of Pallas' cat is rodents, sometimes it catches birds and hares. It hunts by watching, in which its camouflage color helps well.

    The breeding season for these animals falls in February-March. The duration of pregnancy is 2 months, from 2 to 6 kittens are born. There are spots in the coloring of the babies. Young animals begin to hunt independently at the age of 3-4 months. The average life expectancy is 12 years.

    Margai (Leopardus wiedii)

    The size of this type of cats is small: the body length does not exceed 80 cm, the tail length is 40 cm.The average weight ranges from 4 to 6 kg. The appearance of this type of cat is very similar to an ocelot. Margai's yellow-brown fur is covered with black ring-shaped spots. The lower part of the body is lighter, almost white. Outside, the ears are dark with a white spot.

    Margai inhabits areas with rainforests: evergreen moist forests of South America. Cats are nocturnal, living alone. This small predator loves to climb trees and spends most of its life on their branches. The hind limbs of the animal are so strong that they allow it to move upside down along tree trunks like a squirrel. Margai chooses birds, rodents and small primates as prey.

    There are no specific mating periods for the species. The duration of the bearing of babies by a female is about 84 days, after which from 1 to 2 kittens are born. The gray wool of young animals is dotted with spots from the very beginning of life. Babies get out of the shelter only at the age of 2 months. They acquire full independence closer to 9-10 months. Margai is one of the most endangered species. Hunting for them is prohibited.

It probably won't be a mistake if I say that the most popular wild cat is the lion. no wonder they call him the king of beasts.

The lion lives in Africa and India. Few people know, but in India there is a nature reserve in the state of Gujarat called Gir Forest. So, in this reserve, a small population of Indian lions has survived.

Lions are the only cats that live in flocks all the time. For example, cheetahs can temporarily unite in small groups, for example, three individuals. And lions constantly live in a collective, a flock of lions is called a pride.


Of all cats, and perhaps of all predators, lions are distinguished by their mane.


These large cats are sexually dimorphic. What does it mean? In fact, everything is very simple, in lions, boys and girls are very different from each other, not only internally, but also externally. Lionesses do not have such a lush mane.


Lionesses occupy a subordinate position in the pack. They mainly hunt and the food of the pack depends on the lionesses.

Servals are also found in Africa. Although they are not large, they compete with cheetahs. And they may just be their prey, I guess.


Serval is a cat with large ears. She loves to live in thickets of small vegetation, which is why she is called a bush cat.


In the bushes of shrubbery, the serval perfectly disguises its color.


Like the cheetah, the serval is tamed. He is even kept in apartments as a pet.

Caracal lives in the deserts of Africa and Asia. Therefore, the caracal is also called the desert lynx, and outwardly it looks like a lynx.


The name caracal comes from the Turkish word karakulak, which is disguised as "black ear". The ears of the caracals are really black.


Despite the outward resemblance to a lynx, the caracal is genetically closer to the serval. In captivity, these cats interbreed.


Although the leopard is a large predator, it is inferior in size to lions and tigers. And not a little inferior.


The main habitat of the leopard is Africa, although it can be found in Asia up to China. But only in Africa is its population in a normal state, if so it is possible to write about an animal from the Red Book

Photo of tigers

So, moving closer to Asia, let's pay attention to tigers - this is one of the symbols of Asia.


The wild tiger is one of the most formidable predators. They live and hunt alone. Only during the mating season can the female and the male hunt together.


Now let's move to South America. Here the largest representative of the feline family is the jaguar.


The jaguar has a magnificent color, somewhat similar to the color of a leopard. Outwardly, these cats are very similar.


Black jaguars are found in nature. This is not a separate species, but an unusual color variant.


The Indians told the legends about these cats, endowing them with mystical powers.

Jaguarundi photo

Another cat, whose range is mainly in South America, is the jaguarundi. This cat lives in savannas and leads a rather hidden lifestyle.

Jaguarundi dark color.

Outwardly, the jaguarundi resembles a mixture of a cat and a weasel, the shape of the animal is very elegant and graceful. Jaguarundi hunts during the day.

Cougar photo

America's other large wildcat is the cougar. It lives in North America and is a very common predator there.

Although its appearance is quite impressive, especially in winter, when its lush winter coat makes it visually larger, it is about the size of an ordinary house cat.


Pallas are not tamed. They can live in a vallière, but they will not become tame animals. Keeping them at home is generally illegal, since the species is dying out and is listed in the Red Book.

