Newborn Cheetahs Are Roughly the Size of a Baseball
Cheetahs can have litters of up to four cubs. When these babies are born, they weigh as little as five ounces. That’s like holding a furry little baseball! The cubs have indistinct spots that make them look gray, and their eyes don’t open until they’re two weeks old. Even then, their opaque peepers don’t see very well, so they need all the protection they can get.
Moms like Pobe keep cheetah cubs in secluded nests and move them frequently to avoid predators, prevent flea infestations and stay close to prey. When they’re about six weeks old, cubs begin to follow mom on daily travels, often hiding under a tree or bush until she calls them.Â