CreatureData

Cheetah vs Marbled cat

The cheetah is heavier: 46.7 kg against 2.85 kg for the marbled cat, about 16 times the weight.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Cheetah VUVulnerable
Photo: James Temple · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
Marbled cat NTNear Threatened
Photo: Johan Embréus ( Embreus ( talk )) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a cheetah and a marbled cat?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The cheetah is heavier: 46.7 kg against 2.85 kg for the marbled cat, about 16 times the weight.
  • The marbled cat is longer-lived: 23 years against 19 years for the cheetah, about 21% longer.
  • They share the family Felidae but sit in different genera: Cheetah in Acinonyx, Marbled cat in Pardofelis.
  • The cheetah is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; the marbled cat is Near Threatened.

Side by side

CheetahMarbled cat
Scientific nameAcinonyx jubatusPardofelis marmorata
FamilyFelidaeFelidae
OrderCarnivoraCarnivora
Weight35 kg – 50.6 kg2.85 kg
Length1.1 m – 1.5 mNot recorded
Lifespan19 years23 years
Main foodbezoar ibex, carrion, chinkara, common ostrich, common warthog, dama gazelle and 28 moreNot recorded
Habitatdesert, mountainforest, shrubland
Conservation statusVulnerableNear Threatened
Countries recordedNot recordedNot recorded

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: CheetahFull record: Marbled catCompare other animals