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Photo courtesy of
Turpentine Creek © 2002
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
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Puma Cats - Habitat
Puma Cats range from the south west of Canada down into the western states of North America and throughout most western parts of the South American continent. The Puma Cat can be found in various habitats from the mountain forest, up to around 16,000 feet to lowland swamp and grasslands.
Puma Cats - Coat
In colder regions the coat of the cat is naturally longer to provide additional protection against the extremes in temperature. The color of the coat also varies from slate gray, through yellow buff to light reddish brown. Puma Cat has a small, broad head with small rounded ears, a powerful body with long hind legs and tail, which is black on the tip.
The coat varies in color greatly thanks to the geographical range; thus it may be light gray in the southern parts of South America; in tropical regions it can have various shades of cinnamon to rust-red; in the Andes and west coast mountains of the United States the coat is rather lighter. Intermediary variations of red-brown to silver-gray may be found living in close proximity in the same regions. The head is marked with black on the sides of the muzzle and on the backs of the ears.
Coat hair length also varies depending on the local climatic and environmental conditions. Puma cats with short hair are found in the tropical regions; the longhaired Pumas are from the most northerly and southerly parts of the animal's range, and from the mountains. They have almost no spots.
Puma Cats - Behavior
These are solitary animals except during breeding season. They are very protective and stake out a home range that for males may cover more than 100 square miles, depending on the terrain and food supply. A Puma male's range usually overlaps with those of several females. As far as the ranges of other males are concerned, they never overlap.
The territory of a Puma Cat is marked with urine sprays, scrapes and pathways. Puma Cat males also often pile pine needles, leaves, or dirt with his hind feet completing the marker with a urine spray or fecal deposit to ward off other Puma cats from his range.
Puma Cats - General Information - Links
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Photo courtesy of
Wild About Cats © 2003
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All about Puma Cats - All information about Puma Cats.
Big Cats On-line - Introduction to the various species of cat living in the wild today.
Cattales Puma Cats - A non-profit Zoological Park that is home to dozens of big cats
Cougar Run - A fan site including pictures of many of the big cats, and also a little information about them.
Family Felidae - A discussion on the classification and characteristics of the Family Felidae by the Cyber Zoomobile.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - A conservation and learning center in North Central Texas where hundreds of rare and endangered animals roam free on the preserves 1,500 acres.
Galleryafrica - South African specialist in African wildlife art and African artifacts presents images of items for sale giving purchase and ship facts.
Greatcatsoftheworld - Lots of pictures of your favorite big cats from the Bridgeport Nature Center to help educate people on issues affecting endangered species.
Jaguar Lady's Korner - Personal fan site with information and pictures of many species of big cats.
Puma Cat General - Contains description and life history of Puma Cats. Learn about habitat and geographical distribution of these animals, view pictures.
Puma Cat Habitat and Description - Read about this large cat's habitat, diet, and breeding. Includes a photograph
Puma Cats Description- Read about Puma concolor's range, physical makeup, and natural history. Includes a photograph.
Puma Cats Info - Contains information on the current and former classifications of members of the Family Felidae and also lists the common names.
Puma Cats Info.com - Males of the species weigh as much as 160lbs. Read more about this toothy predator and its role in the food chain and local ecosystems.
Puma Cats Saving - A non-profit organization located in Auburn, California, with activities that encompass a wide range of Feline Services, sponsoring and promoting conservation and research programs, that benefit cats that remain in the wild.
Nationalgeographic National Geographic site has drawings, information, and photos of felines skulls, their muscle system, senses, coat, and behavior.
Rtec.strayduck - Organization rescuing exotic cats and providing a sanctuary for them in the foothills of the Maya Mountains (Belize). Case histories, volunteer needs, research information and ways to help included.
Species Account: Puma (Puma concolor) - Detailed information on Puma concolor from the IUCN Cat Specialist Group. Includes information on description and behavior, biology, habitat, distribution, population status, protection status, principle threats and action planning.
The Feline Family - Interesting facts and statistics on cats, from lions to the domestic cat.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Women's Cross Country - Puma Cats. News items, statistics, race schedule, results and a roster.
Wild Cat Photographs - Photographs and commentary by Rico Leffanta of various wild cats including the ocelot, Puma Cat, and jaguar.
Wild Cats - Illustrated article by Vladimir Dinets about finding, observation, and photography of wild cats of the world.
Wildaboutcats - Nice site about captive bred wild cats. They're the ones that raised Shaka and Zulu from the infamous Mountain Dew commercials.
