The body length of an adult cougar varies from 58 inches to 108 inches, while males can weigh up to 220 lbs. The fur color ranges from tan and reddish brown to light silver and grey. In adults, the coat is short, unspotted and often darker on the back. The head is small, in relation to body size, and shows dark patches on the muzzle. The ears are short, and eye color is often yellowish to golden-green. Hind legs are longer than front legs. Subspecies living in Central and South America are generally smaller than North American subspecies.
Cougars are found in a broad range of habitats, including deciduous, coniferous and tropical forests, grasslands, swamps and semi-deserted areas, from sea level to altitudes higher than 14,000 feet. Cougars are solitary animals, and are only found with others during the mating period. Cougars are agile, and can jump about 40 feet horizontally or 17 feet vertically, in a single leap. They are the only big felids that can purr like domestic cats.
Females cougars produce litters of one to six cubs, every-other year. The gestation period ranges from 80 to 96 days. Cubs open their eyes about 10 days after birth, and begin to walk when they are 2 weeks old. Cougars are born with blue eyes, but change to golden-greenish when they are 16 months of age. Young cougars stay with their mother for up to two years from birth. Females achieve sexual maturity at 2 1/2 years of age, while males take about six moths longer. Their average lifespan is 21 years.
Cougars are carnivores and top predators in the food chain. Hogs, deer, beaver, ground squirrels and other small mammals are their main prey. Although cougars can reach 35 miles per hour when running, when hunting they use their ability to jump long distances and stalk their prey instead of chasing it. Cougars hunt at dawn and dusk. They rarely eat carcasses.
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