In successive months, they slowly learn from her how to hunt and kill their own prey. Male cubs grow faster than their female siblings and by one year of age are noticeably larger and more independent, sometimes spending the day away from the mother. By 16 months of age, tigers have fully developed canines, but they are not very efficient at killing prey. By 18 months of age, both sexes start making their own kills. At this age males will leave to seek their own territory.
Females tend to stay longer with their mother.
The young male tiger faces his most challenging time when he leaves his mother and seeks his own territory. Resident males have been observed to tolerate subordinate males in their range, but in general, resident males exclude other males. Most young males are forced to live in less favorable habitat, biding their time until they can displace a resident male and gain their own territory. This usually occurs when the resident male gets too old or suffers severe injury. Young females leave their mother's territory, usually when the mother comes into estrus and becomes too aggressive.