cheetah capture and immobilisation handbook - Cat Specialist Group

Table 2: Factors used to place cheetahs into age categories
Age Category Age Teeth Haircoat
Approx.
weight
class
(months)
(kg)
Deciduous Leg spots and yellow
canines and coat colouring
1 Young cubs < 6 mo incisors erupt at develop at 6-7 M=up to 19
28-30 days, weeks, and the loss F=up to 18
molars by 45-50 of the mantle starts
days
at 3-4 months
The lower
incisors are lost
at seven months Cheetahs between 6-
old, while adult 12 months old still
2 Large cubs 6 - < 12 teeth start to have long fur on the M=12 - 31
mo come in at around back of the neck, F=12 – 30
eight months, by although it is no
9.5 months old, longer a defined
the last adult ‘mantle’
molars
erupted
have
3
4
5
6
7
8
Adolescents
12 - =144
adults mo
Yellowing and
tartar, receding Coat beginning to
gum lines, look ragged, poorly F=26 – 48
gingivitis, canine groomed, scarred
tipped, loss of
teeth, esp. incisor
Yellowing and
tarter, receding
gum lines,
gingivitis, broken
teeth, canines Ragged coat, poorly
severely tipped, groomed, scarred
loss of teeth esp.
incisor
canines
and
29
Approx.
length
(cm)
M=up to 96
F=up to 92
M=84 -120
F=82 –114
M=110 - 133
F=105 – 125
M=119 - 129
F=116 - 130
M=115 - 140
F=113 – 126
M=118 - 137
F=115 – 126
F=105 – 131
Approx.
chest girth General
(cm)
Eyes, open 7 –
M=up to 54 10 days, cubs
F= up to 54 emerge from den
about 6 weeks
M=42 - 61
F=40 – 57
M=60 - 76
F=56 – 64
M=64 - 71
F=63 - 66
M=64 - 83
F=64 – 69
M=66 - 80
F=63 – 75
F=26 – 48
Lanky
appearance until
8-9 months, then
begin to fill out;
acquire twothirds
of adult
size at 12
months old
Full size but not
filled out, leggy
not in proportion
not at adult
weight, still with
dam
Develop muscle
tone
Full grown,
males not fully
muscled, prime
physical
condition
Fully muscled,
prime physical
condition but
beginning to
show signs of
ageing
Pads becoming
elongated and
smooth due to
wear, sunken
face; body looks
more thin, loss
of muscle tone
Pads quite
smooth and
elongated,
sunken face;
body
delicate/frail