North American Puma Facts

Often referred to as cougars or mountain lions, the puma is a big cat that averages around 1.5 - 2.7 m (5 - 9 ft.) and can weigh an average of 68 kg for males (150 lbs), 45 kg for females (100 lbs).  Often their status as a big cat is argued for the simple fact that a puma is unable to roar, lacking the specialized larynx.  Instead pumas can make a variety of sounds you would often hear from a domestic house cat, and are also known for their sudden 'screaming' sounds - often misheard as being cries from other animals.  Most pumas have tawny coats, though silvery or red varieties are known to exist.  Their underbellies are a creamy white, with dark spots sometimes on their flanks and tail.  These spots are never fully black, as pumas lack the melanistic qualities to create a pitch black color.

What makes them stand apart from many other big cats is their ability to live in nearly any ecosystem throughout the wild.  From mountains, deserts, to sea level, so long as a puma can find access to prey and shelter the species can grow.  And as obligate carnivores (animals that must live off of only meat), there are plenty of options for a puma to eat.  They will devour insects all the way up the food chain to a creature weighing 500 kg.  Deer are their preferable prey.  However, there have been noted clashes between pumas and farmers when they attempt to kill and eat farm animals after having little to no success on hunts.  When they do successfully hunt and kill, a cougar will drag the carcass back to his or her shelter where they'll hide it and eat it in the coming days.  

​​If you would like to adopt one of our pumas, the cost of the Adoption is currently $50.00 US dollars monthly.  This money takes care of any veterinary check ups, habitat enrichment and feeding - all the things a happy puma needs.