Jeanette's Wild World of Nature: Wild Cats

[Jeanette X]

I'll start with the smaller wild cats. All of these are no larger than a house cat. I have placed them with the smallest first, descending into the larger. I will eventually post all of the cat species on this thread-don't post a cat thinking that I forgot it! I will eventually get to all of them!
http://www.tigertouch.org/en/felidae/catpix/rusty_spotted_cat2.jpg
Rusty Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus ) It's habitat is in India and Sri Lanka.
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/blkfoot1.jpg
Black Footed cat. (felis nigripes) It lives in southern Africa, and it does not have to drink water, instead, it gets all the moisture it needs from it's food. It is a very tenacious little cat and has been reported to attack sheep more than five times its own weight, hanging on to the neck until the jugular is severed. The natives even claim it can bring down a giraffe, although this has yet to be observed by scientists.
http://live.quizilla.com/user_images/A/Annoyed/1053985703_ureskodkod.jpg
The Kodkod. (Oncifelis guigna) It's habitat is Chile and Patagonia. The natives refer to it as the Guigna (Gween-ya), and it was once thought the cat was a vampire, because of marks it's canine teeth would leave on the necks of poultry.
http://www.tigertouch.org/en/felidae/catpix/oncilla.jpg
The Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)
Also known as the tigrina, little tiger cat, and little spotted cat. It lives in South America, and little is known about it.
http://www.wildlifeeasyst.com/flathdcat.jpg
The Flat-Headed Cat. (Prionailurus planiceps) It is from southeast Asia, and is very unusual looking, with its long narrow head and flattened forehead. They eat fish and frogs, and are very happy to be near a river. They are not at all hesitant to submerge their entire heads in search of prey. They even have partial webbing in their paws. This cat is so rare that it was even declared extinct in 1985, and it still remains in danger.

[Captain Robo]

aww kitty :(

[Professor Cool]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/162160/PUKACAT.jpgWild Cats!http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/162160/PUKACAT.jpg

[Jeanette X]

Prof. Cool, the flat-headed cat would LOVE to play in your toilet! :)

These next cats all weigh within 7-10 pounds, only slightly larger than the first five on this thread. They are listed from smallest to largest.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/margay/margay.jpg
Margay (Leopardus wiedi)
This nocturnal cat lives in central and South America, and is perfectly adapted for life in the tree canopy, virtually living in them from birth to death. It has specially adapted claws and ankle joints which it can move 180 degrees, allowing it to move headfirst down vertical trees and run upside down beneath branches. It can hang from a single branch by one foot, with some assistance from it's long, muscular tail.
http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/mag04012001/cat8.jpg
Sand Cat (Felis margarita)
The Sand Cat is found in the deserts of northern Africa, and southwest Asia. Like the black-footed cat, it can survive without water, getting all the moisture it needs from its prey. It has fur pads on it's feet, which protect it's feet from the heat of the desert sand.
http://www.wildlifeeasyst.com/BayCat.jpg
Bornean Bay Cat (Catopuma badia )
Very little is known about this cat. It lives in Borneo, and it is extremely rare.
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/andean.jpg
Andean Mountain Cat (Oreailurus jacobitus )
This cat lives in the dry scublands of the lower mountains of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. Very little is known about it.
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/manul-1.jpg
Manul (Otocolobus manul )
Also known as Pallas' Cat, the manul lives in central Asia. It lives in very cold environments, and it was once hunted for it's soft fur, making it extremely rare today.

[AChimp]

http://www.gorillapants.com/images/rt_owen.jpg

Wild Cat... *pow*...

[Jeanette X]

