The Big Cats

The big cats share their origins as well as many aspects of their smaller relatives, although most of the big cats are members of the Panthera genus, while the small cats are of the Felis genus.

There is, however, a fundamental distinction between the two groups: big cats have the ability to roar, but cannot continuously purr, while small cats can purr continuously, but do not roar.

Members of the big cat group naturally inhabit Africa, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and South America. With the exception of the Masai subspecies of lion, these relatives of the domestic cat are classified as vulnerable or endangered species.

The classification of the big cats still varies according to different authorities, but with the development of genetic fingerprinting the genetic identity of each species is now being investigated.

Without doubt, the results will lead to some reclassification of the species. Like the domestic cat, all big cats are born blind and helpless, covered with fur, in litters ranging from one to six individuals.

Unlike other carnivores such as bears or wolves, which supplement their meat diets with vegetation, cats feed exclusively on vertebrate prey They cannot survive without eating animal protein and each species of big cat has evolved technique for capturing its meal.

The lion uses cooperative social behavior and brute force to catch and kill mammals that are often considerably larger than itself, the cheetah employs  speed and an under-the-throat death bite to kill, while the tiger, leopard, and jaguar all stalk and pounce on their prey.