No Matter How Big
When the word "big cat" is ever mentioned, the first thought that goes through your mind is an apex predator, right? Big cats may be at the top of the food chain in nearly all parts of the world. But they can still occasionally show their cute side. This proves that no matter how big, they're still related to their house-trained cousins in some way.
If you want to see leopards in cardboard boxes or ocelots shredding up toilet paper, or even cheetahs sticking their heads into things - you've come to the right place. Here are some similarities between the apex predator and the furballs back home.
Big Box For A Big Cat
We know that our domestic cats can't get enough of boxes. Judging from this photo their big cousins have the gene too. You'd think it would be to hide from predators but when they're at the top of the food chain it makes you wonder why they do it.
It's probably just a nice place to snooze honestly. It must be nicer and drier than the damp muddy ground he's used to sleeping on in this enclosure. He may be formidable in the jungle but here we can't help but smile.
On The Box
Looks like the box this tiger wanted to sleep in is a tad too small. But it doesn't seem like he's too bothered either. Nothing can stop this big cat from lying back and getting some afternoon rays.
People might find this surprising but tigers like sleep just as much as house cats do. They can spend up to 20 hours a day napping. With that knowledge in mind never try to wake a sleeping tiger on his cardboard box.
King's Throne
Lions are said to be the king of the jungle right? Now every king needs a chariot to be taken around in. He's found a suitable one in green. It would blend well in the jungle. Imagine how the staff are gonna try to take their wheelbarrow back.
Maybe instead of a chariot he's decided it's now his throne. He can sit upon it while the females gather food for him. He's probably just waiting for them to come back with ribs, or steak.
Playing With The Ball
Zabu loves nothing more than her ball. She looks almost like a common house cat when she chases after it. Just the fact that she loves playing with balls and has this side of her shows that big cats are closer related to our furballs than you think.
unfortunately, she's too rough with balls to be able to play with a housecat's so she stole this one from the stables. I bet the horses want it back but you won't see them try to take it from her anytime soon After all, doesn't Zabu deserve some joy too?
Fun With Toilet Paper
At Big Cat Rescue the employees were curious about what would happen if they took some toilet paper and threw it into the wildcat enclosure. What happened was a show that everyone could enjoy. This is reminiscent of what happens when your housecat finds your toilet paper and goes to town.
It seems that no matter what you put inside a big cats cage, they'll find a way of playing with it. Seems like everyone had fun, but maybe not the staff that were tasked with cleaning the enclosure the next day.
What A Great Pose
This picture reminds of a great big kitty, right? Seems lions also love to relax on their backs and show their playful nature. When a housecat rolls onto their back they're showing that they feel safe and wont some playtime.
The lion must be looking to play with the man behind the camera. Would you say no to those great big eyes? We'd hope so otherwise you'd have to try and roughhouse with over 600 pounds of muscles.
Another Box
Seems we have another box. This cheetah was curious enough to put his head inside the box, and now he can't get it out. This is another housecat gene that we know all too well. These zookeepers must know that big cats go crazy over boxes!
If a cat rubs their face against something it means they're "bunting" it to leave some scent on it. It marks their territory so other cats don't encroach on it. This cheetah must want the box all to himself.
Manicure
Now this is a cute photo! The lion looks like he's really loving the paw message from his friend - Alex Larenty. He's a zookeeper and says he brushes this lions mane and baths him regularly.
He's also said that he's built the trust of this lion, named Jamu, over years of bonding. It wouldn't be so easy for anyone else to try give this lion a manicure. He looks like he's trying to act like a kitten even though he's eight.
I Stand Like Human
Mohan is a beautiful white tiger and just wants his zookeeper to give him what he wants - the milk! He'll stand if he has to and he's actually pretty big when he does. If I were standing next to Mohan I'd be a little intimidated.
Cats can stand to seem bigger than they actually are. This is to scare off any threats. This is probably more of a house cat thing and Mohan just wants to try and get his milk anyway he can.
