You asked for it so here it is: ZooBorns' Top 10 Cutest Cats born at zoos around the world over the last year and a half. From the tiny to the not so tiny, this is the official list for all you feline fans.
1. Sand Kittens at Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort
A cousin to the domestic house cat, sand cat kittens highlight the differences between the wild and the familiar. Oversized ears help dissipate heat and large padded paws are perfect for prowling on the hot desert sand. This kitten and its sibling were born at Al Ain Wildlife Park in Saudi Arabia via in-vitro fertilization as part of a collaboration between Al Ain, the Cincinnati Zoo and the University of Illinois.
2. Ocelot Kitten at Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo
Dubbed the "Miracle Kitten", this little ocelot was only the third in history to be born successfully via artificial insemination. Nocturnal hunters, the white circles around ocelots' eyes actually reflect light giving them exceptional night vision. Photo credit: Shannon Calvert
3. Tiger Cubs at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
Contrary to popular belief, white tiger cubs are neither a unique species or albinos. They are typically Bengal tigers with an uncommon recessive gene. These twins, Kali and Durga, were born at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo last year. Photo credit: Robert LaFollette
4. Amur Leopard Cub at Germany's Serengeti Park
Only forty Amur leopards are estimated to remain in the wild. The research and breeding efforts of zoos like Serengeti Park are critical the survival of this critically endangered species if it goes extinct in the wild. Photo credit: Joerg Sarbach / Associated Press
5. Clouded Leopard Cubs at Smithsonian's National Zoo
A medium sized cat (10-16" at the shoulder) native to Thailand, little is known about these elusive cats in the wild. These cubs were born at the National Zoo in support of the Species Survival Plan for this vulnerable species. Photo credits Mehgan Murphy/Smithsonian's National Zoo
See the rest after the jump
6. Eurasian Lynx Kitten at Nashville Zoo
Born in April in the midst of the torrential storms that caused disastrous flooding in Nashville, this little kitten is a testament to Nashville Zoo's staff who worked night and day to ensure the welfare of their animals. Eurasian lynx can reach over 65 lbs. and range from Europe through Siberia. Photo credits: Christian Sperka
7. Cheetah Cub at the Cincinnati Zoo
Little "Nia Faye" was rejected by her mother but luckily Cincinnati Zoo keepers were able to pair her with other cheetah cubs so they could bond and learn social skills from one another. As a hand raised cheetah, Nia Faye will serve as an ambassador for her species, educating the public on the importance of conservation for this vulnerable species.
8. Snow Leopard Cub at Planckendael Zoo
Snow leopards are endangered in the wild with only a few thousand remaining. The first snow leopard ever born in Belgium, little Laila represents great hope for the European Snow Leopard Breeding Program, which seeks to protect these beautiful animals. Photo credits: Planckendael Zoo
Domestic house cats are subspecies of the wildcat, so it's no surprise that these little faces look familiar. Researchers believe that wildcats in the near east first became domesticated when they were attracted to the earliest farms to eat rodents that came to raid grain stores. Ancient farmers were more than happy to have the cats hang around and keep the pests away. Photo credits: Joachim S. Muller
10. African Lion Cubs at Tulsa Zoo
These two little cubs were lucky to have Tulsa Zoo vets on hand when it became clear they would need to be delivered by C-section. Once widespread across Africa and most of the Middle East, today African lions are confined to small pockets between ever encroaching human populations. Photo Credits: Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World
And don't forget, you can leisurely stroll through all of the ZooBorns cats by clicking Cats in the left sidebar anytime.
