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One look at the tabby lounging on the living room couch will tell you that despite more than 9,000 years of domestication, your pet cat is as much a member of the feline family as a tiger prowling the shadows of a Sumatran forest. All cats share a host of distinctive adaptations and behaviors that distinguish them as some of nature’s most successful hunters.
One species, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) of Southeast Asia, is a striking example of how cats combine beauty, agility and brute strength to be fascinating and fearsome predators. This cat’s elegant coat of cloud-shaped spots provides great camouflage, allowing for invisible travel in the dim light of the rain forest. The clouded leopard is most at home in the treetops. Equipped with sharp claws, powerful legs and a long tail for balance, this amazing climber is able to hang upside down from branches and descend trees head first.
Clouded leopards use their hiding and climbing skills in pursuit of prey, including small mammals, birds and monkeys. They also hunt larger animals on the ground such as deer and wild pigs. After patiently stalking its target, this stealthy cat will pounce and grab its unlucky victim with claws and teeth. The bite of the clouded leopard is unique among cats. It can open its mouth wider and has the longest canine teeth compared to body size of any other species.
Although house cats no longer rely on hunting for survival, they do share the same hunting tools and instincts as their wild cousins. Your pet cat has sharp claws and strong legs that help it climb and pounce. And its pointed teeth, although not nearly as fearsome as those of the clouded leopard, can easily dispatch rodents and other small animals. Because their fur is no longer suited as camouflage, house cats aren’t able to be quite as sneaky as a clouded leopard. But the spectrum of colors, patterns and textures of house cats’ fur is perfect for their domesticated life hanging out with humans.
As for clouded leopards, it’s nearly impossible for people to encounter them in the wild. But they can be seen hanging out with people at the zoo. Clouded leopards form strong bonds with their caretakers and cubs are often bottle-raised to increase their chances of survival. So stop by Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium this summer to take a closer look at your house cat’s wild cousin, the clouded leopard, and see how they compare.
SEE CATS IN ACTION
Visit Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to observe clouded leopard cubs and Sumatran tigers up close. It’s at 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. Admission ranges from $7.75-$15.25 for ages 3 and older; discounts are available. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
Participate in the grand opening of the zoo’s Cats of the Canopy exhibit Aug. 27-28 and learn all about clouded leopards in the wild through games and activities.
Write a haiku or draw a picture of clouded leopards. Mail it to the zoo or post it on the zoo’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ptdefiancezoo). Winners will be eligible for two free admission passes to the zoo. Learn more at pdza.org or 253-591-5337.
