Although tigers hunt primarily for food, they also are strong enough to kill other tigers and large cats, such as leopards. Tigers breed between February and May, just after the rainy season in Asia. After breeding, 15-16 weeks will pass by before their cubs are born. Female tigers, called tigresses, typically have two cubs, but they can have as many as six. When the cubs are nearly ready to be born, a tigress seeks out a den site and prepares for her litter.
Caves make particularly good dens.
Male tigers stay with a female for only a short time after their cubs are born. When tiger cubs are six months old, they are ready to join their parents on hunts. They stay with their mothers until age two. At that time, they are ready to live on their own. Tigers may live for as long as 20 years.