List of Big Cats

What if I asked you to mention the names of big cats around the world? Tigers, Lion or Cheetah might be the most popular answer for the question. The term of big cats are used to biologically classify larger cats than the other. Although they were different from the body and size, they shared their similarities from its structure and behavior. There are lot of big cats family and you will find out who are they through this article. Are you ready to see these purr-fect cats family?

1. Tiger

Tiger is one of the biggest cats. Although it’s a little bit heavier, basically tiger physical body appearance is similar with lion. The different aspect from tiger’s subspecies is coming from their characteristic as well. A male tiger can weigh up to 360 pounds in weight and 5 feet in length while the female tiger can weigh up to 240 pounds and up to 4 feet in length. The Siberian Tiger is the largest living subspecies and the Sumatera Tiger is the smallest living subspecies. Tigers have variation of striped skin from brown to black. The shape and stripes densities are varied depends on the subspecies itself. But, they have 100 stripes in average body. Tigers are usually hunts for slightly bigger animal such as reindeer, deer, boar, and other small mammals. Although they shared the same similarities but tigers are not afraid to catch their prey on the water unlike the most cats which are afraid to jump on the water.

2. Lion

Lion or Panthera Lion is the member of felidae or kind of cat. Lion is a packed animal. Their pack generally consists of a leader male and lots of females. Lion is a territorial animal in nature and they will protect their area from the other predators. A male lion can weigh up to 500 pound and 300 pound for the females. Their lifespan is about 10-15 years in the wild; they can grow for 20 years in captivity. The male lion is less active hunter than the female. Lion hunts in pack. They feed on various kinds of mammals. Wildebeest, gazelle, buffaloes are the example of the lion’s favorite prey. The male will wait for the females to get their shared meat. In the past, lion’s natural habitat is spread on entire of Middle East, Europe, and African continents. Nowadays, their kingdoms were quickly reduced in the part of Africa and India. The illegal hunting and climate change are the main causes in why their population is quickly reduced as well.

3. Jaguar

Jaguar is the largest category of cat in the genus of Panthera. Jaguar is the third largest cat after tiger and lion. Jaguar is the biggest cat in living across the North Mexico, Central America, Argentina until Paraguay. Most of people thought that jaguar is similar with leopard, but if we are looking closely, their difference is visible. Their difference is from their spots. Jaguar’s spot has white dot in the center while the leopard’s spot has no white dot in the center. Jaguar has bigger and few spot. Their physical appearance is also different. Jaguar is bigger and sturdier than leopard. Jaguar can weigh up to 320 pounds and 3 feet in length while the leopard only 180 pound in weight and 200 feet in length.

4. Leopard

Leopard or Panthera pardus is also one of the biggest cats. Leopard is also well known as branch tiger because of their climbing ability. This species generally has brownish-yellow colored fir with dark spots. Dark spot in their head is usually smaller than other spots in their body. The male leopard’s body is slightly bigger than the females. Leopard is a sole hunter and they will avoid each other. They are active and hunt for their prey at night. Leopard will do everything to catch their prey. They eat almost anything. Their favorite prey consists of small rodent, mammals, fish, birds and monkeys around their surroundings environment.

5. Cheetah

Cheetah is speed. Speed is cheetah. This big cat is the member of Felidae family using their high speed method of hunting instead of sneaking or sudden attack in pack. Cheetah is considered as the fastest land animal. They can run up to 460 m of distance in acceleration of 110 mph in just 3 seconds. Cheetah is also well known as the world’s most efficient predator. Cheetah can detect their weaker prey and they will chase their prey and tackle their prey’s feet to knock them down.

6. Snow Leopard

With the body measured at 260 feet in length and 200 feet of their tail, Snow Leopard or Uncia uncia has white-grayish colored thick fur with brown spots. The male snow leopard is slightly bigger than the females. Unlike the other big cat, snow leopard can’t growl and they are the only species of Uncia’s single family. Their natural habitat is spread in snowy mountain of Central Asia, eastern Tibet and Afghanistan. Their mainly feed on small mammals, rabbit and snow goat.

7. Golden Cat

Their physical body appearance is a little bit bigger than average cat, but they are smaller than leopard and tiger. The Golden Cat or Catopuma temmincki has yellow brownish fur with black and white stripes in their cheek and between their eyes. There are brown spots on the back of their ears. The golden cat has a dark brown long tail with a white color in the tip of their tail.

8. Puma

Puma or cougar is the mammal of big cat. They can be discovered in the American continent. Puma is genetically closer with cats rather than the lions.

9. Branch Leopard

Kalimantan Branch Leopard or Neofelis diardi is an average wild cats located in Sumatera and Kalimantan. They are officially stated as Bornean Clouded Leopard in 2007. In the 2008, IUCN classified this animal as nearly extinct with the total population are less than 10.000 adult.

10. Marbled Cat

This cat is agile and they have beautiful pattern on its fur. Therefore, this cat is hunted for it. Marbled Cat or Pardofelis Marmorata reaches their sexual maturity at the age of 22 month. This cat preferably hunts for reptiles, small rodent, and birds.