# What is the best big cat?

> Lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard and every cat big enough to argue about. Size, speed, bite and sheer presence all point to different winners, so pick the one you would call the best.

*By YPB Team · Published August 6, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-big-cat*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Lion**
   The only big cat that lives in social prides, and the one culture crowned king.
2. **Tiger**
   The largest individuals of any cat species, striped and solitary.
3. **Jaguar**
   The Americas' heaviest cat, with the strongest bite of any big cat.
4. **Leopard**
   The most widespread big cat, famous for hauling kills into trees.
5. **Cheetah**
   The fastest land animal, built entirely for the sprint.
6. **Snow Leopard**
   The ghost of the high Himalaya, rarely seen in the wild.
7. **Cougar**
   Also called puma or mountain lion, ranging from Canada to Patagonia.
8. **Clouded Leopard**
   A tree-climbing cat with the longest canines relative to body size.
9. **Eurasian Lynx**
   Europe's big cat, tufted-eared and quietly widespread.
10. **Caracal**
   A desert cat that can leap three metres to swat birds from the air.
11. **Serval**
   Long-legged African cat with the largest ears in proportion to its body.
12. **Ocelot**
   A small spotted cat of the American tropics.

Tags: nature, animals, cats, all-time