Big cat facts: lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and snow leopards
BigCatWise is a free, plain English guide to the world's big cats. It covers what each species looks like, how it hunts and lives, where it is found and how it is faring in the wild, with sources from the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, leading zoos, conservation groups and peer reviewed research.
Compare all six big cats Which big cat is it?Lion
The only social big cat
Tiger
The largest cat on Earth
Leopard
The most widespread big cat
Jaguar
Big cat of the Americas
Cheetah
The fastest land animal
Snow leopard
Ghost of the mountains
Which big cat is it?
ID guide and big cats by region
Compare all six
Size, range, status, numbers
Behavior
Hunting, prides, roaring
Habitats
Where each species lives
Conservation
Threats and what helps
FAQ and myths
Quick answers
Glossary
Terms explained
Blog
Answers to big cat questions
Big cats at a glance
- The tiger is the largest cat, at up to about 325 kg, and every tiger's stripes are unique.
- The lion is the only big cat that lives in groups, called prides.
- The leopard has the widest range, across Africa and Asia.
- The jaguar is the only big cat in the Americas and kills prey with a skull piercing bite.
- The cheetah is the fastest land animal; wild cheetahs have been measured at 93 km/h.
- The snow leopard lives at 3,000 to 5,000 m and cannot roar.
- All six are listed on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened or worse. See conservation.