Cheetah vs. Leopard: Can you tell the difference?

1:15 PM

I use to think Cheetah and Leopard were interchangeable terms as it pertained to animal print -- even though I am intelligent enough to realize that they are two different animals.  What lead me to this post is that I started noticing the differences in the prints while searching for fabric.  And also noticing how people look at the same print and one refers to it as "cheetah" while the other says "leopard".  

Since animal print is trending hard and heavy this season, I thought it would be good to really take a close look at how they differ.

Cheetah

Cheetah spots are fairly round/oval shaped and black and they sit on a tan or orangy background.

Leopard

Leopard spots are actually clusters of black and brown spots that look like roses and are referred to as "rosettes".

I found that once I really paid attention to the details that it was really easy to tell the difference.  Simple enough, right?

I know that was almost too easy, so here's one that will probably really throw you.

Jaguar

The jaguar print looks a lot like the leopard print, they are also rosettes.  But there is one subtle difference:  they have black spots inside them.

I hope you find this helpful and now you won't be making the same fashion faux "paws" that I have!

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40 comments

  1. And which one should you never play cards with- the Cheetah....

    Sorry I have been making christmas crackers and I have a heap of bad jokes running around my mind

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  2. Don't you mean fashion faux "paws".

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  3. Nice photos and good information - I like the big cats. Got my Vogue Patterns magazine today and congrats on your "pants to skirt" article. Very helpful!

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  4. Thanks, I haven't seen the article yet and it was written a while ago.

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  5. Thanks for this information, I never thought about the difference. I know they are two different animals but never occured to me to spot the difference in their skin print. Thank you

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  6. I thought it was pretty interesting. Welcome!

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  7. Thank you for enlightening us.

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  8. Very interesting information. I was calling everything leopard. Yes that was an great article in Vogue Pattern Magazine. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Ha! I think I did it! I don't understand why I had to sign up to do a blog, that I will never do, but it gave me google ID. I just hope I don't forget it!!!!!!

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  10. I wonder why my squares have trash csn's????????

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  11. @SRR - Faux paws, good one!

    I knew the difference between cheetah and leopard, but I don't think I ever took the time to look at a jaguar coat. So cool! Thanks for the tip!

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  12. I thought it was pretty cool. Now I'm incessantly looking at descriptions to see if retailers are getting it right.

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  13. Thank you, Miz Erica B.! Useful and informative illustrations. Have a lovely holiday, and may you and yours remain unpursued by any actual jungle or savannah large cats.

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  14. LOL! Happy Holidays to you!

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  15. all I have to say is RARRRRRR! Happy Holidays Erica!

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  16. Happy Holidays Katie!

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  17. I had no idea! Learned something new today. Thank you for that! :)

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  18. You're welcome Amanda!

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  19. Thanks for the lesson. :)Happy Holidays!

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  20. Thanks for the tips! for some reason in my mind I always pictured jaguar as solid black fur then I realized that is a panther. LOL I do have some faux fur to make a vest so any faux fur sewing tips would be appreciated!

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  21. During my last minute shopping, I checked what things were being called, armed with my new info, thanks to you, I found mostly things were just called "animal prints" that included fabric.

    In Macy's I checked the leopard print jacket, I had bought and shipped for my youngest and sure enough, "animal print". It is definitely leopard. Sometimes knowledge in the wrong hands can be dangerous!

    You and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
    Jan

    Some times

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  22. I've often found the generic term "animal print" as well.

    Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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  23. Great info! Especially since this is huge in nail art right now and when u see leopard nails girls actually call it cheetah nails.

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  24. wow...grt information ..thanks a lot...

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  25. Anonymous3:56 PM

    Oh! Thank you for sharing this--I have confused the prints before. Beautiful pictures too--gorgeous animals.

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  26. Wow! Just stumbled on this. I too make this fashion faux pas!

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  27. I love this post girl, I'm truely addicted to animalprints..

    nice blog hun, wanna follow each other?
    http://angeliqueprefers.blogspot.gr/
    xx

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  28. very cool...my six year old thought that was really good clarification...he can't wait to be asked if he knows the difference between the cheetah, the leopard, and the jaguar....yes...

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  29. Very good information. thanks!!

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