is this a cheetah?

[pmer]

101317

It was guarding my laptop. Isn't it too chunky to have the speed of the fastest cat on earth.

Might need more than 7 1/2 bird shot for that one.

[3leggedturtle]

Its a leopard

[mikeym1a]

Yes, a leopard, and a small one. The cheetah has different shaped legs and muzzle.

[runfiverun]

cheeta's are thin and long they have a long delicate neck shape and a smallish head.
more like long distance runners versus a sprinter body type like the leopard has.

[fouronesix]

Yep, cheetahs are easy to tell from leopards and jaguars. Leopards and jaguars have shorter legs and are of much heavier build. Leopards and jaguars are very similar so.... in zoos, as mounted specimens or even in photos, the easiest way to differentiate is by coat pattern. Leopards have black rosettes with no internal spots, jaguars have black rosettes with internal black spots while cheetahs have simple black spots.

pics below

[DanWalker]

And cheetahs have really bad breath. I was literally nose to nose with one in Africa two years ago. We went to a cheetah rehabilitation center and paid extra for a private tour to include interacting with the cats. I was the first one of us to go over and pet the cheetah. He stood up when I squatted down and touched his back, and we were nose to nose, looking into each others eyes. He let out a low growl that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Remember the old saying,"didn't know whether to $hit or go blind?" That was me. Evidently something in my demeanor riled him. That, and tracking game on foot with a native African tracker, are two of my favorite memories of that trip. Thank you very much for reminding me of that time...

[CHeatermk3]

A CHeetah is a 22 caliber wildcat based on either the .308 win or .308 win palma(small primer) cartridge.

[pmer]

That leopard was in a lunch room at a Gander Mountain corporate facility. I was working on some door access there.

So they can get bigger than that?

[nanuk]

....He let out a low growl that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. .....

might have been purring

I had the opportunity one night in a bar to pet one.... and when he started purring... well, as you said...

the one I met was a tame one, and was used around schools to teach kids.

some facts: cheetahs are very similar to house cats. they are the only cat 'sides a feline domesticus that can purr. Also, their joints move like a domesticus, that is why they run different and FAASSSTTTT!!!!!

[fouronesix]

And here I thought Cheetah was kinda short, had bow legs, wore diapers and hung around with Tarzan.

Cheetahs are also unusual among cats in that they don't have retractile claws to keep them sharp for climbing. The exposed claws help dig in when running, turning. Feet designed somewhat like those of canines.

[aspangler]

Cheeta = not playing fair. :kidding:

[roverboy]

Good catch there. lol.

[Just Duke]

Cheetah

[Just Duke]

Looks like a Snow Leopard with a summer coat. He's fat guys.

[luvtn]

He is stuffed! :)
luvtn

[Cmm_3940]

The bad breath comes from a raw meat diet and no toothbrush. My housecats sometimes get the same thing.

[Doc_Stihl]

This is a Cheetah.

102517

102516

22 Cheetah Mark 1

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I was watching a wildlife show last night and the man said the Jaguar had the most powerful bite of all the big cats.