Greyhounds of Africa, also known as cheetahs or cheetahs are large cats that live on the African continent. These large cats are physically and remarkably fast.

Cheetahs that are smaller and less agile than their peers use trees to play. Tree climbing is also used by cheetahs to communicate and mark their territory. Cheetahs survey the area high for potential prey while marking their territory.

We’ll be discussing whether or not cheetahs can climb and how to do it, as well as what a cheetah looks like. Let’s get on with it!

Can Cheetahs climb trees?

Funny thing is, unlike other large cats, cheetahs don’t naturally climb.

You might be mistaken if you just do a quick Google search and not do any research or look through some search results.

Although this is false, it is true that cheetahs don’t climb often. They are not designed to climb.

For example, the leopard is more keen to climb trees than the cheetah. It is likely that the leopard is a jungle cat. Cheetahs, on the other hand, are from the African continent’s plains with fewer trees to climb.

In what situations could you find the cheetah scaling a tree?

Why do Cheetahs climb trees?

There are a few reasons cheetahs might climb in trees. It is important to understand that these are not the norm for all cheetahs.

For these furry felines, climbing trees is an exception to the rule.

Cheetah Cubs Use Trees As A Playground

Trees can be a great place to play for cheetah cubs, especially if they are smaller and less agile to climb.

Photographs of cubs and mothers up in trees are available, even though it might have taken them a while to reach the branches as compared to other big cats.

For a moment, think about how house cats love to climb on things and play on ‘cat condos. This is what you will see when you watch young cheetahs scampering up trees.

Cheetahs Use Trees For Communication

This information from the Cheetah Preservation Fund indicates that this particular instance in which it is more common for cheetahs to climb in trees has a complex meaning.

Trees are more than a place for cheetahs, they can also be used as communication mediums.

This is most common in Namibian cheetahs, but it has been quite recently. These trees were discovered in Namibia a few decades back.

Some physical characteristics determine which trees Cheetahs are able to climb and communicate with.

Cheetahs will prefer trees with sloped trunks over trunks that reach 90 degrees from the ground. These trees have limbs that are long and horizontal which provide a great platform for cheetahs.

Let’s look at how cheetahs use trees to communicate.

Cheetahs Use Trees To Mark Territory

Communication comes in many forms. However, marking your territory is more complex.

While Cheetahs climb trees in order to search for prey, there is another side to climbing trees. These large cats will move from one play tree to another in an area and leave their marks.

What do they do to leave their mark?

You might think of other animals marking their territory, such as your dog.

Cheetahs will generally urinate on the trunks of trees or leave scat on branches in order to claim an area.

This allows you to communicate with other cheetahs and possibly other species.

Trees are chosen because of their natural environment, which is where cheetahs live most often.

Few areas of sandy terrains like deserts, shrublands and open plains will be visible to animals.

Many species can stomp and ruffle grass with sand blows and other methods, but there are very few natural landmarks that they can use to claim a spot.

Trees have a harder surface than rocks, are more visible than other forms of nature, and stand out more.

These are the ideal place for cheetahs marking their territory.

How Do Cheetahs Climb Trees?

Cheetahs do not have the easiest job of climbing trees, as we’ve mentioned.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on Earth. Their bodies are built for speed. This superlative is not a result of chance. It means that other skills, such as being able to climb trees and having large teeth, are important to this species.

They are great for running thanks to their retractable claws, and the special pads that create traction.

Although cheetahs are not naturally inclined climbers, they can still achieve this feat when the right conditions exist.

How does the smallest of the big cats manage it?

Cheetahs are able to climb trees because of their physical attributes.

Although cheetahs can physically climb trees, it is not something they do very often. This is why most searches for cheetahs climbing trees won’t bring up any results.

Although cheetahs may not be the most skilled climbers, they are physically capable.

They Use Their Paw Pads

We all know that cheetahs can create traction with their paw pads, but did you consider the many benefits this could bring?

This extra traction is essential for Cheetahs to run at their maximum speed. But these cats do so much more than just run.

What might be useful for a cheetah trying to climb a tree?

It’s paw pads that have an extra grip, you guessed it!

Although cheetahs aren’t as sticky or grippy as other species, their paws have their own merits.

Cheetahs’ paw pads can provide some traction when they move their paws along the bark on trees they are climbing.

Like humans who wear special shoes for rock climbing and bouldering activities, the paw pads of cheetahs provide stability as they run and climb trees to mark their territory.

Their Semi-Retractable Claws Help Them Climb

Similar to the paw pads and the retractable claws that cheetahs sport, these large cats can also use the retractable claws to help them climb.

Let’s make a parallel between human sports and this one for a second.

We are here to help.

When rock climbers are climbing on ice or mountaineers reach the tops of mountains, park rangers take solo hikes and wear shoes with a spike.

Although semi-retractable claws are not common in the cat family, they can be quite useful.

Let’s start with what semi-retractable means.

A cat retracts its claws to move a tendon that contracts the claw upwards into its paw. This is how most cat species keep their claws sharp and allow them to surprise prey when hunting.

Semi-retractable refers to the fact that the claws can’t reach the cat’s paws.

Cheetahs always have at least one partial claw ready for any kind of action, such as tearing, gripping, or whatever.

This can be beneficial in many ways. Cheetahs have the ability to use different lengths of their claws to grasp onto trees they climb.

Although it may cause damage to the tree if the cheetah goes too deep, it will help it climb higher.

Apart from the physical aspects of the paw, there’s another big factor that could determine how well a cheetah climbs up trees.

