#CheetahCubdate 10: Coughs, Check-ups and Chowing Down

This update was written by cheetah biologist Adrienne Crosier.
a female veterinarian holds a stethoscope to a cheetah cub while an animal keeper holds the cub
Each cheetah cub had their first official veterinary exam this week.
a female veterinarian holds a stethoscope to a cheetah cub while an animal keeper holds the cub
Each cheetah cub had their first official veterinary exam this week.
five 6-week-old cheetah cubs in a blue plastic bin
Rosalie's cub at their weigh-in last week.
a female veterinarian holds a stethoscope to a cheetah cub while an animal keeper holds the cub
a female veterinarian holds a stethoscope to a cheetah cub while an animal keeper holds the cub
five 6-week-old cheetah cubs in a blue plastic bin

Thanks to all of our Cheetah Cub Cam viewers who wrote or commented about the coughing cheetah cub. We’ve been monitoring him closely and the veterinary staff did an exam on him and all of his siblings this morning. Both he and one other male cub show signs of a mild respiratory infection. To be on the safe side, all five cubs were treated with long-acting antibiotics. The two showing symptoms also received an oral cough suppressant. They’re scheduled for another veterinary check-up on Friday.

Back to our regularly scheduled Cubdate! It’s been another busy week for Rosalie and her five cubs. Avid Cheetah Cub Cam viewers will have noticed that Rosalie is still hopping between the three dens at random. It’s always a great surprise to see her back in one of the dens with a webcam, though. While we’d love to tell viewers the best time to tune in and watch the cubs, we really never know when or where they'll be!

There were some big milestones off the webcam this week as well. The cubs had their first veterinary exam! Vets listened to the cubs’ hearts and lungs, took blood samples, checked their eyes and ears, and administered a first set of vaccinations. And of course, the staff weighed them in buckets. All the cubs are gaining weight!

Veterinarians and animal care staff will continue to closely monitor the cubs, including one with a misshaped tail that is otherwise in great health.

A cheetah cub sits in a white bucket on a scale
One of Rosalie's cubs sits in a bucket while being weighed.

Rosalie also brought the cubs with her for her morning meal. Usually, Rosalie will leave the cubs in the den while she comes to the barn for her breakfast, but the cubs followed her for the first time this week. We encourage this behavior because that’s the best time to offer the cubs meat. 

They were first offered meat on Nov. 15, but were first spotted actually eating it on Nov. 17. Specially formulated ground beef (not the kind you can buy at the grocery store!) is served on a large tray, which is sometimes more fun for the cubs to jump into, than it is to eat from.

And finally, since our faithful Cheetah Cub Cam viewers don’t get to see outside the den much, we wanted to share this video of the cubs following Rosalie out in the yard on a recent sunny day. You can see how big and agile they’re getting as they follow behind mom.