"Become an expert on all the big cats of the world, from well-known safari favorites like the king cheetah to the elusive snow leopard and the tiny rusty-spotted cat. Learn about the species-specific behavior, habitats, diets, and cool quirks of the most extraordinary cats on the planet"--Back cover.

Wild Cats of the World provides detailed accounts for all 38 species of wild cat accompanied by magnificent artwork and stunning photography. From the rabbit-sized Black-footed Cat of southern Africa to bear-killing Amur tigers of the Russian Far East, the 38 members of the Cat Family include some of the world's most fascinating and magnificent species on earth. Supremely adapted for the kill, all cats are obligate carnivores; they survive only by preying upon other animals, and they have become one of evolution's most successful predatory lineages of mammals. Wild Cats of the World explores the spectacular Cat Family in unprecedented depth. Drawing on thousands of scientific papers and direct observations in the field, each species is profiled at length, covering all aspects of felid behaviour and ecology. The book is profusely illustrated with colour plates, black-and-white sketches showing important aspects of cat life and accurate images of every species' skull. Over 400 spectacular photographs are included, many of them showing extremely rare and little-known cats published here for the first time. Each profile includes an up-to-date range map and explains the most current science on how cats are classified and related to each other, including some very recent, surprising discoveries. Despite their great evolutionary success, the challenges facing felids in the modern world are profound. Only one, the ubiquitous domestic cat, does not require dedicated conservation action to ensure survival for the next century. The book also explores the current conservation issues facing wild cats, the increasingly perilous status of many species and how they can be saved.

This book examines the behavior, biology, and conservation of the more than 30 small wild cat species.

Cat experts Fiona and Mel Sunquist present comprehensive entries for each of the thirty-seven cat species that include color distribution maps and up-to-date information related to the species' IUCN conservation and management statuses, while their informative sidebars reveal why male lions have manes (and why dark manes are sexiest), how cats see with their whiskers, the truth behind our obsession with white lions and tigers, and why cats can't be vegetarians. The Wild Cat Book also highlights the grave threats faced by the world's wild cats--from habitat destruction to human persecution.

All cats are incredibly cute when they're kittens and cubs. But when they grow up, wild cats are not so cuddly. Yet, some people keep big cats such as lions, tigers, and leopards as pets. They think they can tame them, but a wild animal is always wild, and many big cats owners are responsible for the deaths of people when their pets attack. This book describes the attributes of big cats that make them unsuitable pets. Readers discover the reasons why it's more humane to leave these exotic animals in their native habitats than to cage them.

Facts and photographs about big cats in the wild from around the world.