Cheetahs are the world fastest land animals and among its most threatened large cats. Their welfare in both wild and captive settings requires urgent attention.
Cheetah welfare in the wild is compromised by habitat loss, competition with larger predators, and persecution by farmers. In captive settings, cheetahs face challenges arising from their specialised nature: they are not as behaviourally flexible as some other felids and require large spaces, appropriate social grouping, and management that accommodates their flight distance and sensitivity to stressors. The live pet trade creates severe welfare problems as cubs are captured from the wild and transported in conditions causing high mortality, then kept in unsuitable domestic environments without appropriate care. Addressing both wild and captive cheetah welfare requires coordinated conservation and welfare action.