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Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Scientific Name: Panthera pardus orientalis

The Amur leopard. also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a big cat that inhabits parts of southeastern Russia (Primorye Krai) and northeastern China (Jilin and Heilongjiang). A few leopards have also been reported in northern Korea. The Amur leopard lives farther north than any other leopard. It is the only leopard subspecies that has adapted to a cold climate. Its fur is thick, soft and covered in spots. Overall the coat has a pale color, which helps the cat hide in the snow.

The cat is listed as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Currently, there are less than 50 Amur leopards still living in the wild. The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered wild cats on the planet.

Additional Reading:
Amur leopard conservation
Amur leopard research

About the Amur Leopard

Physical Appearance

Amur leopards are relatively small in size. Males range from 42 to 54 inches, with a tail length of 32 to 35 inches. They weigh between 70 and 100 lbs.

Females are smaller, weighing between 50 and 95 lbs. The cats coat ranges in color from various shades of yellow to gold and is covered in spots.

The leopard's fur is usually much lighter during the winter months.

Territory

The leopards maintain individual territories approximately 20 to 120 miles in size, usually in a river basin.

Lifespan

Wild Amur leopards generally live between 10 to 15 years. Captive leopards can live as long as 20 years.

Hunting & Prey

Amur Leopard prey consists of musk deer, roe deer, moose, wild pig, Manchurian wapiti (elk), hare, badger, fowl, mice and at times, young black bears. The leopard usually hunts at night.

Reproduction

Female leopards start breeding between 3 - 4 years or age. They have between one to four cubs during the spring or early summer. Most recently, the average size of a litter has only been two cats. The young cats leave their mothers within 1 to 1 ½ years.

Conservation

The serious decline of the Amur leopard population is the result of poaching, deforestation and loss of habitat due to fires. Read more about Amur leopard conservation.

Amur Leopard Facts

The Amur leopard is critically endangered, with less than 30 cats still living in the wild.

The leopard is known for its extremely thick fur.

One of the main threats to the leopard's survival is poaching.

Another key conservation concern is inbreeding of the remaining cats.

The zoo population of Amur leopards is believed to be 176.

Amur Leopard Videos

You can also watch an Amur leopard livecam set up by the Tallinn Zoo in Estonia here.

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Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Scientific Name: Panthera pardus orientalis The Amur leopard. also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a big cat that inhabits parts of southeastern Russia (Primorye Krai) and northeastern China (Jilin and Heilongjiang). A few leopards have also been reported in northern Korea.

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Scientific Name: Puma concolor

The cougar is a wild cat found in many different habitats throughout North America, Central America and South America. The cougar has more names than any other animal, including mountain lion, silver lion, Mexican lion, mountain screamer, red tiger, panther, puma, deer tiger, mountain cat and catamount. Cougars are the fourth largest cat of all the wild cats and currently listed by the IUCN as Least Concern.

With less than 100 cats living in the wild, many people consider the Florida panther, a cougar subspecies, critically endangered. You can find a petition to officially list the Florida panther as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED here.

In Brazil and Peru, the cougar is considered Near Threatened." Of the four subspecies of cougar found in Canada, one has been officially listed as Endangered.

Cougar Pictures

More About the Cougar

The cougar is a member of the Puma genus. Other members of this genus include:

Puma pardoides (Owen's Panther)

Puma yagouaroundi (jaguarundi)

There have been descriptions of 32 cougar subspecies. According to genetic analysis however, there are six subspecies:

Puma concolor couguar (North America)

Puma concolor costaricensis (Central America, also known as the Costa Rican cougar)

Puma concolor anthonyi (eastern South America)

Puma concolor concolor (northern South America)

Puma concolor cabrerae (central South America, also called the Argentine puma)

Puma concolor puma (southern South America)

A possible 7th subspecies is the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) Cougars generally live between 10 to 12 years in the wild.

Range

Cougars can be found throughout Canada, the United States, Central America and South America. The geography of the areas where cougars can be found is extremely varied, including forests, swamps and mountain terrain. Males cougars roam from 93 to 600 miles, while females will roam between 65 and 310 miles.

