The tiger is one of the most famous felines in history. The tiger is the subspecies of Leopardus afergyptius, the Old World tiger. It is also known by other names such as Cheetah, Bobcat, Black Tiger, Manezh, ornate, etc.
The word ‘tiger’ is derived from the ancient Egyptian term “tig,” meaning ‘to trample over’. This was the main reason that the Romans named it Talbot, which meant ‘one who trims down trees.’
The tiger has a wide variety of natural habitats across the four corners of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and America. It lives in forests, grasslands, swamps, deserts, jungles, and mountain slopes. They are solitary animals and feed on a large prey base including birds, mammals, insects, and even man. Their natural prey also includes large fish, monkeys, hares, and other reptiles.
In captivity, the tiger is a low-maintenance pet that enjoys long life spans. While wild cats may live up to sixty years, they generally average around fifteen years. Though some subspecies have been known to live well past twenty years, the longest recorded individual was forty-two years old.
In captivity, they are known for their endurance and energy levels. Some are even able to run long distances without slowing down. Despite being an effective predator, most tiger cats are not aggressive unless confronted with a dominant species of predator.
The tiger’s head is broad with a large face surrounded by a heavy forehead, marked by a short snout. It has wide, heavy paws, with claws present in all three digits and a short, rounded tail. Their ears are tipped by long whiskers and they have a thick, bushy prehensile tail.
The tiger’s body is covered with thick fur and is primarily nocturnal, hunting in the late evening when it is dark and temperatures fall. In the wild, tiger chaps catch prey using their powerful jaws and sharp claws.
Tigers do not display any preference for food and will eat virtually any type of prey. They have strong protective instincts and will defend their feeding territories from rival species. territorial boundaries may be established by marking their territories with urine or feces.
Primates, such as lemurs, are the only animals with a comparable sense of territory and they too will eat both meat and plants. Tigers have strong protective instincts and will defend their feeding territories against rival species.
Though it may seem strange that a small animal with such powerful features could be timid or inactive, the tiger does make excellent pets. Though not aggressive, this large cat can be timid if kept in the wrong conditions. It has been known to suffer from mange due to poor nutrition.
Even the well-fed tiger will usually retain about 25% of his weight in fat and will need good quality protein and other vitamins to help promote healthy skin and coat. A well-fed tiger may weigh up to seven pounds at full maturity, though smaller, non-fed or submissive tigers may weigh even less.