Toys
You know by now that big cats can love toys. These felines need some stimulation so they don’t get bored. The cougar seems very happy to have the ringed tube. Just get some oversized kids toys and give them to the big cats, they need fun too.
Cougars are the only cats that can’t roar like their cousins. They rather make a purr that you might imagine a house cat makes. This just makes the whole picture cuter.
Even Tigers Need Belly Rubs
Would you give a tiger a belly rub? With tigers looking this adorable, it’s hard to resist. Tigers are generally playful, especially toward their caretakers. No matter how ferocious they can be, they still want pets.
According to animal behaviorist Louise Dorfman, tigers are some of the most emotional and affectionate big cats out there. That’s probably why they’re so eager to roll over for a good belly rub! No wonder the girl in the photo looks so happy.
They Chase Lasers As Well
As it turns out, big cats will chase laser pointers just like domestic cats do. Big Cats Rescue posted a video of lions, tigers, and leopards jumping at a laser pointer at night. It’s hard not to enjoy how playful big cats become.
“They have to chase it,” said Susan Bass, director of public relations at Big Cat Rescue. “You can go up a wall, under things, like I do with my cat.” What better way to play with a big cat while safely outside of their enclosure?
They’ll Share Your Food
At the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, photographer Wojciech Kalka caught this photo of a monk sharing his food with a tiger. It seems that the name “Tiger Temple” is appropriate for the monks’ caring nature.
Tigers are venerated in Asian countries such as Thailand and China, and they’ve interacted with humans for centuries. It’s no wonder that these big cats, who seem to feel comfortable around the monks, aim to eat their food too.
Even Big Cats Sit And Watch
Have you ever seen a cat lounge in a corner and watch people? This panther is doing the same thing at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Bonus points: he’s in a box. Nothing screams “domestic cat” more loudly than this photo.
Boxes provide some insulation for big cats. When they’re not expending energy, cats like to warm up, according to cat researcher and vet Mikel Delgado. To the panther, this box is the equivalent of getting under the covers.
Tiger VS. Pumpkin
The internet is no stranger to big cats wrestling with pumpkins. Lions carry them, leopards chew on them, and caracals shove their heads in them. Here, a beautiful white tiger enjoys some playtime with a giant pumpkin.
For some reason, big cats love to demolish pumpkins. It gives them hours of entertainment and gives us a good “awwww.” No wonder pumpkins and big cats pop up across YouTube during October. What a way to celebrate autumn.
They Swipe At Water
In general, big cats aren’t horrified of water like some house cats are. But that doesn’t stop domesticated cats from swiping and splashing around shallow water, and big cats are no different.
Zookeepers videotaped these caracals swiping at the water and then shaking their paw dry like house cats do. Unlike house cats, though, big cats are willing to swim for traveling and hunting. Many tigers receive ponds in their enclosure because they enjoy playing in the water.
Time For A Cat Nap
Rumor has it that scientists threw cardboard boxes at big cats to determine whether they’re really feline. Okay, that’s not true, but big cats use cardboard boxes in the same way as their domestic cousins.
This caracal has decided to take a snooze inside of her chosen box. When the kitty sleeps, no one dares wake her. The employees won’t get that box back for a while, but we doubt they’d want to after seeing the cuteness.
Snow Day!
Majestic as a feline, or playful as a kitten? This photo from the Bronx Zoo will make you think, “both.” The zoo’s Amur tigers enjoyed a day of fun in the snow. If not for the giant claws and teeth, people might have joined them!
And don’t worry–tigers can survive in snow. As long as they have enough water, food, and shelter, tigers can survive anywhere from swamps to the forest to ice-covered Targa. This snow day is a walk in the park for this giant tiger.
How Did She Get Up There?
Many cat owners have seen their cat on top of a shelf and thought, “How did she get up there?” As it turns out, big cats are no different. This mountain lion defied the laws of physics by climbing a dead tree.
When most people see a mountain lion, it means that the lion has been stalking them. That mountain lion was likely watching the photographer for a long time. Good thing she was acting like a house cat up in that tree.
