Twitter Thread: Cheetahs Don't Roar, They Meow And Purr Like House Cats & Other Fun Facts About Cheetahs

You know, there is one big cat that, in our opinion, does not get nearly as much appreciation as it should. Everyone always talks about lions and tigers, but no one ever really talks about cheetahs. And don't tell anyone, okay? But cheetahs… might be our favorite. And we're gonna try to convince you today.

Cheetahs are adorable - as can be seen in this video of 8 rescued cheetah cubs venturing out into the wild for the first time. Cheetahs are curious and playful - as can be seen by this video of cheetahs reacting to Robodog in a zoo robot research testing enrichment program. Cheetahs are shy and kind of nervous - which is why cheetahs sometimes get dog companions to help them come out of their shells. Cheetahs are super friendly, even with humans - just look at this man's heartwarming reunion with a cheetah he helped raise after 2,5 years of not seeing it. And finally, as you're about to see today, cheetahs don't roar. No, they meow and purr like adorable house cats. And we love them. 

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky Mariel Ruvinsky
Advertisement
  • 01
    There was a problem rendering this video - it may have been deleted.
    via @todayyearsoldig

    We remember the first time we saw this video. It's an old video, came out years upon years ago, and we're not surprised in the slightest that it's making a comeback right now. Because today - just like the first time we saw it, listening to these adorable cats meow and purr made our hearts flip. 

    P.S. we embedded the original full-length video at the end of this listicle for those of you who want more cheetah adorableness. 

  • Advertisement
  • 02
    Font - slut next door @elleayevibe Replying to @todayyearsoldig you cannot fool me w your cute meows 5:32 AM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter for iPhone 77 Retweets 2 Quote Tweets 7,365 Likes
    via @elleayevibe
  • 03
    Font - ari @aahreeahnuh Replying to @elleayevibe and @todayyearsoldig i am fooled. I would like to pet them 5:36 AM - Aug 25, 2022. Twitter for iPhone 461 Retweets 6 Quote Tweets 20.2K Likes
    via @aahreeahnuh

    Same. Very much same. Like- we've always wanted to pet some cheetahs (and pretty much every other big cat as well), but seeing them meow and purr did increase our desire even more, we won't lie. 

  • 04
    Font - Chance The Kangaroo @ChanceDaRoo Replying to @todayyearsoldig They're precious little babies until they bite your hand. 5:39 AM - Aug 25, 2022. Twitter for Android 19 Retweets 3,405 Likes
    via @ChanceDaRoo
  • Advertisement
  • 05
    Font - Gabriel @RangoAnimations Replying to @ChanceDaRoo and @todayyearsoldig from what i heard cheetahs are pretty shy animals so shy that cheetahs in zoos have emotional support dogs 5:55 AM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter Web App 133 Retweets 25 Quote Tweets 7,033 Likes ...
    via @RangoAnimations
  • 06
    Dog - mapler syca in the box 7 아포방포 @galaxytannies Replying to @todayyearsoldig fun fact: cheetahs can sometimes be extremely nervous and anxious animals. so some facilities give them support dogs to get them to be comfortable. 7:36 PM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter for iPhone 198 Retweets 41 Quote Tweets 3,054 Likes
    via @galaxytannies
  • 07
    Font - Aku @akuwardmoments Replying to @todayyearsoldig Felidae is the cat family, which can be split into two. Cheetah is Felinae, the same subfamily as house cats. They can meow, chirp, and purr. Pantherinae is the subfamily of lions, tigers, and jaguars. They have the ability to roar, but not meow or purr. 5:35 AM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter for Android 139 Retweets 10 Quote Tweets 3,093 Likes
    via @akuwardmoments
  • Advertisement
  • 08
    Font - Replying to @todayyearsoldig I did know that. Panthera genus roar. Felinea purr. Never both. That's my understanding. Donna @Donna060686 94 Lion SUBFAMILY: PANTHERINAE Tigar GENUS : PANTHERA Jaguar Leopard KINGDOM ANIMALIA PHYLUM CHORDATA CLASS MAMMALIA ORDER CARNIVORA (meat-eater) SUBORDER FELIFORMIA (cat-like) Snow Leopard GENUS: NEOFELIS Clouded leopard SUNDA Cloddard BIG CATS SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION FAMILY FELIDAE (cat) 2:34 PM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter for iPhone . 93 Retweets 14 Qu
    via @todayyearsoldig
  • 09
    Font - RoguelsDed @RoguelsDed Replying to @todayyearsoldig This is because Cheetah aren't actually big cats. They're in Felidae much like house cats and other things such as bobcats and Caracals. Whereas other "big cats" are in the genus Panthera which consists of things such as Lions, Tigers and Jaguars. Now you've learnt something new! 2:02 PM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter Web App
    via @RoguelsDed
  • 10
    Font - Daybreak @fgcDaybreak Replying to @todayyearsoldig If I remember correctly they're also the only big cat that can't roar, and the only one that can meow and purr like this. I feel like cheetahs are just big house cats with a perpetual state of the zoomies 5:55 AM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter for iPhone ...
    via @fgcDaybreak
  • Advertisement
  • 11
    Font - issos @IS0002020 Replying to @todayyearsoldig The African cheetah is undoubtedly the fastest. It is the fastest animal on Earth. With documented top speeds of 64 mph (103 km/h), the cheetah easily outperforms other fast animals such as racehorses, to claim the title of the fastest land animal in the world. 5:04 PM - Aug 25, 2022 - Twitter for Android
    via @IS0002020
  • 12
    Font - richt @riprichtt Replying to @todayyearsoldig and @discordthreats if not friend why sound like it? 5:39 AM - Aug 25, 2022- Twitter for iPhone 52 Retweets 2 Quote Tweets 2 Quote Tweets 2,763 Likes
    via @riprichtt
  • 13
    via africansafarimovie