AChimp, who is that? :confused
http://live.quizilla.com/user_images/A/Annoyed/1053990483_resiriomo3.jpg
Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus iriomotensis )
The Iriomote cat is found only on the small Japanese island of Iriomotejima. It eats fruit bats, wild pig and rats and varied species of birds to reptiles, fish and insects.
http://live.quizilla.com/user_images/A/Annoyed/1053993720_freys_cat2.jpg
Geoffroy's Cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi)
These grassland and forest dwelling cats are wonderful in the water, and can swim a river up to 100 feet wide. Despite the threat of enroaching human expansion and deforestation, the outlook is good for this cat, as it is very versatile and can adapt quite well.Their prey includes birds and small mammals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs and agoutis, frogs, fish, lizards and insects, and feral European hares.
http://live.quizilla.com/user_images/A/Annoyed/1053993270_eopard_cat.jpg
Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis )
Leopard cats are found all over Asia. They have a varied diet which includes deer as well as rodents, fish, birds and reptiles. They like to den in hollow trees or caves. They are slightly shy and highly intelligent. They are also the ancestor of the Bengal cat, a new crossbreed between the Asian Leopard Cat and the domestic cat, which was created in an attempt to create a cat with an exotic look but a domestic temperment.
http://www.bengalcat.com/gallery/chaparral/index_files/Cochisead.jpg
Domestic Bengal Cat.

[kellychaos]

More kitties please ... but BIGGER

http://www.eploids.com/chestersspot/images/chester_Oncouch.gif

[Jeanette X]

I'm getting there. I'm doing them smallest to largest. I'll get to the big ones eventually, just be patient.

[Zosimus]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/162160/PUKACAT.jpgWild Cats!http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/162160/PUKACAT.jpg

Short of sounding crude: (but I can't help myself. :) ):"dirty pussy!"

[kellychaos]

http://www.mycathatesyou.com/images/meowmeow.jpg

MEOW!! (http://www.mycathatesyou.com/newlist.asp)

[AChimp]

Jeanette, it's Owen Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums. His character writes a book called "Wild Cat." :(

[Captain Robo]

They look just like domesticated cats :(

Kitty :(

[Jeanette X]

They look just like domesticated cats :(

I said I'll get to the big ones! Jeez! Besides, how many domestic cats have you seen that resemble something like the kodkod or margay?!
http://www.livingdesert.org/images/arabianwildcattld.jpg
Wildcat ( felis silvestris )
There are three distinct groups of the wildcat: the European wildcat (felis silvestris sylvestris ), the African wild cat (felis silvestris lybica), and the Indian wild cat (Felis syvestris ornata). The domestic cat (felis sylvestris catus ) is believed to have originated with the African wildcat. Wildcats tend to be solitary, terrestrial, and nocturnal. When defending their territory or confronting an enemy, the wildcat arches its back and raises its hair while striking with an extended claw, behavior that their domestic cousins have inherited.
http://www.tigertouch.org/en/felidae/catpix/pampas_cat.jpg
Pampas Cat (Oncifelis colocolo)
The Pampas cat is found in South America. They look like heavyset domestic cats, and have never been studied in the wild. Goat ranchers have reported this little cat kills adult goats, and they are known to raid domestic chicken houses.
http://www.tigertouch.org/en/felidae/catpix/marbled_cat.jpg
Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata )
This cat is the Asian counterpart of the margay. Its extremely good at climbing and hunts primarily in the trees. It has a very fierce temperment. Sadly, it is very close to extinction.
http://www.tigertouch.org/en/felidae/catpix/jungle_cat.jpg
Jungle Cat (Felis chaus )
Also called a swamp or reed cat, this cat lives in central Asia. It has flexible behavior patterns, and can often be seen hunting in broad daylight. They are proficient swimmers, and will often walk long distances in shallow water. They also have been observed making high leaps in pursuit of birds.
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/yaguar02.jpg
Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yaguarondi )
These cats are sometimes referred to as "otter cats", because of their weasel-like appearance. They hunt mainly on the ground, and will sometimes supplement their otherwise carnivorous diet by eating leaves and fallen fruit for moisture content. Although human enroachment and habitat destruction threaten them, their fur has never been in demand in the fur trade due to its poor quality and lack of color.
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/chmtncat.jpg
Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti )
Little is known about this obscure cat. They hunt birds and ground mammals, and have been observed hunting mole rats by listening for their movements in their subterranean tunnels and then digging them out.

[Jeanette X]

Do those please you Robo? Are they big enough yet? :blowme

[Anonymous]

i have a bengal cat :>

this thread is wonderful :>

[Captain Robo]

:( I didn't mean it that way. I like kitties.