They’ll Nap Anywhere
This two-week-old snow leopard is relaxing in a bucket after her first vet exam in the Woodland Park Zoo. Although she looks like a domestic kitten now, she’ll soon grow to 72 pounds. But that doesn’t stop people from admiring her cuteness.
If adult big leopards act like house cats, then leopard kittens act even more like domesticated cats. They’ll curl up and sleep anywhere, and they can handle being picked up. Even predator cats need naps.
Big Kitties Cuddle Too
In the Toronto Zoo, this lioness is using her partner as a pillow. When house cats trust others enough, they’ll lay their heads anywhere to nap. Lions are no different, except that they often sleep up to 20 hours a day.
Because lions have few sweat glands, they cool down and conserve their energy by sleeping. Lions tend to become active at night when it’s cooler. As a result, zoo-goers will often see adorable cat naps like this.
Two Is Better Than One
These tiger buddies were minding their own business at the zoo one sunny afternoon, when they spotted this unusual contraption. What was it? They had no idea but decided the best thing to do was to get into it together, and we couldn’t be happier that they did.
One big cat hanging out in a cardboard box is good enough, but two of them? That’s just too good. These ferocious tigers look almost like little kittles the way they’re playing with their newfound treasure.
Time For Presents!
The delightfully adorable fluffballs you see here are snow leopards. They live at the Toronto Zoo, where they were fortunate enough to be treated to the fun activity of opening Christmas presents!
The zoo shared a photo of these big cats with their gift, captioned, “Watch as our snow leopards Ena, Kita and Mylo enjoy some special Christmas present enrichment as part of the Zoo’s #12DaysofEnrichment.” It sure looks like snow leopards enjoy getting gifts as much as any regular-sized housecat.
Kittens Are Kittens
It’s true — kittens are kittens no matter their size or species. These precious kitties happen to be Indochinese tiger cubs, who just can’t resist the draw of a big wicker basket that’s large enough to hold them all.
These cubs live at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin, Germany, and they’ve been there for their entire lives. It’s home to them, and they make it clear just how happy and comfortable they are here.
Khajit Has Wares If You Have Coin
Here’s yet another example of just how appealing boxes are to cats. This fuzzy feline is a lynx, and it’s clear that he’s feeling pretty chill from his comfy spot in his cardboard box.
This particular photo was used in a viral meme based on the video game Skyrim and Oblivion, which has a cat-human species called Khajit. In the meme, the quote “Khajit has wares if you have coin” is superimposed over the photo.
Sofa Hog
Have you ever come home after a long day and wanted nothing more than to have a seat on the couch, only to find that your cat, Whiskers, has already claimed it for herself?
That’s exactly what happened here, only the sofa hog in question isn’t a little housecat… it’s a 200+ pound tiger! And we don’t want to be the ones to ask her to move. We’ll just sit on the floor, thank you very much.
Toy Time!
It’s no small secret that cats love playing with toys. All kinds of toys… even something as simple as a piece of string can provide a cat with hours of fun. And the King of the Jungle is no exception when it comes to loving to play.
Here, we see a fully grown lion playing with a toy just the same way a housecat might. Watching him frolic, you could almost forget for a moment that he’s one of the most feared creatures in the jungle!
Liiiiick!
Now THAT’s a really big thank you kiss! This tiger is going out of her way to let her keeper know how much she appreciates the milk treat he’s brought to her. Apparently, the big cats enjoy milk just as much as Mittens or Felix do.
Come to think of it, we rarely get a thank you from our cat no matter what we do. We can only imagine how scratchy that enormous tongue must feel!
A Little Help, Please?
How undignified. But if you love boxes as much as cats do, you’re bound to get stuck in one at some point in time. This snow leopard was clearly having a little too much fun with a box, because here he is with his head stuck in it.
Even without being able to see his face, you can tell by his body language that this big cat is feeling pretty embarrassed for himself right now.