Adorable snow leopards can’t stop nomming on their fluffy tails

Big cats have been a popular topic of conversation since the Netflix documentary centered around Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin took the world by storm. And even though snow leopards weren’t the central characters in Tiger King, they’re beautiful big cats just like the rest.

But they have some key distinctions that separate them, and it’s not just their spotted white coats.

For example, snow leopards can’t roar.

They can make almost all of the same sounds and other big cats – like purring, hissing, and even growling, but they just can’t muster a roar!

Flickr, Eric Kilby Source: Flickr, Eric Kilby

It has to do with the anatomy of their throats, but they can “chuff” instead, which is a significant puffing sound.

Another strange attribute that makes snow leopards different, is their massive tails!

They can be up to a meter long, which is half the distance we should be keeping during this pandemic. So, pretty long! Their main function is for balance, but apparently these fluffy predators have also found a second function: nom-noms.

That’s right, these majestic creatures can be found munching on their own fluffy tails for seemingly no reason.

Sure, it makes them 100 times cuter and keeps their faces protected from the cold in their snowy natural habitats, but from a survival perspective in captivity, it doesn’t add up.

Imgur Source: Imgur

Maybe the only explanation is that it’s cozy and warm.

Maybe it’s pure instinct or genetics. Whatever the reason, there’s no dying how adorable it is!

“It’s unknown exactly why snow leopards enjoy biting their enormous, fluffy tails. Some theories are that biting their tails helps keep them warm in the harsh cold of their natural environments. Others suggest that it’s simply a form of play behavior.” – Meowingtons

Just look at these fluffy tails.

Photobucket, theweaselking Source: Photobucket, theweaselking

I can only imagine the hairballs this must cause. But no matter… so cute!

Flickr, Andrew Yee Source: Flickr, Andrew Yee

It definitely makes their size and menacing sharp canines look a little less threatening. And just by looking at these beautiful cats chewing on their own tails, it’s easy to forget that they’re apex predators.

These solitary hunters are able to thrive in extreme terrains, taking down prey more than three times their own weight.

Which you definitely wouldn’t want to forget if you encountered one in the wild, but fortunately, snow leopards aren’t aggressive towards humans.

It’s hard to feel any fear when you see a fluffy cub!

Imgur Source: Imgur

Even the little ones can’t keep their teeth off their extreme floof-tails.

Before they learn to chew on their own tails, they bite their mom’s!

500px, Andreas Ritcher Source: 500px, Andreas Ritcher

Snow leopards live on their own for most of their lives.

Females will find a male during mating season when they can sometimes be seen together. Once cubs are born, they live with their mothers for about 18 months before going out on their own.

They’re not a very family-oriented species, but don’t be fooled; a mother will protect her young fiercely!

Flickr, kuhnmi Source: Flickr, kuhnmi

Chasing their own tails could also just be a way to play.

Since they’re so solitary, they don’t have other big cats to play fight with! So I guess in desperate times for entertainment… they have to get creative.

Who’s to say humans wouldn’t do the same thing if we had long fluffy appendages hanging from our bodies?

Big cats are definitely not just big kittens to play with, they’re the kings of the snowy mountains. But it’s pretty hard not to swoon when you see them nomming on their own fluffy tails!

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Source: Meowington, Bored Panda

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