Appearance

Male cougars weigh between 115 to 220 lbs and average around 8 ft in length from nose to tail, with a range of 4.9 to 9.0 ft. Females are smaller, weighing between 64 and 141 lbs, and averaging approximately 6.7 ft. in length. Cougars that live closer to the equator are smaller than those that live further away. The fur of the cougar is varied, from light buff to reddish-brown or even silver-grey, with a white underbelly. The tip of the cat's tail is dark, as well as its ears. Relative to its size, the hind legs of the cougar are larger than any other wild cat. They can jump vertically as high as 18 feet and horizontally up to 45 ft. The cougar can also run up to 50 mph. The cougar has long canine teeth set in muscular jaws, which enables it to grip large prey with its teeth. The cat's teeth are also extremely sharp and can cut through bone, meat and tendons.

Hunting & Prey

Cougars relay on sight more than smell when hunting. Cougars prey on deer, rodents, sheep, cattle and even horses. They will also eat insects. The cat will typically stalk and then ambush their prey.

Reproduction

Most females will have a litter once every two to three years. They will raise the cubs on their own. The average size of a litter is two cubs, with a range of one to six. The cubs will leave their mother at around two years of age.

Conservation

Conservation issues for the cougar include habitat loss, poaching, loss of prey, fragmentation, hunting and, in the case of the Florida panther, vehicle kills. Humans are the only species that prey on cougars.

Videos

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Scientific Name: Puma concolor The cougar is a wild cat found in many different habitats throughout North America, Central America and South America. The cougar has more names than any other animal, including mountain lion, silver lion, Mexican lion, mountain screamer, red tiger, panther, puma, deer tiger, mountain cat and catamount.

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Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Scientific Name: Panthera pardus orientalis

The Amur leopard. also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a big cat that inhabits parts of southeastern Russia (Primorye Krai) and northeastern China (Jilin and Heilongjiang). A few leopards have also been reported in northern Korea. The Amur leopard lives farther north than any other leopard. It is the only leopard subspecies that has adapted to a cold climate. Its fur is thick, soft and covered in spots. Overall the coat has a pale color, which helps the cat hide in the snow.

The cat is listed as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Currently, there are less than 50 Amur leopards still living in the wild. The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered wild cats on the planet.

Additional Reading:
Amur leopard conservation
Amur leopard research

About the Amur Leopard

Physical Appearance

Amur leopards are relatively small in size. Males range from 42 to 54 inches, with a tail length of 32 to 35 inches. They weigh between 70 and 100 lbs.

Females are smaller, weighing between 50 and 95 lbs. The cats coat ranges in color from various shades of yellow to gold and is covered in spots.

The leopard's fur is usually much lighter during the winter months.

Territory

The leopards maintain individual territories approximately 20 to 120 miles in size, usually in a river basin.

Lifespan

Wild Amur leopards generally live between 10 to 15 years. Captive leopards can live as long as 20 years.

Hunting & Prey

Amur Leopard prey consists of musk deer, roe deer, moose, wild pig, Manchurian wapiti (elk), hare, badger, fowl, mice and at times, young black bears. The leopard usually hunts at night.

Reproduction

Female leopards start breeding between 3 - 4 years or age. They have between one to four cubs during the spring or early summer. Most recently, the average size of a litter has only been two cats. The young cats leave their mothers within 1 to 1 ½ years.

Conservation

The serious decline of the Amur leopard population is the result of poaching, deforestation and loss of habitat due to fires. Read more about Amur leopard conservation.

Amur Leopard Facts

The Amur leopard is critically endangered, with less than 30 cats still living in the wild.

The leopard is known for its extremely thick fur.

One of the main threats to the leopard's survival is poaching.

Another key conservation concern is inbreeding of the remaining cats.

The zoo population of Amur leopards is believed to be 176.

Amur Leopard Videos

You can also watch an Amur leopard livecam set up by the Tallinn Zoo in Estonia here.

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Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Scientific Name: Panthera pardus orientalis The Amur leopard. also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a big cat that inhabits parts of southeastern Russia (Primorye Krai) and northeastern China (Jilin and Heilongjiang). A few leopards have also been reported in northern Korea.

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From tigers to cougars to fluffy your neighbour's pet, cats live all over the world. We've tracked down the largest recorded animal in each species to map and weigh them! The idea started when Earth Ranger Optimus Prime wrote a comment here on the Wild Wire that said "can you show us more life diversity bros, like big cats for example" and like the awesome bros that we are we jumped into action to bring you the top ten biggest cats.

