Top 10 Facts About Mountain Lions

The mountain lion is a large cat native to the Americas and is one of the most widely distributed mammals in the Western Hemisphere.

The Top Ten

Mountain lions are classified as the largest of the small cats

Mountain lions lack the ability to roar, which is a defining characteristic of big cats such as tigers, lions, and leopards. Instead, they make soft chirping sounds, can purr, and do not belong to the Panthera genus. This genus includes the big cats that can roar.
They are classified in the Felinae subfamily, which includes other small to medium-sized cats.
Mountain lions have a lifespan of only ten years
Mountain lions hold the Guinness World Record for the mammal with the most names

Mountain lions are known by more than 40 names in English alone. Cougar, mountain lion, catamount, and panther all refer to the same animal, the puma. The puma has many recognized subspecies, including the Florida panther and the Colorado cougar.
Common names include: mountain lion, puma, cougar, panther, catamount, Florida panther, painter, ghost cat, red tiger, American lion, southern panther, Puma concolor (scientific name), eastern cougar, western cougar, North American lion, High Sierra lion, Rocky Mountain lion, Cascade cougar, northern puma, southern mountain lion, Canadian cougar, coastal cougar, desert puma, and others.
Mountain lions have a monochrome coat

Mountain lions have a single coat color, though the exact shade varies among individuals. Most have beige fur, but it can range from silvery gray to reddish brown. Their undersides are typically lighter in color.
Mountain lions survived the last Ice Age

Pumas survived the last Ice Age due to their adaptability and varied diet. This allowed them to live in diverse habitats and prey on a wide range of species.
Mountain lions purr

Felines can either roar or purr, but they cannot do both. The four largest cats, which are the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard, are capable of roaring, while pumas are not.
Pumas can purr, growl, hiss, scream, and even meow.
Mountain lions are born athletes

They can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) and are also highly skilled jumpers. Pumas hold the Guinness World Record for the highest jump ever recorded by a mammal.
Mountain lions are ambush predators

While many predators chase after their prey, pumas are ambush predators. They hide and wait for unsuspecting animals to pass by, then leap onto the prey and kill it with a bite to the neck.
Mountain lions are solitary animals

These cats prefer to live alone and typically only share territory when raising cubs. Adult males may temporarily enter another's territory during the mating season.
Female mountain lions can give birth to up to six cubs

Female pumas are pregnant for about three months before giving birth to a litter of up to six cubs. While they can breed throughout the year, mating most often occurs between December and March. Births peak between February and September.