 A successful generalist predator , the cougar will eat any animal it can catch , from insects to large ungulates ( over 500 kg ) . Like all cats , it is an obligate carnivore , meaning it needs to feed exclusively on meat to survive . The mean weight of vertebrate prey ( MWVP ) that pumas attack increases with the puma 's body weight ; in general , MWVP is lower in areas closer to the equator . Its most important prey species are various deer species , particularly in North America ; mule deer , white @-@ tailed deer , elk and even bull moose are taken . Other species such as the bighorn and Dall 's sheep , horse , fallow deer , caribou , mountain goat , coyote , pronghorn , and domestic livestock such as cattle and sheep are also primary food bases in many areas . A survey of North America research found 68 % of prey items were ungulates , especially deer . Only the Florida panther showed variation , often preferring feral hogs and armadillos . 
 A successful generalist predator , the cougar will eat any animal it can catch , from insects to large ungulates ( over 500 kg ) . Like all cats , it <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>an obligate carnivore , meaning it <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>needs</mark></a> to feed exclusively on meat to survive . The mean weight of vertebrate prey ( MWVP ) that pumas attack <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>increases</mark></a> with the puma <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>body weight ; in general , MWVP <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>lower in areas closer to the equator . Its most important prey species <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>are</mark></a>various deer species , particularly in North America ; mule deer , white @-@ tailed deer , elk and even bull moose are taken . Other species such as the bighorn and Dall <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>sheep , horse , fallow deer , caribou , mountain goat , coyote , pronghorn , and domestic livestock such as cattle and sheep <a href='drop_aux' title='8'><mark>are</mark></a>also primary food bases in many areas . A survey of North America research found 68 % of prey items <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> ungulates , especially deer . Only the Florida panther showed variation , often preferring feral hogs and armadillos . 
A successful generalist predator , the cougar gon eat any animal it can catch , from roaches to large ungulates ( ova 500 kg ) . Like all cats , it an obligate carnivore , meaning it gotta feed exclusively on meat to survive . The mean weight of vertebrate prey ( MWVP ) dat pumas attack increase w da puma  body weight ; in general , MWVP lower in areas closer to the equator . Its most important prey species various deer species , particularly in North America ; mule deer , white @-@ tailed deer , elk and even bull moose are taken . Other species such as the bighorn and Dall  sheep , horse , fallow deer , caribou , mountain goat , coyote , pronghorn , and domestic livestock such as cattle and sheep also primary food bases in many areas . A survey of North America research found 68 % of prey items was ungulates , especially deer . Only the Florida panther showed variation , often preferring feral hogs and armadillos .