Since measuring the mass of the largest recorded animal in each species of cat can be kinda confusing we've measured them out in pounds, kilograms and bowling balls. For the bowling balls we've used a standard 16 pound ball, the heaviest one in a regulation game, that way the next time you run into the largest cheetah you'll know he weighs around 7.4 bowling balls!

10. Caracal (Caracal caracal)

How big are we: 19kg, 42 pounds or 2.6 bowling balls

Where we live: Africa, Central Asia and Southwestern Asia
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Caracal_caracal.html
9. Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

How big are we: 23kg, 51 pounds or 3.2 bowling balls

Where we live: South of the Himalayas around Nepal, Bhutan and some areas of Northeastern India
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Neofelis_nebulosa.html
8. Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

How big are we: 36kg, 79 pounds or 4.9 bowling balls

Where we live: From Western Europe to Russia to Tibet and Central Asia
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lynx_lynx.html
7. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

How big are we: 54 kg, 119 pounds or 7.4 bowling balls

Where we live: Sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Iran
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Acinonyx_jubatus.html
6. Leopard (Panthera pardus)

How big are we: 65kg, 143 pounds or 8.9 bowling balls

Where we live: Africa and Asia
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Panthera_pardus.html
5. Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)

How big are we: 75kg, 165 pounds or 10.3 bowling balls

Where we live: Central Asia to Northwestern China and Tibet
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Uncia_uncia.html
4. Cougar (Aka Puma and Mountain Lion) (Puma concolor)

How big are we: 120kg, 264 pounds or 16.5 bowling balls

Where we live: From Southern Argentina and Chile to Southeastern Alaska
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_concolor.html
3. Jaguar (Panthera onca)

How big are we: 136kg, 299 pounds or 18.7 bowling balls

Where we live: Southern Arizona and New Mexico to Northern Argentina and Northeastern Brazil.
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Panthera_onca.html
2. Lion (Panthera leo)

How big are we: 272 kg, 598 pounds or 37.4 bowling balls

Where we live: Sub-Saharan Africa expect in desert and rainforests
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Panthera_leo.html
1. Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris)

How big are we: 423kg, 931 pounds or 58.2 bowling balls

Where we live: Northeastern China, Korea, Russia, parts of India and around the Himalayas
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Panthera_tigris.html
Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.

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Top 10 BIGGEST Cats | Earth Rangers Wild Wire Blog

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From tigers to cougars to fluffy your neighbour's pet, cats live all over the world. We've tracked down the largest recorded animal in each species to map and weigh them!

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A black panther is the melanistic color variant of any Panthera species. Black panthers in Asia and Africa are leopards (Panthera pardus) and black panthers in ...

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A black panther is the melanistic color variant of any Panthera species. Black panthers in Asia and Africa are leopards (Panthera pardus) and black panthers in ...

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At the Summer Olympics, you'll see lots of fast human beings racing each other. But how would those runners finish in a race against the fastest land animal on Earth? What animal is that? The , of course!

The 's scientific name is Acinonyx jubatus. If you've ever seen pictures of a , you know that it is a large member of the () family. You can find cheetahs throughout most of Africa and parts of the Middle East.

The is by far the fastest land animal living on Earth. How fast you might be wondering? Very fast!

Scientists estimate that cheetahs can reach speeds between 70-75 miles per hour. Of course, they can't sustain that high speed over long distances, but they can go that fast in short bursts that can cover up to 1,600 feet or more.

Cheetahs can reach those speeds very quickly, too. A 's explosive speed can take it from 0 to over 62 miles per hour in just three seconds. Now that's fast! In fact, it's about as fast as the world's most expensive sports cars can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour.

Why are cheetahs so fast? Scientists have identified several features of the that help it such speeds.

For example, cheetahs are one of only three types of cats that have semi- retractable claws. This means that cheetahs can't fully retract their claws like most other cats can. This feature gives cheetahs extra grip when chasing .

Cheetahs also have large that allow them to breathe in more oxygen when running. Their hearts and lungs are also larger than other cats of similar size, which allows them to oxygen throughout their bodies more efficiently .

Even cheetahs' tails help them run faster and turn quickly by acting like the of a ship. As they're running, cheetahs use their tails to help maintain their balance and steer when sharp turns are necessary!

So how much faster are cheetahs compared to humans? Currently, the world's fastest human being is Jamaican Usain Bolt, who set the world record in the 100-meter dash in 2009 with a blistering time of only 9.58 seconds.

