Keeping in mind that you're most likely traveling in a 4, 6 or 8 cylinder vehicle and 60 mph is an easy speed to attain, close your eyes and image going that fast but your only means of travel was by your own foot power! Do you have this envisioned in your head? That would be pretty incredible wouldn't it?
Well, that's exactly how it is for the world's fastest cat, the cheetah, which in Hindu means "spotted one", who can easily reach a speed of up to 70 mph and sustain that speed for approximately sixty seconds. Very impressive indeed!
The average speed that a cheetah cruises at is 45mph and they sprint to the higher speed when closing in on its prey. They hunt at night but also during the early morning hours. Their beige and spotted coat affords them great camouflage cover. They stalk their prey and get as close as possible then spring into "fast" gear. Although a chase can be short and the cheetah can sustain the fast sprint for up to a minute, if going at a slower pace, they can run well up to three miles. Their non-retractable claws "digs" into the earth and gives the big cat an even better "paw" hold for better traction.
If you've ever watched the cheetah in full run, notice how he uses his tail as a rudder.
The Cheetah family life is a solitary one. The male and female come together for mating and then the male will leave the female to raise and fend for the cubs alone. The cubs stay with their mom for up to two years learning the hunting techniques necessary for their survival. The males live in groups of 2 to 4 where they protect their "territory" against other males. The females stay in the territory of their birth.
When full grown, a cheetah can weigh between 110 and 130 pounds and are approximately 30 to 32 inches in height at the shoulder. Their tails alone are another 30 inches long. Their coat is either beige or yellow with its signature teardrop black spots aides in camouflaging this unique hunter.
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