Growing Up as
a CubGrowing Up as
a Cub
Between the ages of three and four young male and
female tigers are ready to mate. When the female finally attracts a male,
they'll spend three to seven days together. If the 
tigress is to become pregnant, she gives birth 93 to 110 days
later. The cubs are born in a vacant area like a cave or an area with alot
of thick bushes. Usually, there are three to four cubs in a litter, but
there can be up to six or seven in a litter. The cubs are blind and helpless
at birth and are very dependent upon their mother. They'll be able to open
their eyes about two weeks later. At the beginning, the cubs must stay in
the den. Its not until two or three months have passed that they can be
able to explore the world.
Most tiger cubs don't survive their second year. They are threatened by other predators, like jackals and hyenas. At times, even adult tigers have been known to attack and eat cubs. Sometimes cubs can die from diseases or injury. Also, when there is not enough food, the weak ones can die from starvation.
When the cubs are a few months old, they are big enough to eat meat so the tigress will start to bring them back meat from her hunt. As the cubs continue to grow their mother must provide more and more food for them. This wears the mother out. Sometimes she is forced to make a kill everyday.
Once the cubs are able to walk
they become familiar with the landmarks of their mother's range. They will
play with each other, wrestle, chase and even stalk. By doing so, this helps
them develop their muscles and also gives them practice in making a kill.
Tigers are not born knowing how to catch their prey. That's why young cubs observe their mother at the kill. Usually to give the cubs more practice on killing, their mother will bring the cubs an animal she has wounded so they can kill it themselves. Once they get older doesn't mean they're going to make a successful kill. The most it'll happen is one out of fifteen times. Young tigers will leave their mother's range when they are about two years old. Most tigers will live until they are about twenty years old.