[Jeanette X]

:( I didn't mean it that way. I like kitties.
Oh, okay then. :)
this thread is wonderful
:)
http://www.nwf.org/keepthewildalive/images/photos/lynx.jpg
Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
The Canada Lynx has large, spreading feet which act as snowshoes in the cold terrain. Snowshoe hares make up more than 75% of its diet. It is found in Canada (duh) and the northern United States. They generally stay away from human habitations.
http://www.inkas.com/tours/jpg_files/jpg_photos/amazon/yacumama/ocelot.jpg
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
These cats are found in Brazil and Central America. The name "ocelot" comes from the Mexican Aztec word "tlalocelot", meaning "field tiger". They hunt at night and spend the day resting in brush so thick that a human can only get through it by crawling. They will often hunt in teams, meowing to each other as they close in on prey.Although they are strong swimmers, they do not enter the water readily.
Dallas Zoo researchers recently discovered that female ocelots in captivity react more powerfully to Calvin Klein Obsession for men than they do to natural odors.
http://www.tyger.org/efbc/2000-4-29/sassyball.jpg
Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in breeding compound
The Fishing Cat is so named because it loves to catch fish, and have been observed diving into water to after fish as well as attempting to scoop them out with their paws. They also have been observed catching waterfowl by swimming up to them while fully submerged and seizing their legs from beneath. They live in India and southeast Asia.
http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/images/lynxib02.jpg
Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Lynx, also known as the Pardel or Spanish Lynx, is the most endanged cat species in the world. Experts say that it can be saved, but the rabbit population of its native Spain and Portugal must be restored for that to occur. Although the decline of the Iberian lynx began at the first half of the 20th century, it accelerated greatly in the 1950's due to the drop in the European rabbit population from the spread of the disease myxomatosis. If it does become extinct, it will be the first cat species to die out since the sabretoothed tiger. :(

Edit: Go to this link and click on the button on the left that says "Mesagem na garafa: de ja o seu clique". When you do so, the advertising sponsors contribute a small donation to help the Iberian lynx, costing you nothing. Only once click per day is counted. I recomend using Netscape because Internet Explorer didn't load the site when I tried. http://www.naturlink.pt/default.asp?iLingua=2

[FS]

The Canada Lynx looks like a cat with a beard.

[Jeanette X]

http://www.atoa.org/images/bobcat.jpg http://www.lioncrusher.com/ecard/bobcat.jpg
Bobcat (Lynx rufus) and cub.
The Bobcat roams freely at night and is frequently abroad during the day except at the peak of summer. It does not dig its own den. If a crevice or a cave is not available, it will den in a dense thicket of brush or sometimes choose a hollow in a log or a tree. The Bobcat is more versatile than its cousin, the Canada lynx, because it will eat other prey if its preffered source of food (rabbits and hares) is not available. It is found in a broad range of habitats from the Cananda/U.S.A boarder all the way down through Mexico, although it can no longer be found in certain eastern and midwestern states. They are curious, but they are very shy and never come up to people.
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/afrgold1.jpg
African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata)
The African Gold Cat has never been studied and little is known of its behavior. It may hunt in trees to some extent, but it probably hunts mainly on the ground. It is primarily found in the moist forest zone of Equatorial Africa.
http://www.wildcatsanctuary.org/jpegs/for%20web/asiangolden.jpg
Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma Temmicki)
Also known as Temmick's Cat, very little is known about this cat. It is primarily nocturnal, and preys mainly on large rodents. They can be found in forest and grasslands. It is found in southern China and southeast Asia.

[The Retro Kat]

I'm going to but a pet lynx. They seem friendly.

[Anonymous]

Jeanette reminds me of the class of posters we had when the ezboard first started and the mock was kinda clique-y. And it was generally nice people and a majority of females just being friendly.

I don't know which personality this board's taken on that I miss the most. :(
Not to say that right now is all that bad, either.

[Yep.]

Cats are rad.
Thank you for post, it made me feel good inside.

