Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, reaching speeds up to 112 kilometers per hour (70 mph) in short bursts. As specialized predators, they primarily inhabit African savannas and grasslands, playing an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Feeding Frequency
Adult cheetahs typically hunt and consume prey every two to five days. This frequency varies with hunting success and meal size. A female raising cubs requires more frequent meals, often daily, to sustain herself and her young. After a successful hunt, a cheetah may rest for a few days to digest its meal.
Cheetah Diet and Prey
Cheetahs are carnivores, feeding solely on meat. Their primary prey includes small to medium-sized hoofed mammals like Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, and springboks. They also target wildebeest calves, other small antelopes, hares, and birds. Optimized for speed over brute strength, cheetahs prefer prey that can be quickly subdued.
The Hunting and Consumption Process
Cheetahs rely on their exceptional speed and agility for hunting. They stalk prey, often getting close before initiating a high-speed chase. The chase is short, lasting around 20 seconds and rarely exceeding one minute, reaching speeds up to 110 km/h (68 mph).
Once they catch their target, cheetahs use a dewclaw on their foreleg to trip the animal, then deliver a suffocating bite to the throat to kill it. Due to competition from larger predators like lions and hyenas, cheetahs must consume their kill swiftly, often losing up to 50% to kleptoparasitism. They hunt primarily during the day to avoid nocturnal competitors.
Factors Affecting Feeding Habits
Several factors influence how often and what a cheetah eats. The availability of prey is a significant determinant; scarcity of food forces cheetahs to hunt more frequently or broaden their diet.
Competition from other predators, such as lions and hyenas, directly impacts feeding success, as these larger carnivores often steal cheetah kills. A cheetah’s age and health also play a role in its feeding habits. Cubs require more frequent meals and rely on their mother to provide food as they learn to hunt. Sick or injured cheetahs may be less effective hunters, leading to reduced feeding frequency.
Environmental conditions, such as droughts, can deplete prey populations, making it harder for cheetahs to find food. Additionally, lactating females have increased nutritional demands, necessitating more frequent and successful hunts to support milk production for their cubs.