That world record equates to a speed of just over 23 miles per hour. That's fast, but it's no match for the 's over 70 miles per hour!

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At the Summer Olympics, you'll see lots of fast human beings racing each other. But how would those runners finish in a race against the fastest land animal on Earth? What animal is that? The , of course! The 's scientific name is Acinonyx jubatus.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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If you've ever seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite, you're probably familiar with ligers. According to Napoleon, they're fascinating creatures bred for their skills in magic. Based upon the movie, you might think that ligers are merely a of Napoleon's imagination .

After all, they sound sort of far-fetched , don't they? Believe it or not, though, they're real! Ligers exist - and not just in the movies!

Ligers tend to have characteristics more like lions than tigers. A creature can be created that's more like a , though. This of a and a is called a .

Ligers get characteristics from both parents. They look like a big with -like stripes that are usually rather light. Larger than either parent, ligers are the largest known cats in the world. For example, Hercules, a at Jungle Island theme park in Miami, weighs over 900 pounds and is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest living cat!

Like tigers, ligers like to swim. Like lions, they tend to be very . Would you like to run into a at your local pool? Probably not!

Ligers are hybrids that are created by human breeders in zoos or nature preserves. There is very little chance that a would be produced in the wild, since tigers are found mainly in Asia while lions are found mainly in Africa.

In the distant past, the two species had far greater ranges that may have overlapped. While it's possible that a may have occurred in the wild many, many years ago, it's not very likely. Ligers have almost always been the result of purposeful breeding in by human caretakers.

Ligers can be traced all the way back to the early 1800s. Historical records, including artworks from that time period, show lions and tigers and their .

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If you've ever seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite, you're probably familiar with ligers. According to Napoleon, they're fascinating creatures bred for their skills in magic. Based upon the movie, you might think that ligers are merely a of Napoleon's imagination . After all, they sound sort of far-fetched , don't they?

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If you have brothers and sisters, you know it's completely for arguments to take place from time to time. OK...it's completely for arguments to take place all the time! This doesn't mean you don't love each other, though.

It just means you spend a lot of time together and it's only to have disagreements. You may even hear parents say their kids "fight like cats and dogs."

"Fighting like cats and dogs" is a common phrase that people use to mean people argue, fight or don't get along. If you like cartoons, you've probably seen many that cats and dogs fighting like . There have even been movies made that pit cats against dogs.

If you observe cats and dogs or ask people who own both cats and dogs, you will get lots of on the subject. Cats and dogs will obviously fight from time to time. There is no doubt that some dogs will chase cats and maybe even harm them if given the chance.

However, people who own both dogs and cats will also tell you that they can easily be trained to get along. In fact, many will show you that dogs and cats can play together and even sleep curled up together.

As with many questions in life, there's simply no easy answer to the question of whether dogs and cats can get along. Dogs and cats are different in many ways that can make it difficult for them to get along. However, with and the right circumstances , cats and dogs can be best buds.

For example, dogs tend to be social animals that are naturally . Cats, on the other hand, tend to be more independent . A dog that wants to play might seem aggressive and intimidating to a cat. This may lead the cat to defend itself against an attack that's really just a desire to play.

Likewise, dogs - especially puppies - like to chase each other. It's a fun game. Chasing cats can be just as fun as chasing other dogs...unless you're the cat, of course. Again, cats may interpret such behavior as a threat.

Even something dogs and cats have in common - tails - can make things confusing. When a dog wags its tail, it's sending a friendly message: "I'm happy. Let's play." Cats, however, wag their tails when they're angry. You can see how this might lead cats and dogs to become confused if they're facing each other with wagging tails!

Although dogs and cats aren't really , dogs are hunters by nature. This means that they might hunt and chase anything that moves - including a cat. This behavior that could cause problems between dogs and cats can be controlled by special training - called socialization - when the animals meet for the first time.

Although there are many to interaction between cats and dogs, it is possible for them to get along. It just takes time, and a desire for / harmony. And even if they get along for a while, it doesn't mean that they won't have spats from time to time...just like you and your brothers and sisters!

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If you have brothers and sisters, you know it's completely for arguments to take place from time to time. OK...it's completely for arguments to take place all the time! This doesn't mean you don't love each other, though. It just means you spend a lot of time together and it's only to have disagreements.

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If you are ever lost in the jungle, there are a few animals you'd better watch out for. What are we talking about? Big cats, of course! And, no, we don't mean fat, furry felines named Fluffy. We mean the really big cats.