[Jeanette X]

Jeanette reminds me of the class of posters we had when the ezboard first started and the mock was kinda clique-y. And it was generally nice people and a majority of females just being friendly.
I'm glad the forum isn't as cliquey anymore. And it's nice to know that my posts are appreciated. :)
Anyway, more cats!
http://www.ils.unc.edu/daniel/caracal.jpg
Caracal (Caracal Caracal)
The Caracal is sometimes referred to as a "desert lynx", but is not actually a member of the lynx genus. They were once tamed and trained for bird hunting by the nobility of Iran and India. They were put into areas containing a flock of pigeons, and wagers were taken as to how many they would kill. The caracal is capable for leaping into the air and taking down 10-12 birds at once! This practice is the origin of the expression "to put a cat among pigeons". One the distinctive features of this cat is its large ears, which have the black tufts that make it resemble the lynx, and are black on the back of them. In fact, their name comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", which means "black ear". Caracals are generally tawny brown to brick red in coloration, although black caracals have been recorded.Caracals live in the drier savannah and woodland regions of sub-Saharn Africa, and areas of the Middle East. They generallyprefer the more scrubby, arid habitats, although they will also inhabit evergreen and montane forests.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/catlady/images/serval.jpg
Serval (Leptailurus serval) (Daphne this ones for you! ;) )
The serval is generally found in most parts of Africa excluding the arid desert regions to the north around the Sahara, parts of the western tip of Southern Africa and certain areas of the tropical rainforest belt of Central Africa. It lives in dry open plain grasslands through woodland savanna, moister areas around the equatorial rainforests and grassy uplands of central Africa’s mountainous regions. Although the serval is a medium size cat, it tends to eat smaller animals, such as rodents, birds, and frogs.The serval is a specialised hunter and has particularly sophisticated hearing to assist it in its task of pinpointing its small prey. It has large ears which are are used to listen to ultrasonic frequences emitted by small rodents. The long legs of the serval also serve to aid prey detection, enabling the cat to see over the tall savannah grasses for signs of movement. The serval is often observed giving a characteristic vertical leap to pounce down directly onto its unsuspecting quarry. In short bursts the cat is also able to reach high speeds and is capable of jumping up to 10 feet of the ground to catch birds.
http://csce.unl.edu/~scotth/samantha/leopards/best-clouded-leopard.jpg
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
The Clouded Leopard lives in Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it isn't actually a leopard at all, but of another genus of cat entirely. Little is known of clouded leopards due to their extremely secretive nature.They are thought to hunt a variety of prey including birds, squirrels, monkeys, deer, and wild pigs. It was once thought that clouded leopards hunted while climbing. Current thought, however, is that while some hunting may occur in the trees, most likely takes place on the ground. Trees are thought to provide resting habitat for cloudeds during the day.
http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/images/lynxeu01.jpg
Eurasian Lynx and cub (Lynx Lynx)
This larger relative of the Canada lynx is found in the regions of central Asia and the former Soviet Union, as well as in scatter clusters in western Europe. They are found in both rocky terrian and forest areas. They are also not as dependent on the rabbit and the hare as the other lynxes, sometimes eating deer instead. They are solitary, and are sly and secretive. Eurasian lynx spend time grooming themselves in order to keep clean and scratch on surface in order to keep their claws sharp. They are most active in early morning and late afternoon. They hunting using their hearing and sight, rather than smell.

[NIGhtMAre]

I have a cat. But im not sure what breed he is :( can you help me jeanette X? can you show me the cat breeds from seibiria. i know he is from their somewhere

[Jeanette X]

