Technically, the mountain lion is classified as a “small” cat based on its tendency to purr instead of roar, but the cat is still a fierce predator that can be found from Canada to southern South America in forests, prairies, deserts and swamps. A subspecies of the mountain lion is even found in the swaps of Florida, but the subspecies is extremely endangered and only around 50 cats remain.
Mountain lions all have slender frames and a flexible spine. Their color varies based on their home climate: reddish brown cats live in warm climates while cats with grey, longer hair are found in colder environments. Like most cat species, males weigh more than females do, and all cats have strong hind legs that give them the muscles needed to pounce on prey. Consequently, mountain lions tend to kill by surprising prey with a fierce jump. The animals commonly hunt deer, raccoons, rabbits, and squirrels, but they may sometimes attempt to take down a larger animal, like a moose. The mountain lions may even bury part of their food after a kill to save it for later.
Unlike some cat species, mountain lions are solitary. Each cat has its own home range which may overlap, but cats tend not to interact. They instead communicate their presence through scent marks, scratches in trees or by letting out a “call,” that is similar to a high-pitched whistle. The cats are most active around dusk, and find shelter all over their home ranges – from caves to thick brush.
One to six mountain lion cubs are born at a time and are cared for by their mothers. They are born with spots, which help to hide them from predators, but the spots fade when the cubs are about six months old and learn to hunt. Although they cannot hunt until six months of age, they can eat meat at about six weeks. The cubs will go off on their own between a year and 18 months of age.
Here is a video of mountain lions at the Cincinnati Zoo!
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/mountain-lion-puma-cougar
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