In general, the animals referred to as big cats include four : tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars. The term big cat is not a scientific term. Instead, it's an term used to distinguish the larger of cats from the smaller ones.

A few other sometimes are included when talking about big cats. For example, some people include cougars, cheetahs, snow leopards and clouded leopards. Tigers are the largest of the big cat , and the biggest cat of all is the Amur (Siberian) tiger. These impressive animals can weigh more than 750 pounds and grow longer than 10 feet! However, there is a new "super lion" recently found in Africa. Unlike most cats, the super lion likes swimming, has developed stronger muscles, and is 15% larger than other typical lions.

Big cats can be found in North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Despite big differences in size, the various big cats are remarkably similar in how their bodies are structured and how they behave. The one exception to this rule is the , which is quite different from any of the other big or small cats.

Big cats are carnivores. This means they eat other animals. They're also the only cats that can roar. Their ability to roar comes from a special with walls that vibrate and produce sound when air passes through the from the lungs.

Lions have the longest , which means they can roar the loudest. Cheetahs and snow leopards can't roar, despite having similar throat structures. For this reason, some people exclude them from the list of big cats.

Although big cats are known for being , they actually have more to fear from us than we do from them. All the big cats are endangered, mainly from habitat destruction and poaching. Today, many countries have established conservation areas to protect the remaining big cat populations.

Think you know a lot about big cats? Here are some interesting facts you may not know:

An adult lion's roar is really loud! It can be heard up to five miles away.

Snow leopards can leap up to seven times their own body length in a single jump.

The tiger's stripes are like a fingerprint. No two tigers have the same exact pattern.

The is the strongest climber of the big cats. It can carry prey twice its weight up into a tree.

The takes its name from a Native American word that means "he who kills with one leap."

Lions in the wild usually live 12-16 years. In , they can live up to 25 years.

Tigers don't avoid water like many cats and are excellent swimmers.

Lions are the only big cats that live in groups, which are called prides.

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If you are ever lost in the jungle, there are a few animals you'd better watch out for. What are we talking about? Big cats, of course! And, no, we don't mean fat, furry felines named Fluffy. We mean the really big cats.

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How do cats always land on all four feet?

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How do cats always land on all four feet?

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The cat slowly made its way along the edge of the top of the bookcase. Silently stalking its , the kitty waited until just the right time before pouncing. Unfortunately, the bird in its sights was outside the window. After bouncing off the window, the cat yelped, twisted in mid-air, and still managed to land safely on all four feet!

Have you ever seen something like this happen? If you've spent much time around cats, you've probably heard the old that cats always land on all four feet when they fall. You may have even seen this happen once or twice. Don't you wish you could fall with such and ?

Can it be true? Do cats some type of magical ability to the laws of gravity? Do their paws contain special elements that make them more attractive to Earth's gravitational pull?

Scientists who have studied cats will tell you that they aren't magicians. They also don't have special gravitational paws. They do, however, have bodies with some interesting characteristics that can explain the phenomenon of landing on all four feet.

The falling behavior of cats has been noticed for thousands of years. It wasn't until science and technology allowed researchers to capture video of cats falling, though, that their was discovered. Examining slow-motion video footage allowed researchers finally to understand how cats land on their feet when they fall.

Researchers found that cats an innate ability that they call the righting . The righting allows cats to determine up from down quickly during a fall and to their bodies into position to land on all four feet.

For example, when a cat falls, it uses either its eyesight or its balance system in its inner ear (called the vestibular ) to determine which way is up. Cats have an incredible sense of balance, and their highly-flexible backbones allow them to rotate their upper bodies quickly to face downward. Their lower bodies then follow along, allowing them to land on all four feet.

Cats have a few other features that help them land consistently on all fours. Their small bodies are able to twist quickly in the air, and their light bone structure and thick fur helps to the impact of a fall. Some cats even stretch out a bit during a fall in order to create more air resistance to slow their fall.

Cats do not always land on all four feet, unfortunately. Studies have shown that falls of 12 inches or less will not necessarily give cats enough time to right themselves in order to land on all four feet. When falls exceed 12 inches, though, it's a pretty good bet that a cat will land on its feet.

Landing on its feet from a fall doesn't mean that cats cannot be injured, though. Depending upon the height of the fall, cats can still suffer injuries from impact even when they land on all four feet. Veterinarians can tell you all sorts of stories about broken legs and other injuries suffered by cats in falls.

