Continuing in the vein of snow leopards being the most extra cats ever, here’s mom Kira being “surprised” by one of her cubs. Sisters Naphisa and Pandora were born at the Stone Zoo on May 6th. Since those videos of big cats “over-reacting” to being pounced by their cubs are so popular, I asked where this behavior comes from – are they really hamming it up, or is it genuine surprise? One of Kira’s zookeepers noted it looks a lot like her normal play behaviors, so there’s a good chance it’s one of her ways of playing with her cubs. Since most play behaviors are crucial to teaching baby animals the skills they’ll need to survive as adults, it makes sense that snow leopard play would include stalking and pouncing!
Video courtesy of Katie, an educator at Stone Zoo in Stoneham, MA.
I didn’t know cheetahs meow I’ve always thought they roar my whole life has been a lie
Ok but the other one is purring so hard
If I ever don’t reblog this assume I’m dead
Fun fact: technically, because of its inability to roar and its ability to purr, the cheetah is not a ‘big cat’ (or Great Cat) – they are still classified as Lesser Cats.
Also you haven’t heard anything until you hear them cheep.
This is like, the perfect advertising to become a veterinarian. You get to spend all day with other people’s pets, loving on them and comforting them, and getting paid for it.
artherra 