I sent you information in your inbox, Nightmare. Let me know if you need any more help. :)
The entries for the more famous cats are going to be longer, because a great deal of information is available.
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~iany/patterns/images/cheetah.jpg
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
(information taken from www.cheetahspot.com)
While most cats are nocturnal predators, the cheetah is primarily diurnal, hunting in early morning and late afternoon. Since it depends on sight rather than smell, it likes to scan the countryside from a tree limb or the top of a termite mound. Other big cats chase only a few hundred meters: the cheetah chases 3.4 miles (5500 meters) at an average speed of 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour). Its famous fast speed is helped by its greyhound-like body, light bones, large liver, heart, and adrenals. If it succeeds in catching an animal the cheetah will suffocate it by clamping the animal's windpipe, sometimes as long as 5 minutes. Very small animals like hares are killed by a simple bite through the skull. But whatever the meal - large or small - cheetah eats quickly for if challenged it will most often lose. Cheetahs have unusually clean eating habits: they do not return to their kill nor do they eat carrion; they leave the skin, bones and entrails of their prey. At 6 weeks the young are strong enough to follow the hunt and when they are about 6 months old the mother will capture live prey for them to practice killing.
Two groups exist in wild populations: the family group and males. Males, often brothers, usually form a coalition of 2 or 3; only rarely will a male live alone. This coalition will live and hunt together for life claiming a range which may overlap several female territories. Young males seek out an area at a great distance from their parent; sometimes as far as 300 miles (482 kilometers). The average size of male territories is 37.4 square kilometers. The top speed, 71 miles per hour (114 kilometers per hour), can be maintained for only about 300 yards. Young females, however, usually occupy the same range as their mother although ALL females are solitary except when they have a litter. Males and females mix only to mate: a female raises her cubs alone. cheetah is carnivorous and eats a variety of small animals.
Vocalizations: Chirping: like a bird's chirp or a dog's yelp - an intense chirp that can be heard a mile away! )
• Churring: staccato growl, high-pitched
• Nyam-nyam: cubs' sound when feeding
• Ihn-ihn: mother's call to her young
• Purring: like a house cat
• Staccato purring: sound made by courting males
• Bleating: like a meow - a distress call
The African cheetah lives in Africa, whereas the Asian subspecies in found in a small range in the Middle East.

[Ninjavenom]

El Gato :o

[The Retro Kat]

What about the Retro Kats?

[NIGhtMAre]

I still didnt find the breed :( but thanx anyway jeanneteX guess he is some type of mix breed. :/

[Jeanette X]

This has got to be the cutest cat picture yet. Look at the cub poking his head out from between his mother's legs!
http://www.snowleopard.org/islt/p_f/sldshw1/images/slide5.jpg
Snow Leopard, or Ounce, with cubs. (Uncia Uncia)
Once thought to be a subspecies of the leopard, it is now known that the Snow Leopard is in fact, a seperate species entirely. It lives in central Asia, in the steep, cold mountainous regions.
It has short forelimbs and long hind limbs to provide increased agility in the steep mountains. Its large paws act as snowshoes, and its long, thick furry tail, which is almost a meter in length, aids in balancing, and is used to wrap around the body and face. It also has a well-developed chest and large nasal cavity, because of the cold, thin air of the high altitudes they live in.
Snow leopards show a strong preference for cliffy habitat with moderately to very broken terrain, rocky outcrops and ravines, as opposed to open smooth slopes and densely forested areas
Snow leopards will take livestock (such as sheep, goats, horses, or young yaks) when their natural prey becomes unavailable due to competition with livestock, hunting/poaching, or other causes.
These cats eat slowly and remain on the kill for several days, protecting it from scavengers such as vultures or ravens until all meat is consumed.
In some areas, notable amounts of plant material are consumed, particularly during mating season perhaps to meet specific nutritional needs.
(information from www.snowleopard.org)

[Johannas]

http://www.vi2.com/getFile/176008.JPG

WILD CAT!!!!!


DTH
JOHANNAS

[Jeanette X]

http://lynx.uio.no/lynx/catfolk/pictures/lepard01.jpghttp://www.studentadvtrav.com/images/mayan/panther.jpg
Leopard and cub. Black leopard, or panther. (Panthera Pardus)
The leopard is found in southern and central Africa, and in some parts of Asia and the middle east. The cat that is usually referred to as a panther is in fact, a melanistic leopard. Melanism refers to having an an usually amount of dark pigment, melanin, in the fur. Panthers are a not a subspeces, merely a variation of the normal species.

Leopard can subsist on an extremely wide range of prey but when available, show a marked preference for small to medium-sized hoofed mammals. When their prey is too large to eat all at once, the leopard is known to drag it away and stuff it into a tree to eat later.

