Cheetahs are known as the fastest animal on earth, but there’s a softer side to these deadly predators. Despite their fearsome reputation, the noise they make is considerably less threatening than the mighty roar of a lion. A recent video of a cheetah had wildlife fans scratching their heads. The reality is that cheetahs meow like domestic cats that are adored as pets. That’s because the cheetah’s voice box is fixed, with vocal cords that vibrate as they breathe in and out, allowing them to purr, but removing their ability to roar. Cheetahs are members of the Felinae family, as are the lynx, bobcat and cougar. In contrast, other big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars all belong to the Pantherinae family. The structure of the larynx for these big cats includes large muscles and a long vocal fold, giving them the ability to produce an intimidating roar.