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How Do Cats Always Land on All Four Feet?

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The cat slowly made its way along the edge of the top of the bookcase. Silently stalking its , the kitty waited until just the right time before pouncing. Unfortunately, the bird in its sights was outside the window. After bouncing off the window, the cat yelped, twisted in mid-air, and still managed to land safely on all four feet!

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Pati from Virginia Beach, VA. Pati Wonders, " Why do cats purr? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Pati!

A dog may be man's best friend, but loud barking can be quite unpleasant. On the other hand, there's an animal that's furry and cuddly and makes some of the most soothing sounds the ear can hear. What are we talking about? A purring , of course!

If you've ever spent much time with a feline friend, you know the tell-tale purring sound that's unique to cats. Somewhere between a low rumbling and an idling lawn mower engine, a 's is a distinctive sound that's hard to miss.

But what does it mean? If you've ever seen a resting in the sunshine, you might assume that the purring you hear means the is and . That may certainly be the case, as you might very well hear similar purring when you're snuggling with a and scratching it behind the ears.

Experts who have studied cats, however, will tell you that purring doesn't necessarily equate to happiness and contentment. Instead, studies have shown that purring can express a of emotions and serve multiple purposes.

For example, some experts believe purring is a basic form of communication that mother cats teach kittens when they're just a few days old. In addition to helping a mother and her kittens keep track of each other, purring may also be an early bonding .

Purring, especially when combined with a pleading or , can also be used to communicate hunger. Experts believe this combination of sounds may the cries of human babies, leading to a more effective way of getting their owners' attention when they're hungry.

Studies have shown that cats also when they're or in . If that seems strange to you, consider that purring when in might be a cats use to soothe themselves.

In fact, experts who have studied cats believe that purring might actually help cats recover more quickly from injuries. The low of purrs causes vibrations within the body that have been shown to help heal bones and wounds, build muscle, reduce , repair tendons, decrease swelling, and make breathing easier.

While it may seem strange that purring could have so many meanings and purposes, some experts believe purring is similar to something that humans do often: smiling. If you think about it, you probably smile when you're and , as well as when you're and sometimes even when you feel . You might also flash that smile when you're hungry and you want your parents to fix you a snack!

Purring occurs in some species of big cats, too. For example, bobcats, cheetahs, lynxes, and pumas are all known to . Purring is different from meowing in that it occurs during the entire respiratory cycle (both inhaling and exhaling).

Although scientists still don't completely understand how cats , most experts today believe that a special, repetitive activity in the 's brain (called a neural oscillator) triggers special voice box muscles to open and close the glottis, which is the space between the vocal cords. As the vocal cords separate repeatedly, the purring sound is created as the muscles push air past the vocal cords.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Pati from Virginia Beach, VA. Pati Wonders, " Why do cats purr? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Pati! A dog may be man's best friend, but loud barking can be quite unpleasant.

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Do you have pets? Many people who welcome animals into their lives will tell you that pets enrich their lives beyond measure. Whether it's a dog, cat, turtle, fish, or something more exotic, pets can make life more fun and exciting for sure.

For example, when you get home after a long day of school, there's nothing quite like an excited dog waiting to give you a big, sloppy kiss on the cheek. That wagging tail can turn a frown upside-down even after the worst of days.

Of course, if you have a cat, you might not be greeted by a wagging tail. Instead, it might be a soft cuddle. And you probably wouldn't want a sloppy, wet kiss from a cat anyway! Why? Have you ever felt a cat's ? It's like !

A cat's is covered with papillae, which are small, hook-shaped growths that point toward the back of the mouth. They're sort of like hairs, because they're are made from , which is the same material that your fingernails are made from.

Under a microscope, a cat's looks like a filled with thousands of tiny teeth. Although they make a cat's very , papillae play an important in the life of the cat.

If you have a cat or have ever spent much time around one, you know that cats tend to be quite meticulous about their hair. Many cats spend a lot of time every day carefully grooming themselves. And how do they do that? That's right! They themselves with their tongues, and the papillae act in much the same way that a regular comb does.

Unfortunately, there's a downside to papillae when it comes to grooming. Due to their shape, papillae tend to trap any hairs that come loose during grooming. What gets stuck on a cat's usually gets swallowed. That's why many cats occasionally have to hack up hair balls that have accumulated in their throats and stomachs.

