Let us meet the tiger. Tigers are among the largest cats in the world, and tigers live in Asia. As of November 2026, tigers are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. A tiger has a reddish-orange coat with dark stripes. No two tigers have the same stripes. A tiger's stripes help it blend into its surroundings.

There are different kinds of tigers, and some are very big. The Amur tiger is the largest kind of tiger. The Sumatran tiger is the smallest kind of tiger. Amur tigers have paler orange coats and fewer stripes than other tigers. Amur tigers live in snowy forests in eastern Russia and northeastern China. Tigers live in many kinds of places, such as forests, mangrove swamps and snowy mountains.

Now let us see how a tiger hunts. The animals a tiger hunts are called prey. Tigers eat deer and wild pigs, and tigers hunt mostly at night. A tiger's eyes reflect light back, and this helps it make a better picture in dim light. Tigers find their prey by using sight and sound. Tigers are ambush hunters that rely on stealth. A tiger moves slowly and quietly when it stalks. A tiger's claws can be pulled in while it walks.

Next, let us see how a tiger lives on its own. Tigers mostly live alone. The size of a tiger's range depends on how much prey there is. Tigers mark their territory by scratching trees. Tigers make sounds such as roars, grunts and chuffs.

Last, let us meet the cubs. Tiger cubs are born small and helpless. A tiger mother is pregnant for about three months, and she usually has 2 or 3 cubs at a time. The cubs stay with her for about two years. Wild tigers usually live 10 to 15 years.

Words to know

• prey: hunted animals
• ambush: hide and wait
• stalks: sneaks up
• territory: an animal's area
• mangrove: swamp trees
• Endangered: at risk

The short version

Tigers are among the largest cats in the world. A tiger has a reddish-orange coat with dark stripes, and no two tigers have the same stripes. Tigers hunt mostly at night, finding their prey by using sight and sound. They mostly live alone in Asia.

Quick facts

• Tigers are among the largest cats in the world.
• No two tigers have the same stripes.
• Tigers hunt mostly at night and find prey by using sight and sound.
• The Amur tiger is the largest kind of tiger.
• Tigers mark their territory by scratching trees.