The cheetah faces a challenging existence in the wild, particularly during its infancy. Cheetah cubs exhibit a high degree of vulnerability, experiencing a far greater mortality rate due to predation—primarily from lions and hyenas—compared to the young of many other large felids. The mother’s solitary role extends beyond merely providing food; her constant presence is the most significant factor in a cub’s survival and long-term success. This intense period of maternal care involves protection and training.
The Extended Period of Parental Care
Cheetah cubs remain with their mother for an extended period, separating around 18 to 24 months of age. This duration reflects the complex skills the cubs must acquire before they can successfully live alone. Unlike many other predators, a cheetah’s survival depends on a highly refined hunting technique that is not innate but must be meticulously taught and practiced.
The mother acts as the sole provider and protector, as adult male cheetahs play no role in raising the offspring. For the first six to eight weeks, the mother frequently moves the litter between hidden dens to avoid detection by larger predators, a period when cub mortality is highest. Once the cubs can follow her, the focus shifts to introducing solid food and the process of learning to hunt.
Learning the Crucial Skills for Survival
The mother’s instruction in hunting begins around five months of age when she stops nursing and introduces meat. Initially, she performs the entire hunt while the cubs observe, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the sight, scent, and consumption of prey. Her speed and skill are demonstrated, providing the cubs a visual blueprint for their future actions.
The teaching progresses to hands-on practice, where the mother captures a young or weakened antelope and deliberately releases it alive for the cubs to chase and recapture. This controlled environment allows the cubs to practice the final stages of a hunt, including the tackle and the kill bite, without the risk of failure or injury. It takes many months for the cubs to progress from clumsy attempts to successful, independent kills, with most not making a solo kill until 14 months or later.
Beyond hunting, the mother imparts lessons in predator avoidance. She teaches them to identify and avoid threats like lions and hyenas, which frequently steal kills and prey on young cheetahs. The mother’s vigilance and strategy in moving the litter and choosing rest sites instill the awareness necessary for the cubs to navigate their home range safely.
Life After Separation: The Sibling Coalition
When the mother leaves the litter, typically between 18 and 24 months, the siblings remain together for several more months, forming a sibling group known as a coalition. This phase provides a supportive environment for the young cheetahs to continue perfecting their hunting skills and gain confidence without maternal supervision. The coalition allows them to practice cooperative hunting, enabling them to take down slightly larger prey than a single cheetah could manage.
The fate of the coalition differs based on sex. Female siblings usually separate relatively soon, becoming solitary and establishing territories adjacent to or overlapping with their mother’s range. Male siblings, however, often form lifelong unions. These male coalitions—which can consist of brothers or sometimes include an unrelated male—enhance survival by increasing the ability to defend territory and secure mating opportunities against rival males.