Tiger-General Facts

Panthera Tigris
Size: Tigers are the largest living member of the cat family weighing 250-500 lb (110-225 kg), but may reach 800 lb (360 kg).
Two major subspecies exist: the Siberian (also called Manchurian) tiger, Panthera Tigris altaica
The Bengal tiger, Panthera Tigris Tigris
Location: They are found in all kinds of terrain, except desert; in southern and south-eastern Asia extending to north-eastern China and Siberia.
Coloring: orange-brown with long black stripes for the Bengal, and thick yellow fur with dark stripes on the Siberian. They are the only true striped wild cats.
Food: The diet is varied, ranging from deer and cattle to snakes and termites. Occasionally, carrion (decaying meat) is also eaten.

Lynx (northern lynx)- General Facts

Felis (Lynx) lynx
Size: 30-64 lb (13.5-29 kg) characterized by disproportionately long legs, large heavy paws, and short stubby tails. Lynx are powerfully built, stout-bodied animals, about 3 feet (90 cm) in maximum length.
Locations: They are found throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Coloring and coat: thick, soft fur, light brown in color with spots. Most species have a tuft of hair, more than 2 cm long, at the tip of each ear.
Food: weaker mammals and terrestrial birds

Hunting Skills

Hunting takes place in the evening and is primarily a female activity. The lion cautiously stalks its prey, similar to domestic cats. Once within close range, they sprint to catch the prey- reaching 30 miles per hour (50 km per hour). Lions use their great weight, and momentum from the chase to bring down their prey, which is then quickly dispatched with a bite to the throat. After the female has made a kill, the male comes to share the meat. A lion may gorge on 30 kg (66 lb) of meat and then go for over a week before the next kill.

Mountain Cat-General Facts

Felis (Oreailurus) jacobita
Size: 8-15 lb (3.5-7kg)
Location: Lives on open and forested slopes of the Andes from southern Peru to northwest Argentina.
Coloring: A longhaired brown-gray coat with dark spots and a ringed tail.

Jungle Cat –General Facts

Felis chaus
Size: 16-30 lb (7-13 kg)
Location: Found in Egypt and throughout southern Asia, living in woodland, scrub, reed beds, and near human settlements.
Coloring: Has a sandy-brown coat with some face and leg markings and a ringed tail.

Cheetah –General Facts

Acinonyx jubatus -The cheetah is the only member of the genus Acinonyx.
Size: 65-110 pounds (30-50 kg), the cheetah has about the same body weight as the leopard (110 to 130 lb/50 to 60 kg), but it has a longer body, much longer legs, and a smaller head. The head and body, without the tail, are about 4.5 feet (1.8 m) long.
Locations: Ranges from Africa through the Middle East to Southern Asia.
Coloring: The coat is a yellow brown with dark spots. The coat is yellowish-brown with black spots

Margay/Tree Ocelot

Margay (tree ocelot)-General Facts
Felis (Leopardus) wiedii
Size: 9-18 lb (4-8kg)
Location: forests and scrubland of Central and South America and as far north as Southern Texas
Coloring: yellow-brown with black spots and stripes with a ringed tail

Jaguar-General Facts

Panthera onca
Size: 90-135 lb (40-135 kg) A mature jaguar is more than 7 ft (2 m) long and stands 2 ft (60 cm) high at the shoulder.
Location: inhabits tropical forests, as well as, open country from southern USA to Argentina.
Coat Color: yellow brown with spots clustered in rosettes each consisting of a circle of spots surrounding a central spot. They can also be solid dark brown.
Food: a wide range of arboreal (living in trees), terrestrial (ground dwelling), and aquatic (water) animals.

Other Members of the Lynx Family

The common European species- Lynx lynx.
The caracal - L. caracal- is found in Africa and southern Asia.

Lynx Family-Canada lynx

Canada Lynx
The Canada lynx, L. canadensis, is found from the northern U.S. throughout Canada and Alaska. It is the largest species in North America, measuring 3 feet (90 cm) in total length, with a tail length of about 4 inches (10.2 cm).
The back is dark gray streaked with chestnut, and the belly is grayish-white.
The species feeds chiefly on snowshoe hares.

Serval- General Facts

Felis (Leptailurus) serval
Size: 30-40 lb (13.5-18kg), with a slender body 4 ft (1 m) long and 20 inches (50 cm) high at the shoulder; a small head with long triangular ears, long legs and a short tail
Location: Algeria and Africa-south of the Sahara Desert- inhabiting grasslands and brush country of sub-Saharan Africa, but always near water.
Color: Buff-colored with black spots in rows down its back and legs
Food: small mammals, lizards, and birds, although it is powerful enough to kill young antelope.
It hunts by speed rather than stealth and climbs trees well.
When captured young, servals can be tamed but they are difficult to raise.

Iriomote cat –General Facts

Felis (Mayailurus) iromotensis
Size: 12lb (5.5kg)
Location: A very rare cat found only in forest and scrubland on the island of Iriomote, east of Taiwan. Discovered in 1964, there are thought to be less than 100.
Coloring: A spotted cat, similar to the leopard cat of which it may be a subspecies

General Facts

Felis (Leopardus) pardalis
Size: 12-30 lb (5.5-13.5kg), attains a body length of about about 36 inches (91 cm) and a tail length of about 18 inches (45 cm).
Location: found from Texas to Peru.
Colorings: The back of the animal is tinted with olive-tan or chestnut and is marked with black stripes and spots. The belly is usually white, marked with black.
Food: birds and small mammals.

Bengal Tiger

Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger, which is about 10 feet (3 m) long, including the tail, and usually weighs no more than about 500 lb (230 kg), is found on the mainland of southeastern Asia and in central and southern India. Its coat lies flatter than that of the Siberian tiger, the tawny color is richer, and the stripes are darker. The Bengal inhabits grassy or swampy areas and forests, where it is well camouflaged by its coloration

Ocelot Tidbits

The ocelot, which somewhat resembles the domestic cat, are good climbers and hunt in forests at night for their food.
Two kittens are normally produced in a litter.
The animals have been hunted nearly to extinction for their pelts.

Puma Tidbits

The Puma is largest of the Small Cats, and is the greatest jumping cat.
The female bears one to six young in a litter; the young have dark brown spots on the back, and the tail is ringed.
Because ranchers suspect them of killing cattle, the animals have been exterminated or are endangered in many areas.

Leopard cat (Bengal cat)- General Facts

Felis (Prionailurus) bengalensis
Size: 7-15 lb (3-7kg)
Location: A common wild cat of southern and southeastern Asia, extending from India to the Philippines, Japan, Manchuria and eastern Siberia. Lives in forest and scrubland.
Coloring: A small spotted cat varying considerably in basic color depending on location.

Palla's cat (manul)- General Facts

Felis (Ocotocolobus) manul
Size: 7-11 lb (3-5 kg), The cat reaches a maximum length of about 26 inches (65 cm), with a tail about half as long. The skull is flattened and the ears rounded.
Cloring: The soft coat of long fur is orange-gray or yellowish-sliver with stripes on the cheeks, lower back, and the tail.
Location: small wild cat native to the cold, dry regions of central Asia.

Cheetahs: Fastest land animal

Over short distances it is the fastest ground animal on earth, being able to attain speeds up to 70 mph (112 km/hr).