These beautiful Snow Leopard plush toys include the Hansa Snow Leopard, the Wildlife Artists Snow Leopard, the new Eco Snow Leopard Cradle Cubbies at left, the Wildlife Artists Eco Snow Leopard, the Wild Republic Hug'ems Snow Leopard. At right is the Adventure Planet Jungle Cubbies Snow Leopard. Find plush toy Snow Leopards at our sponsor's online gift shop.

The Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia, is found in the cold, high altitudes from the Himalayas north to the Altai Mountains. Its superb coat of deep, soft fur, pale gray or creamy buff, covered with large rosettes, or broken black rings, is what this animal needs to survive in its cold environment. Other heat retaining characteristics include the stocky build, thick fur and small rounded ears. The long furry tails help this big cat maintain its balance in high mountainous terrain and provide additional warmth when wrapped around its face while sleeping. The eyes are pale green or gray.

Snow leopards are known as "Ghost Cats” because of their solitary and elusive nature.

These big cats are 39 to 51 inches long; females are a bit smaller. The tail is another 35 inches. Males weigh more than 100 pounds. The female are about 80 pounds.

Territorial ranges vary by as small an area as 5 square miles to areas as large as 39 square miles. The cats indicate their territories by using scent marks, like other cats. These big cats are generally active at dawn and dusk, or crepuscular.

Snow Leopards are opportunistic feeders and will eat what they can find, including carrion and domestic livestock. They also will hunt for prey and can take down animals four times their own weight. They generally feed on sheep and goats. They also eat vegetation including grass and twigs.

Snow Leopards are generally solitary cats, except for females with cubs. They mate in late winter. Gestation period is 98 to 104 days. Cubs are born between May and July. Females bear two to five young in a litter. The cubs are born blind and helpless, the eyes opening in about 7 days. By two months they can run and eat solid food. They begin learning to hunt in three months and by 20 months leave the den for lives of their own.

The lifespan of these big cats is 12 to 17 years in the wild and up to 22 years in zoos. Snow Leopards are considered endangered.

Class: Mammalia | Order: Carnivora | Family: Felidae | Genus: Panthera | Species: uncia