Panthers in Trouble

Describe a Florida Panther

Panther Families

Panther Diet

Panther Habitat

What kind of families do panthers have?

Panther females and kittens form the panther family. Males and females are usually only together when breeding. The father does not help take care of the kittens. The male and female in the picture were photographed by a remote camera on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. More, more

How many kittens are in a litter?

Panthers may have from 1 to 4 kittens. The average litter size is 2.

What do newborn kittens look like?

Newborn kittens are tiny. They only weigh 500 grams, and their eyes are closed. Human newborns weigh over twice as much as newborn panthers. Panther kittens have grayish-brown fur with dark spots and rings around their tails. Their spots help camouflage them from predators. After 2-3 weeks their eyes open. Panther kittens have bright blue eyes that change to straw brown as they get older. In the photo Biologist Walt McCown holds a 2-week-old panther kitten.

What do panther kittens eat?

Panthers kittens, like all mammal babies, drink milk from their mothers. When they are about two months old, they begin to go with their mother when she hunts. They eat the food she kills until they learn to hunt for themselves. More

How old are panthers when they have kittens?

Panther females are usually about 2 ½ years old when they have kittens. Some Florida panthers were less than 2 when they had their first kittens. Males are usually at least 3 years old before they father kittens. More

How long does it take for panthers to grow up?

Panthers leave their mothers when they are about 2 years old. Growing up is harder for males than for females. Females often stay near their mothers. Males must try to find a range of their own. In their travels, they face many dangers. To learn more about panther families, play the Mystery of the Cloned Panther.