Papillae also come in handy when hunting and eating. Although cats have strong jaws, papillae help cats to hold tight in their mouths. When it comes time to eat, papillae also help cats pick up small bits of food that might otherwise be missed or wasted.

Many people have often assumed that a cat's also is used like a to lap up water when it drinks. While the is an important part of the drinking process for a cat, it wasn't until recently that scientists made an incredible about how exactly the process of drinking occurs.

Using high-speed photography , scientists were able to break down exactly what occurs when a cat drinks water. Instead of the into a , cats actually curl the upper side of the downward and then it rapidly across the of the water before quickly drawing it upward.

This particular action causes a column of water to rise up from the . The cat then closes its mouth quickly, just in time to catch the water before draws it back down to the . How quickly does all of this occur? Very quickly! Cats lap their tongues when drinking at the of about four times per second, which explains why the process is invisible to the naked eye.

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Do you have pets? Many people who welcome animals into their lives will tell you that pets enrich their lives beyond measure. Whether it's a dog, cat, turtle, fish, or something more exotic, pets can make life more fun and exciting for sure.

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If you are ever lost in the jungle, there are a few animals you'd better watch out for. What are we talking about? Big cats, of course! And, no, we don't mean fat, furry felines named Fluffy. We mean the really big cats.

In general, the animals referred to as big cats include four : tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars. The term big cat is not a scientific term. Instead, it's an term used to distinguish the larger of cats from the smaller ones.

A few other sometimes are included when talking about big cats. For example, some people include cougars, cheetahs, snow leopards and clouded leopards. Tigers are the largest of the big cat , and the biggest cat of all is the Amur (Siberian) tiger. These impressive animals can weigh more than 750 pounds and grow longer than 10 feet! However, there is a new "super lion" recently found in Africa. Unlike most cats, the super lion likes swimming, has developed stronger muscles, and is 15% larger than other typical lions.

Big cats can be found in North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Despite big differences in size, the various big cats are remarkably similar in how their bodies are structured and how they behave. The one exception to this rule is the , which is quite different from any of the other big or small cats.

Big cats are carnivores. This means they eat other animals. They're also the only cats that can roar. Their ability to roar comes from a special with walls that vibrate and produce sound when air passes through the from the lungs.

Lions have the longest , which means they can roar the loudest. Cheetahs and snow leopards can't roar, despite having similar throat structures. For this reason, some people exclude them from the list of big cats.

Although big cats are known for being , they actually have more to fear from us than we do from them. All the big cats are endangered, mainly from habitat destruction and poaching. Today, many countries have established conservation areas to protect the remaining big cat populations.

Think you know a lot about big cats? Here are some interesting facts you may not know:

An adult lion's roar is really loud! It can be heard up to five miles away.

Snow leopards can leap up to seven times their own body length in a single jump.

The tiger's stripes are like a fingerprint. No two tigers have the same exact pattern.

The is the strongest climber of the big cats. It can carry prey twice its weight up into a tree.

The takes its name from a Native American word that means "he who kills with one leap."

Lions in the wild usually live 12-16 years. In , they can live up to 25 years.

Tigers don't avoid water like many cats and are excellent swimmers.

Lions are the only big cats that live in groups, which are called prides.

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If you are ever lost in the jungle, there are a few animals you'd better watch out for. What are we talking about? Big cats, of course! And, no, we don't mean fat, furry felines named Fluffy. We mean the really big cats.

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You're heading home from a long day at school. The few blocks you have to walk to your house usually fly by as you look forward to an after-school snack. After a day full of tests, though, you're moving more slowly than normal.

Suddenly, up ahead, you notice something in the distance. In the light, you can't make out exactly what it is. As you approach, it takes shape. It's a black and, as it hears your footsteps, it streaks across the street directly in front of you.

Oh no! What should you do? Should you stop, turn around, and take the long way home by going around the block? Or should you press on, ignoring the feeling in the of your stomach? After all, it's probably just a silly superstition , right? Could a black crossing your really bring bad ?

That's exactly what many people believe. Black cats have been associated with bad and for hundreds of years. But why? How exactly did a cuddly little kitty get such a bad reputation ?

After all, things certainly didn't start that way for the humble . Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians revered and even worshipped cats. A person caught killing a could face the death penalty.

