All cats are great climbers. Once they scramble to the highest point, on the other hand, their skill level plummets. There is a reason firemen are known for rescuing pet cats from trees. Big cats get trapped in trees, too, just as our wayward mountain lion has. Yet trees are an ideal place for napping, stalking prey, or devouring the latest kill without having to share it with scavengers.
Only cheetahs cannot climb trees. As the only cat without fully retractable claws, their semi-retractable nails are not made for climbing. But they are made for sprinting. Cheetahs are the world’s fastest animal, hitting top speeds of 75 mph. Interestingly, the cheetah is also the only wildcat that can purr but not roar.
Bath Time!
Like it or not, it’s bath time for this little tiger cub. Iris, an Amur tigress, is taking good care of her little one. The cub is just seven weeks old in this picture, born in August 2011. This picture is the perfect piece of evidence showing that moms are universally programmed the same way, regardless of species. This is also what it feels like for every young kid whose mom licks her thumb and then cleans their face. No kid enjoys it, including this cub by the look of things. But that's life, buddy!
It was the cub's first visit to an open-air cage. They both live at the Royev Ruchey Zoo in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. What an adorable picture!
Tiger Temple
This tiger looks happy enough, lapping up some food from a monk's bowl. Tiger Temple, located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, doesn’t have a stellar reputation. It’s true that Thai monks have taken in rescue tigers, but, unfortunately, it has been to exploit the creatures. Asians have a deep and long-held respect for tigers, and Tiger Temple charges an admission fee to see them.
Based on a report of the care the animals received, 39 groups, including the Humane Society International and the WWF, sent a letter urging the National Parks of Thailand to take a stand against the treatment of the tigers. Tiger Temple is accused of mistreating the beasts. Tiger Temple was also accused of secret illegal breeding. In 2016, the Thailand Wildlife Conservation Office began shutting down the facility and investigating it for alleged wildlife smuggling.
There’s Something About a Christmas Tree Cats Cannot Resist
Kitty cats become obsessed as soon as a Christmas tree is placed within their territory - sorry - your home. Whether it’s the ornaments or having a bit of nature inside, the tree can serve as anything from a new climbing structure to endless entertainment.
Guess what! Big cats are just as obsessed over conical-shaped pine trees. In fact, the folks over at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jacksonville, Florida, love to provide their lions, tigers, and other big cats with seasonal toys. Drop off your Christmas tree, if you’re in the area, and make a big cat very happy. It’s a great way to recycle your tree!
King of the Wheelbarrow
There's an age-old saying, "If I fit, I sit," that cats will live and die by. This is one such example. Cats are territorial. The king of the beasts in this photo looks fairly set on commanding this great and mighty green machine. On the other hand, zoo ground crews may never again retrieve their wheelbarrow.
If you've had a kitty, it's pretty obvious that your sweet little feline gravitates to high places. From the top of the stairs, or from a secure vantage on the landing, we sometimes see our pet cats studiously observing the action downstairs. In the wild, cats will head up to high places such as trees to hide and prey.