Despite its relatively small body size, the leopard is still capable of taking large prey. Its skull is massive, giving ample room for attachment of powerful jaw muscles. Its whiskers are particularly long and there are often several extra long hairs in the eyebrows, protecting the eyes and assisting movement through vegetation in darkness (Skinner and Smithers 1990). Its scapula is adapted for the attachment of powerful muscles that raise the thorax, enhancing its ability to climb trees (Hopwood 1947). Leopards can live independent of water for periods of time, obtaining moisture requirements from prey (Bothma and Le Riche 1986). (http://lynx.uio.no/lynx/catfolk/ssaprd02.htm)

[The_voice_of_reason]

In a local advertising flyer i saw an ad for Ocecats, they were a crossbreed between ocelots and domestic cats. I called to see about buying one but the guy wanted $700 :(

[Jeanette X]

Its better to try to find some kittens at a shelter. Lots of nice kittens get put to sleep because no home can be found for them. :(

[Jeanette X]

http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/puma-4.jpg
Puma (Puma concolor)
The puma is often referred to as a cougar, a mountain lion, catamount, and even as a panther, although this is incorrect. The word "puma" comes from the native language of Peru, and the word "cougar" comes from its native Brazilian name, "cuguacuarana". Puma is pronounced "poo-mah", not "pew-mah".
Cougars are polygamous. A male with a large home range is able to breed a large number of females, and this increases his reproductive success. A resident male usually attempts to maintain exclusive breeding rights with females within his area.
The male visits all the females he can find, continually searching for those in heat that will accept him, and marks out his territory with scent posts called scrapes. He may travel many kilometres in these searches; one male covered 50km in a day and a night. Fighting may occur initially, but once individuals are settled on a territory little strife occurs. This peaceful social system helps to maintain stable cougar populations.

Normally a silent hunter, the cougar, like any cat, becomes vocal when ready to breed. Female cougars in heat have been seen and heard yowling. Cougars do not breed in any special season, and the young may be born at any time of the year.

The females mate for the first time when they are two to three years old, and the gestation period is about 90 days. The female selects a sheltered spot, such as a cave or windfall, for her litter. From one to six cubs may be born, although rarely are more than three full-grown cubs found with the mother. The cubs are born with closed eyes that are fully open by the end of the second week. They are usually weaned at four to five weeks. Care of the cubs rests solely with the female, who brings them food and teaches them to hunt. She prevents the male from even approaching the small cubs, by combat if necessary, as the adult male has been known to eat them. The cubs stay with the female until they are about one and a half years old, by which time the male kittens are larger than their mother. In spite of her instructions in the rudiments of survival, the cubs have a difficult time when they are first on their own. Resident females usually produce litters every 18-24 months. In the southwestern foothills of Alberta, the rate at which kittens reached independence was close to two kittens per female per year over a seven-year period.
(source: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hww-fap/hww-fap.cfm?ID_species=57&lang=e)
Mountain lions are solitary animals. Their solitary existence is interrupted during the breeding season and during the period of juvenile dependence. Population densities vary from as low as one individual per 85 square kilometers to as high as one per 13 to 54 square kilometers. These mammals space themselves so that local food supplies and other essentials are not depleted. Females with dependent cubs live within the wide space used by the resident male. Residents mark their territories by depositing urine or fecal materials by the trees they marked with scrapes. The mountain lion is primarily nocturnal in its activity. It acquaints itself with its environment and food sources by relying mainly on vision, smell, and hearing. The mountain lion vocalizes with low-pitched hisses, growls, and purrs to get attention. The loud, chirping whistle by the young serves to direct the mother's attention to the cub. Males are found together immediately after leaving their mother, but rarely as established adults. The mountain lion has summer and winter home areas in different locations, requiring a migration between ranges.
Pumas are found in almost all of South America, all of central America, Mexico, the western United States, and southwestern Canada.
(http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/puma/p._concolor$narrative.html)

[Jeanette X]

http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/pictures/onca-1.jpg
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Although most jaguars resemble the individual above, melanism is fairly common and thus black jaguars are often seen. Albino individuals have also been reported. The word "Jaguar" comes from the native word "yaguara", which means "a beast that kills its prey with one bound." Indeed, it regularly kills its prey with a single bite, cracking open the head with its canine. Its large head and canines are an adaptation to do this.
Large prey, such as peccaries, tapirs and deer, may be preferred, but a jaguar will eat almost anything it can catch. They will sometimes prey on ranch cattle.
If food is scarce they will often need to roam over an area of 200 square miles in search of food. Jaguars are rapid runners, but tire quickly, and can climb trees well. They are also proficient swimmers and prefer areas with plenty of fresh water.
The jaguar prefers a warm, tropical climate. It inhabits Mexico, central America, and South America.
Although black jaguars are sometimes referred to as panthers, they are not to be confused with the leopard, which is not found anywhere in the new world. The jaguar is a very prominent figure in South American Indian mythology, and was even worshipped in some cultures.

