Cheetahs are known for their speed and agility, but their offspring also capture significant interest. Understanding the initial size and subsequent growth of newborn cheetah cubs offers insights into their early survival challenges and remarkable development within their natural habitats.
Newborn Cheetah Cub Dimensions
At birth, cheetah cubs are remarkably small and vulnerable. Wild-born cubs typically weigh between 150 to 300 grams (5.3 to 10.6 ounces), though those born in captivity can be larger, sometimes reaching around 500 grams (18 ounces). Their body length at birth is approximately 30 centimeters (11.8 to 12 inches). These tiny newborns are blind and helpless, relying entirely on their mother for survival. Their eyes typically begin to open between four to eleven days after birth.
Newborn cubs are covered in fur that is initially darker and more grayish than adult cheetahs, with their spots appearing closer together. A distinctive feature of these young felines is a thick, silvery-grey mantle of long fur running down their backs. This mantle serves as a form of camouflage, helping the cubs blend into tall grass and shadows, and it also offers some protection from sun and rain. Additionally, the mantle is thought to mimic the appearance of a honey badger, which may deter predators like lions, hyenas, and eagles from attacking the cubs.
Growth and Development Stages
Cheetah cubs undergo rapid development. Around ten days old, they begin to crawl, and by three weeks, they are typically able to walk more steadily and follow their mother. The mother frequently moves her litter between secluded dens for the first six to eight weeks to protect them from predators. The distinctive silvery mantle begins to fade around three months of age and is usually completely gone by twelve months.
Cubs start accompanying their mother on her daily movements at about six weeks old. While they nurse for approximately three months, they can begin tearing at meat as early as three to six weeks of age, with the mother introducing solid food around five months.
The process of learning to hunt is gradual; cubs begin practicing stalking and chasing prey at three to five months, and by one year of age, they participate in actual hunts with their mother. However, they do not become proficient hunters until they are about three years old. Cubs typically separate from their mother and become independent between fifteen and twenty months of age, though siblings often remain together for several more months to refine their hunting skills. By roughly sixteen to eighteen months, they reach their physical maturity and approximate adult size.