Eurasian lynx
Of all the cats that inhabit European forests, the largest is the common lynx. The body weight of a male is about 29 kg, females are 4-6 kg lighter. The body length does not exceed 130 cm. Mammals live in Russia, Central Asia, Central and Northern Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, the extermination of predators led to the threat of their extinction. Today, lynx fishing is prohibited everywhere.
The animal with tasseled ears and a short tail seems cute and harmless. But under the spotted thick coat hides a skillful and cunning hunter, capable of smelling prey at a distance of 2 km. Its victims include hares, foxes, birds, rodents and small ungulates: roe deer and musk deer. Lynx never attacks people. Even an adult caught by a person is easily tamed and becomes a pet.
Abyssinians
Cats of the vengeful and evil Abyssinian breed sport a dense thick coat of tricolor color. They do not like to sit on their owner’s lap for a long time, preferring a higher place where they would be out of reach. Because of the vindictiveness of Abyssinians, it takes a lot of time to raise them. You need to be prepared for the bites and scratches that usually end up playing with them. Breeders say that Abyssinians easily get along not only with people, but also with other animals, but if they don’t like something, expect aggression. These are very inquisitive and attentive animals, moderately mobile and capable of occupying themselves independently in the absence of their owners. Their games often cause scratches on furniture and ties on the curtains they like to hang on. But it’s better not to scold them for this, otherwise you may encounter aggression. If an Abyssinian wants to rest, he will climb onto his owner’s lap. This breed is quite silent and rarely bothers with its screams. The owner, if desired, can start training his Abyssinian dog: teach her to fetch something or walk on a leash. Developed intelligence and devotion are the strengths of the Abyssinians; they follow their owner everywhere because they do not tolerate loneliness.
Snow Leopard
To date, the number of snow leopards is unknown. The snow leopard, which lives far from people, is the most poorly studied representative of the feline tribe. The muscular wild cat is found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia and Southern Siberia at an altitude of 1.5–5 thousand m above sea level. Short, thick paws equipped with wide pads are adapted for walking on loose snow, and the ability to make 8-meter jumps helps to overcome deep crevasses.
The four-legged inhabitant of mountain peaks resembles a leopard in posture and size. The height of the male reaches 65 cm, weight - 55 kg. Fluffy gray-beige fur reliably protects from cold and camouflages in snowy gorges. A distinctive feature of the exterior is a meter-long thick tail, which the snow leopard uses as a rudder when running and jumping.
Cheetah
Despite the height at the withers, reaching 92 cm, and the weight of 65 kg, zoologists classify the cheetah as a subfamily of small cats. This is due to the peculiarities of the skeleton - the mammal has long thin limbs, a compact skull and an extremely flexible spine. This structure allows the animal to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. In hunting, it is also assisted by a long tail, which serves as a balancer and helps to quickly change the direction of movement.
In appearance, the sprinter of the fauna world resembles an elegant dog of the Russian greyhound breed. Like dogs, giant cats do not retract their claws, cannot climb trees, do not ambush hunt, and do not tend to eat carrion. The sounds they make resemble abrupt yelps. Unlike most of their relatives, cheetahs quickly get used to humans. In Iran, India and Kievan Rus, tamed animals often helped people hunt.
Famous giant cats, interesting facts
A representative of the Maine Coon breed entered the pages of the Guinness Book of Records due to its body length of 123 cm.
Maine Coons are often caught doing an interesting activity where they move their paws through the water. Some cats drink water by scooping it up with their paws.
Maine Coons are easy to train and follow dog commands: they bring a stick and sit on command.
A cat named Trouble, a representative of the Ashera breed, was also included in the Guinness Book of Records for body length at the withers - 48 cm. At the same time, its weight is very modest - only 9 kg, but it is this that allows the cat to perform complex tricks and move gracefully.
Representatives of the Ashera breed are marked with the designations F1-F7, which is typical for all interracial breeds. The higher the number, the less wild blood the cat has. Hybrids F1-F3 are recommended for aviary keeping. Cats with a low percentage of Serval blood can be kept indoors.
Chartreux are quite intelligent and easy to train. Some pets bring slippers to their owner and know how to open doors.
Male Siberian cats help females cope with their offspring and devote a lot of time and attention to them.
Turkish Vans love to climb on eaves, balconies, and sit on doors.
The main difference between the British cat and other large breeds is that it matures earlier . Already in one year the animals reach their maximum size. In addition, the British are famous for their faithful service to the state and are appointed to the position of the country's main rat-catchers. The whole of Great Britain was heatedly discussing the event when a cat named Larry left his post.