    For a weekly dose of animal-themed community challenges - Subscribe to our Newsletter!

    Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Find us on Instagram!

For a weekly dose of animal-themed community challenges - Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Find us on Instagram!

Tags

aww wholesome twitter adorable cheetah thread purr cute tweets meow viral big cats Video
Scroll Down For The Next Article

Also From I Can Has Cheezburger?

‘She immediately accepted her as her Own!’: Sweet Mama Cat Instantly Takes in Abandoned Cat Found on Someone’s Doorstep

‘She immediately accepted her as her Own!’: Sweet Mama Cat Instantly Takes in Abandoned Cat Found on Someone’s Doorstep

Trending Now

‘This yard is her entire world’: After 8 months of befriending the neighborhood feral cat who lacks survival skills, a kind neighbor purrvides an indoor home for a single-braincelled orange kitty

‘This yard is her entire world’: After 8 months of befriending the neighborhood feral cat who lacks survival skills, a kind neighbor purrvides an indoor home for a single-braincelled orange kitty

01
Hikers Catch a Paint-Covered Ragdoll Kitten at the Trailhead, Then They Cancel Their Trek and Seize the Adorable Cat, Giving the Kitten the Love and Care They Deserve

Hikers Catch a Paint-Covered Ragdoll Kitten at the Trailhead, Then They Cancel Their Trek and Seize the Adorable Cat, Giving the Kitten the Love and Care They Deserve

02
20 Funniest Lol-Worthy Cat Memes of the Week From Your 'I Can Has Cheezburger' Feline Family (May 16, 2025)

20 Funniest Lol-Worthy Cat Memes of the Week From Your 'I Can Has Cheezburger' Feline Family (May 16, 2025)

03
25 Furiday Feline Funnies Full of Refreshing Cat Energy For Your Day

25 Furiday Feline Funnies Full of Refreshing Cat Energy For Your Day

04
20 Fantastic Feline Funnies to Inspire Pawsitive Energy this Meowrning

20 Fantastic Feline Funnies to Inspire Pawsitive Energy this Meowrning

05
27 Feline Funnies Featuring Silly Cats Being the Most "Cat" They Can Get

27 Feline Funnies Featuring Silly Cats Being the Most "Cat" They Can Get

06
Advertisement