Imperial Mountain Cat

Large carnivorous feline.

Big Cat

Muscular, long thick tail for balance

Large

Nose to tail is 6.5', foot to the top of the head is 4'

225 lbs

grey, white, black spotted coat, 10" diameter paw

none

heavy fur

sneak and pounce attack

swats with big paws and long claws when attacked or cornered. uses canine teeth to rip flesh.

30 mph

Lives so high up in the mountains that it has two hearts to keep blood flowing. Can live for three days on one heart.

Two hearts are very close together, one good stab would kill it. cubs are very susceptible to the cold.

a low growl, purring, young can sound like a child crying in fear.

smell

eyesight at night. Although it's far and away better than humans. night sight is not as good as its prey.

High mountain rocky outcrops

animals in the high rocks of the mountains

no migration

no herding

Golden short-nosed bear

Humans love their fur. Male Imperial Cats will kill cubs of other males to bring female back into heat. Golden short-nosed bear will eat young cubs that wander too far without mom.

black-footed mountain goats. Alpine chipmunk. Occasionally humans.

Snow leopard

So hard to kill that it gives the hunter a very high status.

Lesser mountain cat, some of which still survive at lower altitudes.

competition at lower altitudes

with two hearts it needs a very high calorie intake.

1.5 years old

Females in heat cry out in canyons that echo. Males respond and follow the sound.

sexual

10-month gestation, 4 nursing until young are weaned, then female can go back into heat. Usually one cub.

extremely protective of young.

cub stays in the rocky den until weaned, then venture out, but only a few yards. After 6 mo the female brings it chipmunks to play hunt, at 9-12 mo they start to hunt with her. Although they can reproduce at 1.5 years, they usually stay with mom until at least 2.

30% survive to adulthood.

Panthera

felis

imperata