Its belly is pale reddish or reddish white. The inside of this cat's ears are light-colored, with blackish color behind the ears. Cougars feed primarily on deer, but their diet may also include small mammals, wild turkeys, and occasionally domestic livestock, when available. Observations of the western subspecies suggest that cougars begin breeding when 2 or 3 years old and breed thereafter once every 2 to 3 years. Whether or not there is a definite breeding season is a matter of contention.
Courtship is initiated by the female and generally includes mating with a number of males.
Spotted kittens weighing 8 to 16 ounces are born after a gestation period of about 3 months. Litter size is usually three. The kittens attain a weight of approximately 1O pounds in 8 weeks, and may weigh 3O to 45 pounds at 6 months. By the time they are yearlings they may weigh 6O to 9O pounds. Present United States distribution is limited to only a few scattered areas at best.