This is the age factor.

Young Cheetahs Are Better Climbers

Think about what it was like as a child to play in a tree.

Enjoy climbing the trees as a child! !

We promise that this is a related point: Young cheetahs are able to climb up trees more easily than their older relatives.

Cheetah cubs are able to climb higher because their young bodies are small and lightweight.

Because they are lighter than their bodyweight, little cheetahs can climb trees with those semi-retractable claws and padded paws. They can also move more freely among the branches.

It’s not to say that adult Cheetahs don’t climb trees. But their younger counterparts do it faster.

What is a Cheetah?

The cheetah, a carnivorous mammal, is found in large areas of Africa.

Its current status is considered vulnerable and falls between ‘near threatened’ and ‘endangered’ according to a conservation scale.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute inform us that cheetahs can reach speeds of 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Cheetahs are the fastest land mammal in the world, thanks to this fun fact.

Did You Know that cheetahs can travel at speeds of 60-70 mph?

Consider driving a car. But not just anywhere. Imagine driving on the highway and looking up to see a large cat running next to you.

A cheetah can beat a car at speed, but that’s something we want to let the imagination do for now.

Remembering Cheetahs has more information about cheetahs today and their current plights. The book features photographs by some of the most renowned wildlife photographers worldwide and helps to raise money for charity.

Identifying A Cheetah

Cheetahs are small-headed and have high-set eyes. They also have a black tearmark from the inner corner of their eyes to the mouth.

The cheetah will have white fur on their eyes and necks, as well under their belly. The rest of their body is yellow or tan.

You may not know that cheetahs have black spots on their bodies. These serve as camouflage in the savannah grasses and shadows created by this environment feature.

It is not enough to look like a cheetah. But the physical traits that they use are crucial for understanding how cheetahs survive and thrive in the wild.

Physical Traits Of A Cheetah

The Cheetahs are a species with many beneficial physical traits. They also have some superlatives like being the fastest land mammal.

Cheetahs are able to retract their claws partially and have special paw pads that give them great traction. They can accelerate exponentially from rest to reach speeds of 70 mph.

Each part of the cheetah’s body contributes to its speed. Speed is an integral part of the animal’s nature. This includes a tail that helps with turning and balance, as well as a long body and legs.

Certain traits are more harmful than helpful for cheetahs.

Cheetahs have large nostrils and lungs that allow them to breathe in a lot of air while running. This means that they have less room for their teeth.

Cheetahs are unable to swallow their prey because of the small size of their teeth.

Although cheetahs can be deadly to their prey, they are unable to fight off other predators. They also have small teeth which makes them vulnerable.

Where Do Cheetahs Live?

The African continent’s areas where cheetahs live include North, Eastern and Southern Africa.

There is an endangered species of the Iranian cheetah.

Thanks to their shrublands and dry environments, cheetahs are most common in countries like Kenya, Botswana and Namibia.

Cheetahs’ fur spots help them blend in with the grass and shrublands. A similar black color is created by the shadows of direct sunlight.

We now know where the cheetahs are located, but how long will they live there?

Lifespan Of A Cheetah

You might be able to predict the life expectancy of a house cat if you keep one. You might think they are all cats?

Well, not quite.

In the wild, Cheetahs live for between 8 and 10 years. Their lifespan is about 1/3 of that of common house cats due to territorial conflicts and pressure to catch prey.

Cheetahs are able to live up 15 years if they are cared for properly.

Captivity can remove some environmental factors but the creature’s lifespan is short regardless of how you swing it.

What is the diet of a cheetah in this short life?

What do Cheetahs eat?

Numerous big cats are nocturnal hunter, which gives them the advantage of being able to slink around in the darkness.

Cheetahs are fast and don’t need to have this leg up. You can expect cheetahs hunting in the morning and late afternoon.

Cheetahs eat animals that are small to medium in size, like antelopes and young warthogs.

Although game and birds are a significant part of a cheetah’s diet, they are not the main source of their food.

Because other animals such as lions or vultures are competing for their attention, cheetahs must be vigilant during mealtimes.

These big cats are very fast and can be bullied by other predators to lose their prey. This is because they lack the ability to fight.

Remember that discussion about the cheetahs with small teeth? It comes into play when we consider that they are less likely to win a fight against a lion.

The Cheetahs don’t return to prey after they have left them. They must eat quickly to avoid being eaten by a rival.

That’s It!

That’s all we know about cheetahs or trees.

Despite the fact that big cats can climb trees, contrary to what you might have guessed from random internet searches, this activity is not their forte.

Cheetahs are more comfortable than other large cats such as leopards, lions, jaguars and others. They often stay on the ground, unlike other big cats like jaguars, lions, and leopards.

However, they can still run laps around their cousins at will. The rules for Cheetahs are different.

There are three reasons that a cheetah climbs up a tree:

• Play Young cheetahs enjoy climbing around and playing wherever they can. It becomes all about hunting, so these young cheetahs make the most of their free time.
• Communication – There are many ways that animals, such as cheetahs communicate with each other without using sound. Cheetahs climb trees in order to find prey and claim territory, as well as to communicate various messages.
• To Mark Territory – This is a return to communication. The main purpose of cheetahs climbing trees seems be to mark their territory. It can be difficult to make a mark in the constantly shifting sand. Trees offer a great opportunity to stake your claim.

We hope you found this article helpful in understanding the relationship between trees and cheetahs.

We hope you enjoy your tree journey, and that you continue to learn about the amazing interactions that make this planet so fascinating.

And, as always, thanks for being here.