Many feral cats are becoming increasingly rare due to population growth. People are destroying habitats, food supplies and just poaching.

Big cats are the largest members of the feline family. And yet the main criterion for belonging to a big cat is not size, but structure.

So, big cats include lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard, but not species such as cougar and cheetah.

Let's take a closer look at these most beautiful and graceful predators in the wild.
a lion

A lion. King of beasts. One of four representatives of the genus Panther, belonging to the subfamily of big cats. It is the second largest cat after the tiger - the weight of males can reach 250 kg. But in terms of height in the shoulders, the lion is the record holder among all felines.

This species originally evolved in Africa about 800,000 - 1 million years ago.

The appearance of a lion is very characteristic: males are much larger than females and have a luxurious mane up to 40 cm long. None of the cats have anything like this. The mane visually enlarges the lion in size, and also helps to intimidate other males and attract females who prefer "men" with more luxurious hair.


Both the lion and the lioness have a fluffy tuft at the end of the tail - a "tassel" about 5 cm long. At birth, it is absent and begins to appear at about 5 months of age.


The color of the lion is usually yellow-gray in various shades, the mane is the same color as the skin, but sometimes it is dark, even black.


At the end of the 20th century, there was evidence of the existence of white lions. Prior to that, for hundreds of years, they were considered the product of legends that roamed South Africa:


These are very rare cats:


Lions are super predators, i.e. occupy the top position in the food chain. However, in addition to humans, there is another predatory animal that can pose a threat to the lion - this is a crocodile. In a collision, these two species can inflict very serious injuries on each other. Lions are capable of attacking crocodiles when they get out on land, while the oldest reptiles attack lions when they enter the water.


Unlike other felines, they do not live alone, but in special family flocks - prides. Hunting and foraging are usually done by females, who act in groups. Males are engaged in the protection of the territory, expelling uninvited guests from them. Another reason why males do not hunt is the mane, which can interfere with camouflage. The fangs of a lion are 8 cm long, so these cats are able to kill large enough animals. Despite the fact that lionesses have very sharp teeth, prey in most cases is killed by strangulation.


In nature, lions live from 10 to 15 years, in captivity they can live for more than 20 years. True, males rarely live more than 10 years, since constant fights with other lions significantly reduce their life expectancy.


Unfortunately, these big cats are a vulnerable species due to the irreversible decline in their population. Over the past 20 years, the number of lions in Africa has declined by 35-50%.


Jaguar

It is the third largest cat in the world and the largest cat in the New World. One of the four members of the panther genus. Body length without tail is usually 120-185 cm, and weight in some cases up to 120 kg. The record in nature is 158 kg. In Guarani language, yaguara meant "beast that kills in one jump."


The oldest remains of a jaguar date back to the late Pliocene (about 2 million years). By morphological features, the jaguar is most closely related to the leopard, very similar to it, but larger and heavier.


The main body color of the jaguar is closer to sand. There are scattered spots on the body that are darker than the general background of the body: solid, rings and rosettes. There are also completely black jaguars that look like panthers:


Unlike lions, jaguars have a solitary lifestyle. Like all cats, jaguars are territorial predators; the hunting area of ​​one jaguar occupies 25-100 square kilometers, depending on the landscape and the amount of prey, and is, as a rule, a triangle.


The jaguar is a crepuscular predator. He hunts after sunset and before dawn. The main prey of the jaguar are capybaras and ungulates like deer, bakers, although it also hunts on turtles: its powerful jaws can even bite through the shell. When attacking, this cat tries to injure the victim with the strongest blow at the moment of falling. This is a one-throw hunter: if the prey takes off, the jaguar never pursues it.


The main method of hunting a jaguar is to ambush a tree or in tall grass. Also, prey will not be able to escape in water - jaguars swim well.


On a significant part of its former range, this species has been almost or completely exterminated. The jaguar is included in the international Red Book.


Snow Leopard

Irbis, or snow leopard, lives in the mountain ranges of Central Asia. It is a rather large cat, but smaller than a leopard, with a long, lithe body, relatively short legs and a very long tail. Length with tail - 200-230 cm, weight - up to 55 kg. Recent research suggests that snow leopards were likely to be present between 1.2 and 1.4 million years ago.


The color of the snow leopard's fur is light smoky gray with ring and solid dark spots. Since the snow leopard is an inhabitant of the high rocky mountains of Central and Central Asia, its coat is very thick, its length on the back reaches 55 mm - it provides protection from the cold, harsh environmental conditions. So, in the Himalayas, the snow leopard was met at an altitude of 5400-6000 meters above sea level.


