MOre than spots

Learn about the AWESOME features that make cheetahs different from other wild cats.

What makes cheetahs SO special?

Cheetahs make sounds &
have a lot to say.
Cheetahs have many different sounds and ways to communicate. They can do all of these:
  • Chirping sounds like bird chirps & this helps find each other, especially young cubs find mom.
  • Stuttering is used when meeting & greeting other cheetahs.
  • Growling also includes spitting and hissing. This is used when in danger or threatened.
  • Yowling is a more intense form of growling & is used as danger increases.
  • Purring is a wonderful vibration sound that expresses contentment (happiness) especially between mom & cubs.
Cheetahs have good noses.
Cheetahs have a very good sense of smell and can pick up scents laid by other cheetahs. Cheetahs can communicate with other cheetahs by leaving their scent on trees, vegetation and termite mounds with their urine or poop. A unique way to stay in touch!
Cheetahs do not roar.
Cheetahs are the only wild cat that can not roar. Cheetahs have a one-piece hyoid bone structure in their throat which constricts their ability to roar. All of the other wild cats have a two-piece hyoid bone structure and can roar. Cheetah can chirp, stutter, growl, yowl and purr. Yes, cheetahs purr just like our domestic cats and they can do it loudly. It's a wonderful sound to hear!
Cheetah Tidbits
Seeing Spots!Cheetahs have an average of 2000 - 3000 spots. That's a LOT of spots! Each cheetah is unique because has it's very own pattern of spots. Much like our fingerprints.
Photo ©2022 Virginia Safari Park
King Cheetahs are very rare.
King cheetahs are cheetahs that stand out as looking different because of their fur markings. King cheetahs have stripes down their spines, sometimes several stripes and larger spots in areas. This different fur marking is a result of a fur mutation. A fur mutation is a variation that occurs in the fur gene inherited from one parent or the combination of both parents. King cheetahs are born this way and are very rare. King cheetahs have been sighted on very, very few occasions over the last century in the countries of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. It would be extremely special to see one.
Cheetahs have an unique look.
Cheetahs look polka-dotted!! Cheetahs have solid black spots on golden-tan fur coats with black tear stains along side their noses. Fascinating to know that their fur coat grows from skin that is spotted with black spots and yellow-ish color. They have long tails with stripes along the end and typically a black tip. Every cheetah has a different marking on their tail. They have a slimmer build than a leopard or jaguar. Although what they lack in strength they make up with SPEED.
Cheetahs have good daytime eyesight.
Cheetahs have great eyesight and can see  their prey up to 3 miles/5 km away. That's far, almost like their eyes are binoculars!
Cheetahs have black tear lines.
Cheetahs have black tear lines along side their noses to help block the sun's bright glare when they are hunting. These lines are called tear stains or malar stripes. These also make their growl look more fierce when defending their food or territory. You know it's a cheetah if it has tears!
Cheetahs have lots of black spots.
Cheetahs have lots of black solid spots to help them camouflage in their habitat on the savanna. This makes it harder for predators to see cheetahs in the tall grasses. A fascinating fact is that the black spots grow out of black spotted skin while the yellowish-beige fur grows out of yellowish-beige skin.
The word "Cheetah" comes from the one of world's oldest languages, Sanskrit.
Cheetah is devired from the word "chitraka" which means the "spotted one" in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is one of 22 languages in India. Sanskrit is believed to be the one of oldest languages in the world.

What to learn more about cheetahs?

Know Your Spots

Leopard
Leopards have circle spots.
Cheetah
Cheetahs have solid black spots.
Jaguar
Jaguars have rosettes with a circle and dot.
"Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem." - Winnie the Pooh (A.A.Milne)
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