There’s nothing cuter than watching baby animals explore and learn about the world around them, and these two clouded leopard cubs playing at the Nashville Zoo are the perfect example!
Meet Joker and Quinn, two little cubs that love to play together and learn all about their new toys. Nashville Zoo says in the video’s caption that they love to zoom in and out of the tubes like a real life Super Mario! Make sure your sound is on because the music makes it even more fun to watch!
We could watch these two play all day! We loved it when the little cub was in the tube, and the other sat on top so that they couldn’t climb out. Total sibling move!
Commenters were also smitten by the cuteness that Nashville Zoo shared. @A E Moseley shared, “What cutie pies!! Also, their balance skills are amazing.” @marstacybug joked, “Who do I Venmo and when can I pick them up?”
Guess what? It is possible to have a clouded leopard as a pet! Another Pet Helpful article shared, “Clouded leopards are beautiful, medium-sized, stocky cats that are beginning to become more available to private zoo owners. They are extremely expensive, with some having gone for around $20,000.” That’s a little out of our budget for a pet, even one as cute as this cub is!
Related: Rare Clouded Baby Leopard Cub Born at Nashville Zoo Stops People in Their Tracks
More About Clouded Leopards
Fact Animal calls clouded leopards “an elusive and mysterious species of wild cat; they are rarely seen in the wild, and not very much is known about them.” Despite having “leopard” in their name, these cats are not leopards. Like snow leopards, clouded leopards are a separate species entirely (Neofelis) and are significantly less dangerous and much smaller than leopards in the genus Panthera that we all think of when we think of the cat.
If you’re wondering why they are described as “clouded,” clouded leopards get their unique name from their coats’ cloud patterns; it’s built-in camouflage!
And here’s a fun fact: Clouded leopards cannot purr or roar like most cats. Their necks develop differently from other cats, and they don’t have a hyoid bone, which is needed to purr. Instead, they communicate through high-pitched meow calls, hissing, growling, and chuffing. We can’t wait to hear what Joker and Quinn sound like!
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Sep 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.