A snow leopard's fur, which provides protection from the extreme cold of its mountainous habitat, is a soft grayish color with yellow brown fur along its flank and a lighter white fur on its belly, chest and chin. It has a dark strip which runs along its back. The rest of its coat is spotted with solid circles and rosettes.
The limbs of this cat are relatively small compared to the rest of its body. The leopard also has a long, thick tail that helps it balance while walking through the snowy terrain, jumping across rocky areas and climbing in trees.
Longevity
The median life expectancy of snow leopards in zoos is approximately 14 years. There is not good information on life expectancy in the wild, but it is probably shorter.
Reproduction
Between the months of January and March, snow leopards will pair off in order to mate. Once the male and female have mated, the leopards return to their solitary lives. When attracting a mate they let out a slight moan and individuals greet each other with quiet “chuffing” or “prusten” sounds. The male has no role in the rearing of the cubs.
The female’s pregnancy, which lasts 98-103 days, results in the birth of between 1-3 cubs. The cubs are born in rocky shelters lined with their mother’s fur in order to provide warmth and protection. At birth, the cubs weigh between 0.5 pounds (300g) and 1.5 pounds (700g). They are blind from 3-7 days. After two months, they begin to eat solid food; after 3 months they begin to accompany their mother on hunting trips. The young stay with their mother for about 18-22 months and will reach sexual maturity between the ages of 3-4 years of age.
Behavior
Snow leopards are mostly nocturnal, doing most of their hunting right before sunrise and at twilight. Snow leopards often stalk prey while remaining close to the ground, utilizing the natural protection of the rocky terrain. Once the cat has its prey in sight, it pounces on the victim and will generally revisit large carcasses over a period of 3 to 4 days.
Snow leopards will leave trails of markings to identify their territory and to keep in contact with other familiar leopards. Unlike other large species of cats, the snow leopard generally keeps its distance from humans and often does not attack humans unless provoked.