Cougars became virtually eliminated from each region soon after it became settled. The Eastern cougar is a large, long tailed member of the cat family. They usually measure from 59 to 108 inches long with a tail of 21 to 35 inches. Males weigh 148 to 230 pounds and females weigh 75 to 132 pounds. They are the largest cat in the felis genus and are generally smaller in the tropics and larger in the northern climates.
Cougars have long slender bodies and small, broad, round heads.
Their hind legs are longer and more muscular than the forelegs. The Eastern cougar has fur that is soft to the touch. They have a tawny color but become more tan during the summer months, and grayer during the winter. The under chin is a creamy white as well as the belly. Black coloring appears behind the ears, on the tip of the tail, and there are shadings on the face.