Whether cheetahs are "large cats" is a point of contention. Some biologists believe the word only applies to roaring cats like lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards. Cheetahs do not have the ability to roar, but they can purr. Nonetheless, conservationists favor a broader definition of "big cats" that includes snow leopards and cougars.
The cheetah is the fastest terrestrial mammal on the planet. A cheetah can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in about three seconds, leaving most automobiles in the dust. Cheetahs in the wild are considered to be capable of reaching speeds of about 70 miles per hour, but only for around 30 seconds. These cats can turn quickly and abruptly in pursuit of prey and are dexterous at high speeds.
Cheetahs are the most vulnerable of the world's large cats, despite their ferocious hunting abilities. The cheetah is currently listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Scientists have proposed in recent years that cheetahs should be classified as endangered instead, citing significant population reductions. In the wild, there are less than 7,000 adult cheetahs.