So what happened? Most historians trace superstitions about black cats back to Europe in the Middle Ages. At that time, some older women were accused of witchcraft and practicing black . Many of these women had cats as companions, so they became by association .

This belief was solidified by a piece of widespread that began circulating in the mid-16 th century. According to legend, a father and son were traveling together on a moonless night, when a black crossed their .

They threw stones at the until the poor, injured animal found its way into the nearby home of a woman suspected of being a witch. The next day, the father and son saw the woman bruised and limping, which led them to begin telling everyone that the woman - and thus all other witches - could turn into black cats at night to the streets .

This belief was eventually echoed in America during the time of the Salem witch trials. Of course, the association between black cats and or bad is nothing more than a superstition . Still, it remains a belief held by many people. In fact, the next time Halloween rolls around, take notice of how many black cats you see on Halloween decorations.

It's not all bad news for black cats, however. There are some places in the world where black cats are honored. For example, many people in Scotland, Great Britain, Japan, and Russia view black cats as signs of good and prosperity!

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You're heading home from a long day at school. The few blocks you have to walk to your house usually fly by as you look forward to an after-school snack. After a day full of tests, though, you're moving more slowly than normal. Suddenly, up ahead, you notice something in the distance.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by name-hanna from live in canada. name-hanna Wonders, " do cats have 9 lives? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, name-hanna!

Have you ever heard someone say that cats have nine lives? What's up with that? Is it true? If so, who keeps count?

To the of dogs everywhere, we can say without a that cats have but one life to live. The "nine lives" story is just a popular that has been around for hundreds of years.

Myths are old stories (sometimes called "legends") that a person, animal, hero, or event. Although they have no in , they usually try to explain some idea or natural phenomenon .

So where did the about cats having nine lives come from? No one knows for sure. We do know, though, that it's been around for a long time.

William Shakespeare refers to the nine lives in his play Romeo and Juliet. There is also an ancient that claims, "A cat has nine lives. For three he plays, for three he strays and for the last three he stays."

Some people believe the nine lives is related to cats' ability to always land on their feet. Cats are also known for their and .

Over time, people witnessed cats survive in situations that surely would have severely injured other animals. Some people likely began to believe that cats must have multiple lives.

In ancient Egypt, cats were animals that were worshipped as gods. Ancient Egyptians believed that cats were creatures with or supernatural powers. The idea that they could have multiple lives fit right in with their view of cats.

But why nine lives? No one knows the answer to that one either. There are many possibilities.

For example, the ancient Egyptian sun god, Atum-Ra, was believed to take the form of a cat on visits to the underworld. has it that Atum-Ra gave birth to eight other gods and thus represented nine lives in one.

Others believe the number may have come from China, where the number nine is considered lucky. The number nine - sometimes called "the of trinities" - is also believed to be mystical in many religions and regions around the world.

The that cats have multiple lives exists in many cultures around the world. It's not always nine lives, though. Some Spanish-speaking regions believe cats have seven lives, while Turkish and Arabic legends claim cats have six lives.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by name-hanna from live in canada. name-hanna Wonders, " do cats have 9 lives? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, name-hanna! Have you ever heard someone say that cats have nine lives? What's up with that? Is it true? If so, who keeps count?

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Have you ever seen a cat play with a toy filled with ? If you have, you've probably seen some really funny .

is a plant from the family. Its scientific name is Nepeta cataria,and it's sometimes called "catmint" or "catswort."

Although can have its effect when grown as a fresh plant, most toys contain that has been dried and ground into tiny pieces.

The leaves and stems of the plant contain an oil called "nepetalactone." When cats smell nepetalactone, it stimulates special receptors that sense chemicals called "pheromones."

Whether a cat reacts to is believed to be hereditary , which means cats inherit this from their parents. For example, most Australian cats aren't affected by .

Nepetalactone drives some cats crazy, but it can also drive mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and termites away. Researchers have found that nepetalactone by itself is 10 times more effective than DEET, the ingredient in most insect repellents. Unfortunately, nepetalactone loses its qualities when applied to the skin.

also has a long history of use by humans as a medicine. When consumed as a tea or , it has soothing and numbing effects that act like a mild sedative. Humans have also used it from time to time to treat , headaches and toothaches.

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Have you ever seen a cat play with a toy filled with ? If you have, you've probably seen some really funny . is a plant from the family. Its scientific name is Nepeta cataria,and it's sometimes called "catmint" or "catswort."