Jeffrey Salazar
Cheetahs are super carnivores that eat a variety of small to medium-sized animals. They are built for speed and not strength, which means they have a narrower range of prey. An adult cheetah eats about 6.2 lbs of meat per day and they are known to drink water only once or twice a week. In the wild, they hunt and eat small animals such as hares, birds, and antelopes, including gazelles, impalas, and springboks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Daily meat consumption | 6.2 lb. (2.8 kg) |
| Drinking frequency | Once every four days or once every 10 days |
| Diet in captivity | Beef or meat from other animals such as rabbits, chickens, donkeys |
| Diet in the wild | Small to medium-sized animals such as hares, small mammals, birds, calves of larger ungulate species, young zebra foals, small antelopes, young warthogs, larger antelopes |
| Common herbivore prey | Hartebeest, springbok, steenbok, scrub hare |
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What You'll Learn
Cheetahs are carnivores and eat meat
Cheetahs are built for speed, not strength, and their hunting strategy reflects this. They tend to rest during the heat of the day, hunting later in the morning and in the early afternoon. They are known to drag their kill to a hiding spot to eat, and they must do so quickly, as they can be driven away from their food by other predators.
Cheetahs are medium-sized cats with extraordinary speed, so they tend to hunt prey that can be taken down by speed. They eat small- to medium-sized animals, such as hares, impalas, wildebeest calves, and gazelles. They also occasionally eat birds, although this is not a significant part of their diet.
In captivity, cheetahs are often fed beef or meat from other animals, such as rabbits, chickens, and donkeys.
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They hunt small to medium-sized animals
Cheetahs are carnivores and super-predators, and their diet consists of small to medium-sized animals. They are built for speed rather than strength, and their hunting strategy reflects this. They are known for their slender, long-legged bodies, which are proportionally longer than those of other big cats, and their excellent eyesight. They are the fastest land animals, reaching speeds of up to 114 km/h (71 mph), and they use this speed to their advantage when hunting.
Cheetahs hunt during the day, and their spotted coats provide excellent camouflage in the tall, dry grass of their grassland habitats. They spot their prey from a distance of 70-100m and then accelerate to give chase. A chase lasts for a very short time, perhaps 20 seconds, with few pursuits exceeding one minute. They need to be selective about their prey, as they have little endurance and must time their pursuit carefully.
Cheetahs hunt small to medium-sized animals, typically weighing under 50kg. Their diet includes gazelles, especially the Thomson's gazelle, which makes up 90% of their hunt in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. They also eat other antelopes, including springbok, impala, and steenbok, as well as calves of larger ungulates, hares, small mammals, and birds. In Northwest Africa, cheetahs hunt addax, dama gazelle, and rhim gazelle. They may also hunt young zebra foals and warthogs, though these are not a significant part of their diet.
Cheetahs in captivity have a different diet, often consisting of beef or meat from other animals such as rabbits, chickens, and donkeys.
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Their diet includes antelopes, gazelles, and impalas
Cheetahs are carnivores and their diet consists of meat. They are built for speed rather than strength, so they tend to hunt small to medium-sized animals. Their diet includes antelopes, gazelles, and impalas.
Antelopes, gazelles, and impalas are the primary diet of cheetahs. In addition, they also eat calves of larger ungulate species, hares, small mammals, and birds. Cheetahs are known for their speed, which is critical for their survival in the African wilderness. They can reach speeds of up to 114 km/h (71 mph) and routinely reach velocities of 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) while chasing prey. This speed allows them to hunt and catch their preferred prey.
Antelopes are a significant part of a cheetah's diet. Cheetahs prefer habitats where antelopes, particularly gazelles, are found within a 20 to 30 km radius. In South Africa, cheetahs hunt the Springbok antelope, while in Northwest Africa, they hunt the addax and dama gazelle. In Kruger National Park, South Africa, cheetahs primarily hunt Impalas.
Gazelles are another important source of food for cheetahs. The Thomson's Gazelle is a favourite prey item, accounting for 90% of cheetah hunts in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Additionally, cheetahs also hunt other types of gazelles, such as the Grant's gazelle and Dama gazelle.
Impalas are also frequently hunted by cheetahs. They are considered a primary food source, and cheetahs actively seek out habitats where impalas are present. In addition to the above-mentioned habitats, cheetahs in Kalahari, South Africa, and Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, also include impalas in their diet.
Cheetahs have a unique hunting strategy compared to other cats. They do not ambush their prey or attack from a close distance. Instead, they spot their prey from a distance of 70 to 100 meters and then begin the chase. A chase typically lasts for about 20 seconds, with a pursuit distance of around 170 meters. Their speed, agility, and excellent eyesight are crucial for their hunting success.
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Cheetahs occasionally eat birds
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, relying on their speed to hunt prey in the unforgiving African wilderness. They are carnivores and super-predators, eating only meat. They are built for speed, not strength, which limits their prey to smaller animals. Their diet consists of small- to medium-sized animals, such as gazelles, antelopes, impalas, calves, hares, small mammals, and occasionally, birds.
Cheetahs are opportunistic hunters and will take the chance to eat a bird if the opportunity arises. They may catch and eat young or injured birds, but birds are not a significant part of their diet. They are a supplementary food source, providing a small amount of extra nutrition. While you may not see a cheetah chasing birds on safari, they will take the chance to eat one if it presents itself.
Cheetahs are very adapted to their savannah habitat and can survive for days without drinking water, which is scarce in their environment. They drink water once or twice a week from rivers and water holes. They prefer habitats where their preferred prey, such as antelopes and gazelles, are found within a 20 to 30 km radius.
In captivity, cheetahs have a different diet. They are often fed beef or meat from other animals, such as rabbits, chickens, and donkeys. Their diet can be customized to provide necessary nutrients. In the wild, cheetahs hunt and fend off other predators, so they do not eat as regularly as in captivity.
Cheetahs are facing extinction due to loss of habitat and declining numbers of prey. They are also threatened by larger predators, such as lions, hyenas, and vultures, which may drive them away from their kills. As a result, cheetahs must often eat quickly or flee to avoid confrontations.
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In captivity, they are fed beef or meat from other animals
Cheetahs are carnivores and super-predators that only eat meat. In the wild, they hunt small to medium-sized animals, such as hares, impalas, wildebeest calves, gazelles, antelopes, young zebras, and birds. They have a preference for habitats where antelopes and gazelles are found.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, and their speed is critical to their survival. They are built for speed rather than strength, which limits their range of prey. They have excellent eyesight, which helps them find prey during the day. They also have a unique body structure that helps them reach high speeds, including long legs, a slender body, long muscular tails, large nostrils, and large lungs and hearts.
In the wild, cheetahs rest during the heat of the day, concentrating their hunts for later in the morning and early afternoon. This strategy helps them avoid competition and confrontations with other large predators like lions and hyenas. They also rarely scavenge remains that they did not kill themselves, unlike other African predators.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheetahs are carnivores and super-predators that only eat meat. They hunt small to medium-sized animals, including antelopes, gazelles, hares, young zebras, and birds.
In the wild, cheetahs hunt every two to five days, and a female cheetah with cubs may hunt daily. They drink water once or twice a week, as it is scarce in their habitat.
No, cheetahs in captivity are often fed beef or meat from other animals such as rabbits, chickens, and donkeys. Their diet can be customized depending on their health to provide necessary nutrients.