Leopard
Its muscular, elongated body, strong legs and excellent eyesight make the leopard an ideal killer. Chasing prey, the powerful flexible cat accelerates to 58 km/h and makes jumps 7 m long. With a body weight of up to 66 kg, it is capable of killing prey 3 times its weight. The hunter always lifts the desired trophy up a tree for the subsequent meal.
The size of the predator directly depends on the geographical features of the area. Thus, four-legged inhabitants of open spaces grow up to 75 cm, inhabitants of forests - up to 67 cm. Decorated with a spotted pattern, short, thick fur lies tightly to the body. The belly and inner side of the legs are light yellow, the rest of the body is golden brown. Individuals with a black color are called panthers.
Puma
This representative of the cat family is a champion in the number of names. Residents of different countries know the puma as a Mexican lion, panther, mountain screamer, red tiger, cougar... In total, there are 83 definitions of an animal whose beauty and grace are combined with ruthlessness and composure.
The puma's habitat is the forests and mountainous regions of America. The silhouette of the predator resembles a small lioness. The height of the golden beauty is 60–85 cm, weight is about 90 kg. A distinctive character trait of the puma is patience. Waiting for prey, it sits in ambush for a long time, without giving away its presence. Once caught in a trap, the mammal calmly tries to get out of the grip. In case of failure, he falls into melancholy and motionlessly awaits death.
Jaguar
The golden skin of this massive predator, whose height at the withers varies from 69 to 79 cm and weight from 68 to 135 kg, is painted with bright patterns - black spots and rings. Intricate colors help to perfectly camouflage among bushes and trees. The jaguar has no equal in pursuing prey. The hardy mammal covers tens of kilometers every day, it swims well and runs fast. The hunter kills with one leap - the blow of a powerful paw can break the victim's spine.
The range of jaguars is Central and South America. The Olmec Indians inhabited these lands in the 2nd century BC. e., they believed that people and huge spotted cats had common ancestors. Today, the graceful animal, once revered by man, is in danger of extinction and is listed in the Red Book.
British Shorthair
Thanks to its powerful body and short hair, it seems that this is a huge, strong cat, although in fact males weigh no more than 9 kilograms, and females - 6 kilograms.
The breed has an independent character and does not like pleasantries. She is able to endure prolonged loneliness, although she loves her owner very much and misses him if he is not at home. Because of its unobtrusiveness, it received a second name - “cat for a businessman.” He is wary of strangers and does not let them get closer than a couple of meters to him. If he wants, he can easily catch a rodent.
They accept affection only when they want it themselves, while demonstrating a sense of self-worth.
a lion
There are no two absolutely identical lions on the planet. The “facial” features of each animal are unique and belong to only one individual. The body length of the royal individuals of the fauna world is 1.7–2.5 m, height – up to 1.2 m, weight – 160–280 kg. The largest specimen lived in South Africa and weighed 313 kg.
In hunting, the lion is helped by 7-centimeter claws and vision, the acuity of which is 6 times greater than that of a human. Running is not a predator's strong point. At short distances, the giant cat accelerates to 60 km/h, but after 200 m it gets tired and stops pursuing its prey. Lack of stamina forces the animal to get as close as possible to the victim and in a swift jump deliver a fatal blow. Lionesses are lighter and faster than males, and therefore more successful in hunting.
Chausie
The Chausie breed of domestic cats can also be considered dangerous. They also look like a puma, their body is slender, but much more powerful than most domestic cats. That's who is ready to hunt all the time! Families who dare to adopt a Chausie kitten are subject to strict requirements, given the aggressiveness of these animals. People should, from childhood, prevent any attempts to play dangerous games with chausies. Otherwise, this breed can be called very inquisitive and even kind. This breed is characterized by a balanced temperament, developed intelligence and self-esteem. You should not have chausie in small city apartments, as they need a lot of space. They do not strive for privacy; on the contrary, they try to attract the attention of any person. They need regular training, especially since they love heights, which can damage some fragile household items that are best removed in advance.
Bengal tiger
The royal representative of the panther genus, the Bengal tiger, lives in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China. In Russia its population is 5 individuals. The predatory mammal is one of the largest cats in the world. The height of the tropical forest resident reaches 115 cm, weight - 275 kg. A terrifying roar can be heard at a distance of 3 km. The deadly fangs grow up to 10 cm. The record weight of a male killed in an Indian forest in 1967 was 388.7 kg.
Among the Bengal tigers there are amazing creatures whose snow-white fur is covered with brown stripes. All white individuals have one ancestor - the male Mohan, who was born in 1951 as a result of a gene mutation.