[Jeanette X]

I guess people are begining to loose interest in this thread. Ah well, I might as well finish what I started. :/
http://www.scs.abelgratis.co.uk/bigcats2/html/kids/assets/images/lioncleancub.gif
http://www.ivcc.edu/studentsafari/images/animals/male-lion-closeup.jpg
Lion female and cub, lion male. (Panthera leo)
The African lion is found in various places of Africa, and the Asian lion is found only in Gujarat, India, with a population of about 290, although they once had a much larger population and range.
Lions are carnivores; their diet consists of a variety of meats ranging from small insects to large herbivores such as giraffes. The lionesses are the hunters in the pride, hunting either in the morning or at night. Packs of lionesses form within a single pride. The lionesses hide in small groups to ambush their prey. As soon as one of the lionesses spot the prey and is in postion, she begins her attack. by sinking her teeth into the neck area of the prey and cuting off the air supply. Some prey animals are so large that as the lioness anchors her teeth into the neck, other lionesses come and start biting the animal. Soon it is helpless and can do nothing. Lions can run up to 60 kilometers per hour (30 mph), and they tackle prey that might outweigh them by 27 to 32 kilograms
After they feed, they may not hunt again for several days. When the lions feast, they eat all of the prey at once. Sometimes when the lioness makes the kill, she secretly hides the carcass behind tall or bushy vegatation and eats it there to keep other predators from stealing her kill. If live prey is not available, then lions will scavenge for food.
Prides consist of one or more family units. A family unit cantains 1 or 2 males with a number of females and cubs. There can be as many as 30 to 40 members in one pride.
When a male takes over a pride, it kills most of the cubs. Loss of nursing cubs causes the females to come into estrus earlier than they otherwise would, and it reduces competition for future offspring. Lions sometimes attack their prey and then let it go just before killing it. This action may serve as a teaching tool for the cubs and also a form of practice for the adults.
Grooming, rubbing, and tail chasing are all common behaviors among lions.
Pride territories range from 40 to 400 square miles.
These cats use their black and white vision to stalk their prey. The prides usually lay low in the day time but when night falls their keen eyesight and hearing always aids them in making a kill. Lions travel about 500 meters from their habitat to the water holes or salt licks.
Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/panthera/p._leo.html
Hunting is also a shared process - the individual if relatively inefficient at hunting, and cannot sustain high-speed pursuit for long periods of time. Lionesses hunt by ambush, with the majority of the hunting group chasing the prey toward individuals lying in wait who are then able to give chase over short distances before leaping on the selected animal for the kill. The lions prey consists mainly of medium to large herd animals such as antelope, gazelle and wildebeest. Once the prey is taken it is common for the males of the pride to eat first even though they take no part in the hunting process. The females are next to feed followed by the cubs - it is common, when prey is scarce, that the young will often starve as a result of being last in the pecking order for food.
Incoming males provide another threat to the young cubs of the pride. When a male lion reaches maturity it leaves its natural pride and goes in search of another pride for which it must fight for the right to join. Older or injured males are ousted by the young incoming male, who then takes up residence in the pride, often killing the cubs of the beaten male, thus ensuring that its own, future offspring, will have greater chance of survival.
(Source: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/lion.htm)
This all sounds kinda like wolves, doesn't it?

