Wild Cat Pages

• Cats, Big
  
  The big four in the large cat family are tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars. Our wild feline t shirts and plush toys are sure to please cat lovers of all ages.
• Cats, Small
  
  While most people are familiar with the bigger wild cats, there are actually 37 members of the Cat, or Felidae, Family. Our Sand Cat tee shirt features one of these small wild cats from North Africa and the Middle East.
• Cheetahs
  
  African cheetahs are one of the best known and loved wild cats. Even school children know they're the fastest animal on land. Read about the Asiatic cheetah, or check our Cheetah Spots tee shirt.
• Cougars
  
  This cat of many names - over 39 - is also known as mountain lion, puma, catamount, panther and el tigre, just to name a few. Our beautiful High Country Cougar tee shirt is truly stunning!
• Snow Leopards
  
  We confess the beautiful, enigmatic snow leopards are one of our favorite animals. Our snow leopard t shirt is spectacular, and the plush snow leopards make great gifts for the wild cat fan.

Why aren't black panthers listed in the Cat Family? Black panthers are not a separate species. Jaguars, leopards and many small cat species can produce black, or melanistic, kittens in the same litter with spotted ones. The dark color is the result of a recessive gene, and if you look closely you can still see brown spots on the black coat.

Why does the lion have a mane? Their mane serves a number of purposes: a) it identifies him as a mature male to other lions, even at a distance b) it gives an appearance of increased size with little weight cost c) the condition of the mane conveys the level of health and vigour to female lions d) it can help protect the head and neck area in fights with other lions

Which cats can purr, and which ones can roar? All cats are able to purr. Purring is thought to have a primary function of being an "all's well" signal between a nursing mother and her young, and may help form the original bond between them. When the kittens become active, purring takes on the function of communication between littermates. In adult courtship, purring appears to be used as a "kitten-like" invitation to playful interaction.

Roaring is the opposite of purring. Only four cats can roar - tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar. The ability to roar depends on the structure of the hyoid bones supporting the larynx in the throat. The roaring cats have an elastic ligament connecting two of the bones that allows for the production of a loud, resonant roar. The rest of the cat species do not have this structure.

Which cat is the most dangerous if encountered in the wild? Bengal tigers have killed more human beings than any other cat. Other large cats, such as lions, leopards, jaguars and cougars have also killed humans, but the numbers are small, especially compared with the countless numbers of cats killed by humans.

If a lion and tiger got into a fight, who would win? This is a difficult question to answer. Overall, the Siberian tiger is the largest of all cats, so it might have a bit of a size and weight advantage over a lion. However, both are very large, powerful and aggresive predators that are capable of killing one another in a fight.