Kits, Kittens and Cubs

TIGER:

A tiger cub is born with his unique pattern of stripes that mark him as an individual.  During the two years he spends with his mother, he will grow a tremendous amount.  Of course that takes a lot of meat, and his mother has to work very hard to feed him and his two sisters while taking care of herself.

LION:

Lion cubs are actually born with spots that help keep them safe from predators.  As they grow, the spots disappear, though some adult lions keep a few spots on the legs.  Unlike the tiger cub, this lion will have "aunties" in the pride that help him along.  Female cubs tend to stay in the pride of their birth.  Male cubs move along when their mane starts to emerge and wander about as bachelor males until they find a new home.

SNOW LEOPARD:

Snow leopard cubs come prepared for the harsh weather of their natural habitat.  Still, nature gives them every chance for survival since they are born at a time of relative warmth and plenty.  The mother's rich milk helps them generate the body heat and grow the body mass necessary to face the long winter ahead.

AFRICAN LEOPARD:

African leopard cubs spend a great deal of time in trees with their mother.  They learn at an early age the climbing skills that help them survive as adults.  When this cub becomes an adult, he will be able to take an entire antelope into a tree to eat without disturbance from scavengers below.

CHEETAH:

Cheetah cubs start out life with a fuzzy mane that runs the length of their back.  It helps them hide from predators, and that's rather important.  Cheetahs have the lowest infant survival rate of any of the big cats.  African tribesmen share a story that the distinctive black marks running from the eyes to the mouth are the tear stains of the mother crying for her lost children.

CLOUDED LEOPARD:

Clouded leopard cubs share the African Leopard cubs' love of climbing, though they are not closely related at all.  The Clouded Leopard is not a true leopard.  As you can see, this cub has blue eyes.  Most cubs have blue eyes, but they soon change to the adult brown color.

COUGAR:

Cougar kits, like all infant big cats, have to learn how to stay put when mom is away hunting.  Their spot pattern keeps them safely hidden in the brush till dinner is served.  They are curious about a great many things.  Some, like turtles, can be very frustrating.  Others, like porcupines, can be very dangerous.  But mom teaches them that a porcupine that is flipped over to reveal the unprotected stomach can make a great meal.

BOBCAT:

Bobcat kittens, like all young cats, spend hours playing and exploring.  While enjoying themselves, they learn the skills they need to survive as adults.  Though they may look like the kittens in your pet store, they already have the ear tufts and short tail that set them apart.

JAGUAR:

Jaguar cubs, like leopard cubs, can be born spotted or all black.  Like their mother, they enjoy being in and around the water.  They hope you will take good care of their world so they can enjoy the same life their parents had.