Turkish van
Eyes are the pride of the breed
Looking at luxurious, fluffy cats, the question of their origin involuntarily arises. And their origin is curious - the Murki and Barsiki of Turkish streets, aboriginal animals. Only thanks to two Englishwomen who went to Turkey in 1955, the world learned about the new breed. Sonia and Laura paid attention to the beautiful animals; the girls managed to take a couple of kittens with them. They laid the foundation for a new breed, registered in 1969.
Turkish Vans are distinguished by their powerful physique and strength. The weight of an adult cat is 7-10 kg, cats are slightly smaller. A distinctive feature of the representatives of the breed is semi-long wool without undercoat.
Another feature is the color: completely white, a little red on the head (near the ears) and a completely copper tail.
Representatives of the breed love to play; this trait remains with them throughout their lives. Also, Turkish Vans are excellent swimmers, they love water and bathe often. When getting such a cat, you should give it bath days, giving it the opportunity to swim.
Among these cats there are many long-livers, having crossed the 17-year mark. Average life expectancy is 13 years.
In Russia, only one nursery is best known, breeding Turkish Vans.
Amur tiger
The largest wild cat found in its natural habitat lives in Russia, in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories and the mountainous regions of Sikhote-Alin. Outside the Russian Federation, the animal is found only in northeast China.
The smallest representative of the tiger brotherhood has the following characteristics:
- body length - 1.7–2.8 m, tail - 1.1 m;
- height at withers - 110–120 cm;
- weight - 167–280 kg;
- length of fangs - 8 cm.
Like all cats (except lions), Amur tigers lead a solitary lifestyle, defending their territory from competitors. The animal hunts alone. He is an absolute predator - a huge hungry cat can even attack a bear.
Now the number of animals does not exceed 800 individuals, half of which are kept in zoos. The endangered species is listed in the Red Book, and its extermination is punishable by law. In China, killing a striped animal is punishable by death.
Longest Maine Coon
Stewie
Stewie the cat from America is considered the longest cat.
Its size was 123.19 centimeters from the last hair of the tail to the nose. He was sick with cancer, soon after a course of chemotherapy he began to deteriorate sharply, and the cat died at the age of 8 years.
The owner called him the kindest and most affectionate cat, whose love was enough for everyone. This character is usually found in all Maine Coons.
Lobster
Maine Coon Omar, four years old, from the UK is currently considered the longest cat . From nose to tail, his length is 120 cm.
Omar prefers to eat raw kangaroo meat.
The cat does not like too much attention : when journalists and a large number of people began to take an interest in him, he became lethargic and sad. The photo shows the cat Omar and his owner.
List of the longest cats in descending order:
- Stewie – 123.19 cm, USA.
- Leo – 121.9 cm, USA.
- Lobster - 120 cm, Australia. Bond (Pikkis) – 120 cm, Finland.
- Ludo - 118.33 cm, UK.
Liger
The result of the love between the tigress Isla and the lion Arthur, who shared a common enclosure at the American theme park Jungle Island, became a kitten, which was later destined to top the ranking of the largest cats on the planet. Having reached maturity, the liger Hercules surpassed his parents in size. His height is 186 cm, weight - 410 kg. Standing on his hind legs, the giant reaches the roof of a double-decker bus. The gaping mouth is as wide as the shoulder girdle of an adult man.
Hercules is not the only representative of the hybrid genus. In 1973, the Guinness Book of Records added a record of a giant weighing 798 kg from a South African nature park. In 2004, a female was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo - the result of crossing an African lion and a Bengal tigress. It is impossible to meet a liger in natural conditions - tigers and lions have different habitats.
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civet cat
Leopard, no less
The second name of the animal is fisher cat or fish cat. The cats received their first name for their resemblance to the civet or, as it is also called, the civet.
Fishing cats settled in Southeast Asia. China, India, Thailand, Sumatra, Java are their main habitats. Animals prefer to settle near rivers and lakes where fish are found.
Fish cats are quite large creatures. The size of an adult cat can reach 40 cm at the withers and weigh 15 kg; females are almost twice as light.
The peculiarity of animals is their unusual paws. Viverrid cats have membranes between the toes of their front paws. Representatives of the species are excellent swimmers, but they have problems climbing trees: they can, but extremely rarely and reluctantly. And why climb a tree if fish don’t grow there...
The main diet of civet cats is fish caught with their own paws. Moreover, the animals engage in fishing during the day, sitting motionless in shallow water. Noticing a fish swimming past, the cats sharply hit it with their paw and, hooking it with their claws, pull it ashore. By the way, fishermen have problems with retracting their claws, because the membranes prevent this from happening.
Viverrid cats avoid meeting people. But if this happens in the wild, representatives of this species of cat will, without hesitation, go on the attack.
