Big cats

Photo: Chris Johns/ link

Big cats are large animals. They have the same basic body structure as pet cats. However, they are very different. Instead of purr or meow, they roar or grunt. Instead of keeping at houses, they are kept at zoo. During day time, big cats will be usually sleeping and resting and at night they will be active and watchful. Big cats are deadly hunters. The result of their attacks would surely be terrible wounds on their victims. Some examples of big cats include lions, tigers, cheetah and leopards.
In zoos, big cats are disturbed by their visitors. Visitors calling them to attract attention make them stressed and  as a result, the cats behave abnormally. They may pace aimlessly back and forth or they may spend unusual amount of time cleaning themselves. They may also be more vigilant.
To prevent this, we could improve the cats enclosure, by keeping the visitors a little away from them or could display notices on how to behave near these animals.   

Amazing Facts

1. Cheetahs run at a speed of up to 113 km per hour
2. An adult lions' roar can be heard 8 km away
3. A leopard can carry a prey twice its own weight up a tree
4. Cheetahs do not roar (although other big cats do) they purr
5.  Lions are the only cats that live in groups (called prides)

Lions

Photo: Chris Johns/ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/african-lion/

Lions are  majestic big cats found mainly on the grasslands of Africa. They live in groups called prides. They are the only social cats living together. Only male lions have manes. Female lions mainly hunt although male ones are the first to eat.