It is 7 feet in length including a 2 1/2 foot tail. It weighs from 100 to 150 pounds. Is head is small and round and its jaws are weaker than most big cats. It does not have retractable claws or climbing abilities.
Its fur is yellowish with black equally distributed spots. Its tail has rings, ears are short with light tips and two dark lines run down the side of the face to the mouth. On its neck is a small mane. It can purr but cannot roar.
Unlike most of the other big cats, it hunts during the early morning hours. It hunts by sight not scent. It cautiously approaches it prey by slithering on its belly and quickly leaps and bites the underside of the throat. If its prey escapes, it can reach speeds up to 70 mph to recapture it. It likes to eat gazelles, blackbucks, hares and guinea hens.
It is the fastest land animal on earth. Its large nostrils, enlarged heart and lungs give it the ability to increase its oxygen intake. It can run at high speeds for short distances. Although it is a fast animal, it cannot defend itself against other predators very well. It avoids fighting and will give up its kill if threatened. Because of its speed , it has no known predators. Its life span is up to twelve years in the wild, 20 years in captivity. The cubs have a high mortality rate due to genetic factors and vulnerability to lions and hyenas.
Since ancient Egypt, cheetahs have been kept as pets and trained to hunt. It also was once hunted for its fur. Today, it is considered a vulnerable and threatened species due to its shrinking habitat, prey and inbreeding. In India, it has become extinct primarily due to hunting. The Indian government is undertaking a program to import them from Africa to reestablish the population.
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