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Welcome to the "CAT HOUSE"
Click on a Pic. to find out more fatcs.
Snow Leopard Given the
harsh environment in which it lives and the sparse amount of
prey, the snow leopard has probably never been common. They
inhabit mountains up to nearly 20,000 feet. Seldom seen in the
wild, much of what is known about the species has been learned
from captive animals. Because of the depredation resulting from
the trade in its beautiful pelt and the destruction of its
habitat, it has long been considered in danger of extinction. As
humans encroach on snow leopard habitat, animals that the cats
prey on are reduced in number, further endangering the cats. At
least partially protected in its remaining habitat, the trade in
snow leopard pelts has been decreasing as more and more countries
participate in the international ban on trading snow leopard
pelts.
Bobcat Head and body length 65 - 105 cm, tail
length 11 - 19 cm (bobcats got their name because of their short
tails). Shoulder height 45 - 58 cm. The fur can be various shades
of buff and brown, with dark brown or black stripes and spots on
some parts of the body. The tip of the tail and the backs of the
ears are black. They have short ear tufts, and ruffs of hair on
the side of the head, giving the appearance of sideburns.
Caracal, or African Lynx
The coloration of lynx varies but is normally yellowish brown.
The upper parts may have a frosted, gray look and the underside
may be more buff. Many individuals have dark spots. The tail is
quite short and is often ringed and tipped with black. The fur on
the body is long and thick. The hair is particularly long on the
neck in winter. The triangular ears are tipped with tufts of long
black hairs. The paws are quite large and furry, helping to
distribute the weight of the animal when moving on snow.
Head-body length is between 800 and 1,000 mm and tail length
ranges from 51 to 138 mm.
Cheetah Medium to
small black spots against a background color of yellowish gray,
tawny or reddish brown. The outstanding feature is the black
tear-like stain running down from the inner corner of the eye to
the upper lip and outlining the muzzle. Adults weigh 120-130 lbs
and are almost 7 feet in body length. The long tail acts as a
stabilizer to navigate high speed turns.
Puma The puma, the second largest cat in the
Americas, is a large cat and (apart
from its size) is a perfect example of the basic feline type,
without any particular specilization. It has spots only while
yong , with the adult coloration almost completely , monochrome
with only slight indication of pattern in the fur. Male pumas can
reach up to 8 feet in total length and weigh in excess of 220
lbs. Females are smaller, averaging slightly over 6 feet in
length and up to 140 lbs.
Clouded Leopard The Clouded leopard is sometimes
described as bridging the gap between large and small cats. The
body is long with short legs and a long, bushy tail. The base
coat varies in color from a pale to yellowish brown. There are
two black bands on the cheeks and sides of the head. Ears are
short, black and rounded with gray central patches. The body of
the clouded leopard is covered with irregular dark stripes, spots
and blotches. Blotches are darker in color than the background
and are partially edged in black. The underside of the body is
white with black spots. Black rings encircle the tail. There are
reports in the literature of melanistic individuals. This leopard
possesses relatively longer upper canine teeth (3.81-4.44 cm)
than any other living feline. It does not roar like large cats
but does possess an ossified hyoid making it possible for the cat
to purr. Generally clouded leopards weight between 35 and 50
pounds and are 10 to 16 inches high at the shoulder. Males are
generally much larger than females. One to four young are born
after a gestation period of 85-100 days.
Lion Typically a
mature male stands 4 feet at the shoulder and is 8 .5 feet long,
plus tail. He'll average 450 pounds. Females are considerable
smaller, weighing less than 300 pounds. Adult lions usually have
a plain unspotted coat, light brown to dark ochre in color. Cubs
are marked with spots which sometimes persist on the legs and
belly until they are fully grown. Male lions have a brown mane,
which tends to grow darker and fuller as the animal ages. The
tail has a black tuft at the end. "White" lions
occasionally occur in the Transvaal region of southern Africa,
but these are not true albinos.
Tiger Head/body length: 5 feet 10 inches- 9 feet
1 inch; tail length: 36 inches; weight: 350-550 pounds; shoulder
height three feet or less. Eyes are large with excellent vision.
Hearing is good with well developed ear flaps. They have large
canine teeth and strong, powerful jaws. Paws are heavily padded;
claws are retractable. Coloration is bright fawn to reddish tan,
shading to white underneath, and sharply marked with uneven black
stripes: a unique pattern for each individual. Fur is short and
thick. Whiskers (vibrissae) are long with thick individual hairs.
Jaguars The jaguar
is the only member of the genus Panthera (big cats) to be
found in the Americas where it is considered the New World
equivalent of the leopard. Its coat is basically yellowish-brown
but can vary from almost white to black. Its back is marked with
dark rosettes and the lower part of the tail is ringed with
black. Jaguars weigh anywhere from 90-120 kg (males) and 60-90 kg
(females).
Leopard Measurements:
head and body (104-180cm); tail (67-110cm); weight (37-90 kg
males, 28-60 kg females). No two leopards have the same fur
pattern, pattern varies, from simple black spots on a beige fur
to an all black animal (black panther); variation in color may be
a result of variation in habitats and selection for camouflage.
SERVALS This
is the smallest of the wild cat species. They live in desert
habitats and appear to be capable of getting all the water they
need from their prey. They are nocturnal, spending their days
resting in abandoned burrows or rocky crevices.
