Tiger cubs begin their lives entirely dependent on their mother for nutrition and survival. The journey from a helpless newborn to an independent hunter involves a dramatic shift in diet, moving from a liquid, nutrient-dense source to an exclusive, carnivorous regime. This dietary progression is tightly linked to the cub’s physical development and the mother’s guidance. The early diet influences their rapid growth and the development of a robust immune system.
Nursing: The First Weeks of Life
A tiger cub’s diet for the first six to eight weeks consists solely of its mother’s milk. Newborn cubs are born blind and helpless, relying entirely on the tigress for warmth, protection, and sustenance. The initial milk, or colostrum, provides concentrated nutrition and a crucial transfer of maternal antibodies, establishing the cub’s early immune defense.
The mother must increase her own food intake by an estimated 50% during lactation to maintain the necessary milk supply. For the first few days, the tigress may spend up to 70% of her time nursing the cubs, a proportion that gradually decreases. This milk is rich in fat and protein, fueling the cub’s phenomenal growth rate and allowing them to multiply their birth weight many times over in the first few months.
The Weaning Process and First Solids
The transition from milk to meat, known as weaning, typically begins when the cubs are around six to eight weeks old. This timing coincides with the emergence of their milk teeth, allowing them to start chewing and preparing for a solid diet. Complete weaning from the mother’s milk is generally achieved by the time the cubs are five to six months old.
The mother facilitates this change by introducing small pieces of meat from her kills to the den. Initially, the cubs consume easier-to-digest parts of the prey, such as internal organs or soft muscle tissue. By about two months of age, the cubs start following their mother out of the den and will eat from the carcass she provides, even though they are not yet participating in the hunt.
Juvenile Diet and Path to Independence
Once fully weaned, the diet of a juvenile tiger consists exclusively of meat, mirroring the large prey consumed by the adult tigress. The primary food sources are large ungulates, such as Sambar deer, wild boar, and various species of wild cattle like gaur or banteng, depending on the tiger’s habitat.
The mother continues to provide for her cubs, bringing down large prey and allowing them to feed first, even as they grow into sub-adults. Between eight and ten months of age, the cubs begin to join their mother on hunting expeditions, gradually learning the skills of stalking and attacking through observation and practice.
Young tigers remain dependent on their mother for food and hunting instruction for a prolonged period. They typically stay with her until they are between 17 and 30 months old before venturing out to establish their own territories.