Snow leopards are solitary. Only up to 5 cats can live in an area with a low amount of prey, with an area of ​​1000 sq. Km. The snow leopard arranges a den in caves and crevices of rocks.

The snow leopard is able to cope with prey three times its mass. He hunts in most cases before sunset and at dawn, attacking from behind cover. The snow leopard tries to grab large prey by the throat and then strangle it.


Currently, the number of snow leopards is catastrophically small. In the XX century, this cat was included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and in the Red Book of Russia.


Leopard

The leopard is another representative of large cats, significantly smaller than the lion and tiger, one of the four representatives of the panther genus. Outwardly, it looks like a smaller jaguar. Body length without tail - up to 190 cm, weight - up to 75 kg. According to fossil remains, the first ancestor of the leopard appeared in Asia 3.8 million years ago.


The skin of the animal is a golden background, on which solid black spots or in the form of rings are randomly scattered. Usually the color of the fur is paler and duller in winter than in summer. As in the case of the jaguar, in nature (usually in Southeast Asia) there are melanistic leopards, which are called black panthers. The leopard is perhaps one of the most graceful and beautiful cats.


The leopard is a solitary and nocturnal animal. He climbs trees so dexterously that sometimes he even catches monkeys. However, the leopard hunts mainly on the ground, using two techniques: sneaking up on prey and waiting in ambush.


To prevent the hyenas from getting the prey, leopards drag it up the trees. The area of ​​the leopard's hunting area can be up to 400 square kilometers. depending on the region, relief and abundance of prey.


Like lions and tigers, there are cannibals among leopards; usually these are old or sick individuals, unable to hunt their usual prey. Man is a very easy target for this predatory cat. So, in the 20s of the XX century, the "Rudraprayag cannibal" was operating in India. This leopard had 125 on his account! cases of officially registered murders of people.


For many peoples, the leopard is a symbol of cruelty, ferocity, aggressiveness, fearlessness. Unfortunately, the leopard is an endangered species. In the XX century, it was included in the IUCN Red Book, in the Russian Red Book.


Clouded leopard

The Clouded Leopard is a large cat that lives in Southeast Asia and vaguely resembles a leopard. This is a fairly ancient species, as well as a possible ancestor of today's large felines.


Clouded leopard is the smallest "big cat": its size is roughly the size of a shepherd dog. Body length - 80-100 cm, weight - up to 21 kg. A characteristic feature of this cat is its long tail.
Small but toothy:


Clouded leopards are found in southeast Asia and live alone. Among felines, clouded leopards are the best at climbing trees, even better than the leopard itself. They wait for their victims (deer, wild boars, monkeys and birds) on the branches and suddenly attack from above.
The pattern on the coat of the clouded leopard is unusual: large, uneven black spots are scattered on a yellowish background. The whole species is classified as endangered.


Tiger

The tiger is the largest and heaviest cat and one of the largest land predators, second only to white and brown bears in weight, one of the four representatives of the panther genus. Already about 2 million years ago, tigers were widespread in eastern Asia.


Tiger subspecies vary greatly in size and mass, but the largest are Bengal and Amur. Males can reach up to 2.4–2.8 meters in length without a tail and weigh up to 275 kg, and in some cases up to 300–320 kg. Record in captivity - 423 kg in the Amur tiger. For comparison, the weight of lions usually does not exceed 250 kg at about the same length.


The entire body of the tiger is covered with stripes, the color of which varies from brown to completely black, and the tail always ends with a black tip.


Due to the mutation, there are very rare animals in nature - white tigers. The frequency of their appearance is one individual in 10,000 with normal coloration. These are Bengal tigers with black-brown stripes on their white fur and blue eyes. Zoos now contain 130 white tigers:


An even more rare discoloration is gold. There are only 30 golden tigers in the zoos of the world:


Tigers are solitary and territorial predators. The territory of one male is usually 60–100 sq. Km. During the hunt, tigers use two techniques: sneaking up on prey, moving in short, careful steps, often falling to the ground, and waiting in ambush.


During an attack, a tiger can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h on almost any terrain, and can also jump to a height of 5 meters and 9-10 meters in length. Sometimes the weight of the prey of this powerful cat is 6-7 times its own.


These majestic cats are also endangered species. In the XX century, it was included in the IUCN Red Book, in the Red Book of Russia.