Mark Mispagel, age 12, of St. Louis, Mo., for his question:

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A CAT CALLED THE PUMA?

Of all the animals in the world, Andy's favorites are members of the cat family. Large or small, purring or snarling, tame or ferociously wild, they all hold a special fascination that commands attention. The larger, wild members of the clan are stand outs in any crowd. True, the puma lacks the handsome mane of the lion, and his coat is not adorned with spots or stripes, but on the puma they would just be extras. He is beautiful just as he is.

A long time ago a certain cat roamed over most of the North American continent. The old time mountain men called him catamount, mountain screamer, painter and panther. More modern folk know him as cougar, mountain lion or puma. His proper Latin scientific name is Felis concolor, which means "Cat of one color."

An adult puma stands about 25 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder. His body can measure from 6 to 8 feet in length including two or three feet of thick, furry, black tipped tail. Body weight ranges anywhere from 100 to 175 pounds, but some big fellows have tipped the scales at more than 250 pounds.

The short, soft coat of the puma varies from a tawny tan or gray to a beautiful golden or reddish brown. The belly and throat are white, as are the insides of the legs. The handsome, intelligent face bears distinctive markings of white around the mouth bounded by a dapper black mustache. His black tipped ears sit on a head that looks small in comparison to the powerfully muscled body.

Puma kittens are generally born in the spring about three months after the mother has mated. Two blind helpless kittens form the usual litter, but there may be one, three or as many as six. Their furry buff colored coat is sprinkled with brown dots. After nine or ten days their eyes open, and like most kittens they spend their time in rough and tumble play or chewing on mother's ears and tail.

Mrs. Puma is a good mother and provides well for her family. Having chased the father away, she takes sole responsibility for the upbringing. When they are about 2 months old, mother takes them out on nightly hunts. Of course these outings are more fun for them than work. By the time they are 6 months old, however, the hunts become serious business. The kittens may remain with the mother for two years while learning the tricks of survival.

For many years some people have considered the puma a pest. He has been hunted with dogs and baited with poisoned meat until the population has dropped drastically. More thoughtful people, however, take a broader view and are trying to save the species.    

Happy to report that things are looking up for the puma.