Cheetahs - Cats - Pictures

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Cheetahs - Cats - Reproduction and Life Cycle

Male and female Cheetahs meet only during the mating period. Cheetahs can breed throughout the year. Breeding periods are not long. As a rule, a breeding period in the Cheetah lasts about 1 to 3 days. The gestation period is about 90-95 days. The size of the litter can reach 8 cubs. However, the average size is about 4 cubs.

The cubs are born blind and weigh about 250-300 grams. They have a sort of mane that is believed to help them bend with the brush, thus avoiding predators. With time, this mane disappears. The mother rears the young alone. She moves them from one place to another every few days to avoid predation. However, when the female Cheetah has to hunt, she leaves the juvenile alone. Such periods are very dangerous for the cubs. It has been estimated that about 90% of the cubs die when left alone. The cubs are killed by the Cheetah's natural enemies, which are mostly lions.

By the age of three to six months, the cubs are completely weaned. They will remain with the female for another 1-1.5 years. During this time, a female Cheetah will teach the young to hunt. By the age of 2 years old, Cheetahs reach sexual maturity. The life span of the Cheetah in the wild is about 12 years. In captivity, Cheetahs can live to be 16 years of age.

Cheetahs - Cats - Social Behavior

Females leave the mother and find their own home range usually near the mother's homeland. They live a solitary life except for breeding periods and the periods of rearing the young. As for male Cheetahs, they form packs that are believed to be a helping hand in protecting their home ranges and hunting.

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