[Cybernetico]

Please get to the snow tigers, those are the best

[Jeanette X]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020827/ldh2.jpghttp://www.jenslot.homestead.com/files/Snow_Tiger_2.jpg
Tiger and cubs, rare "snow" tiger. (Panthera tigris)
Although the Snow Leopard is an entirely seperate species from the leopard, the Snow Tiger is simply an ordinary tiger with white coloration. They are extremely rare, as only one out of every 100,000 tigers has the white coloration.
The tiger's body is built in such a way to aid in its hunting techniques. Longer hindlimbs than forelimbs are an adaptation for jumping, while strong and powerful forelimbs and shoulders aid in dragging down large prey. Like all cats, tigers have sharp retractile claws. These help this predator to hold onto its prey once the initial attack is made.
Another adaptation to hunting is the tiger's large and powerful jaw, which includes relatively flattened canines. The jaw's power makes the tiger's bite deadly.
The stripes on a tiger act in the same way that a fingerprint does on a human. Each stripe pattern is unique to that particular individual.
The main source of food for tigers is large, hooved mammals, but they will eat anything they can catch. Where wild prey is scarce, tigers will readily prey on livestock if it is available. The moderately dense covering in which tigers and their prey live aids in the success of their hunting technique. Tigers are stalk and ambush predators, and they use the dense covering to conceal themselves and sneak up on their prey. When the tiger is close enough to its prey, it suddenly rushes at it and attempts to kill it. Only 1 in 10 or 20 attacks is successful. The tiger uses its powerful body to knock the prey off balance. The attack is normally made from the side or rear of the victim, and the objective is to get the prey off of its feet and to deliver a fatal bit to the back of the neck or throat. The tiger may keep his grip several minutes after death. When the tiger is ready to begin eating its kill, it drags the carcass into a dense covering and begins eating the rump. A considerable amount of meat can be consumed at one time (20-35kg), however, if the kill is to sustain an individual over several days, the amount eaten is generally less (15-18kg/day). Female tigers with young have to kill more often to feed their young and themselves as well.
In general, the social system of the tiger is not very complex. The mother and her young are the basic social unit. Tigers generally hunt alone; however, there have been instances when a high degree of social tolerance has been demonstrated (MacDonald, 1987). Sometimes tigers are seen in groups in the wild at bait kills, as well as in zoos occupying the same exhibit.
(Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/panthera/p._tigris$narrative.html)
Odd fact: When you shave a tiger, striped skin can be found underneath. :eek
Thats all of the wild cat species-but there is still more to come. Next post will be about interspecies hybrids.
If you want to help save wild cats, please go to http://bigcats.care2.com/ . Clicking on one of the animals generates a donation towards saving its habitat, paid for by the corperate sponsors of the site. You can only click on one cat, once per day. Other clicks will not be counted. It only takes a second, and it is free. Be sure to check out the other free-click areas of the site as well.
There is also another free click link that I edited into this thread. Go to the post with the Iberian Lynx and you should find it.

[Jixby Phillips]

CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT CAT

[Kitty of Doom]

http://www.pitt.edu/~kkf1/Assclimbresize.jpg

[Jeanette X]

Awwww....what a cute widdle kitten! :)
Hybrid Big Cats

Hybrid animals almost certainly only exist in captivity and are the result of human intervention, along with the unnatural living circumstances presented by captivity, and on occasion, artificial insemination. Small wild cat and domestic cat hybrids have been introduced as pets, but those species are usually several generations removed from their wild ancestor.

http://members.aol.com/jshartwell/pumapard.jpg
Pumapard. Offspring of a puma and leopardess.

http://members.aol.com/jshartwell/servical.jpg
Servicals. Offspring of a male serval and a female caracal. The offspring of a male caracal and female servals are called caravals.

http://www.greenapple.com/~jorp/amzanim/tigon.jpg
Tigon. A cross between a male tiger and female lion.

http://www.greenapple.com/~jorp/amzanim/ligerm.jpg
Liger. A cross between a female lion and a male tiger.

http://members.tripod.co.jp/big_game/facts/part2/leopon1.jpg
Leopon. Cross between a leopard and lioness.

http://www.greenapple.com/~jorp/amzanim/jaglion.jpg
Jaglion. A cross between a jaguar and a lion.

http://www.wildlifeeasyst.com/Windstarportrait.jpg
Bobcat-Lynx hybrid.

It is extremely unlikely that such hybrids occur naturally.

Likely encounter of two different wild cat species in the wild:

http://members.aol.com/jshartwell/lion-tiger-fight.jpg
Lion:Hey stripey, what the hell do you think you're doing in my territory?!
Tiger: Me?! what the hell do you you're doing in my territory, blondie?!
Lion: ROAR!
Tiger: ROAR!
*fur and fangs fly*

[Anonymous]

servical :o