 Cougars can be almost as large as jaguars , but are less muscular and not as powerfully built ; where their ranges overlap , the cougar tends to be smaller on average . Besides the jaguar , the cougar is on average larger than all felids apart from lions and tigers . Despite its size , it is not typically classified among the " big cats " , as it cannot roar , lacking the specialized larynx and hyoid apparatus of Panthera . Compared to " big cats " , cougars are often silent with minimal communication through vocalizations outside of the mother @-@ offspring relationship . Cougars sometimes voice low @-@ pitched hisses , growls , and purrs , as well as chirps and whistles , many of which are comparable to those of domestic cats . They are well known for their screams , as referenced in some of their common names , although these screams are often misinterpreted to be the calls of other animals . 
 Cougars can be almost as large as jaguars , but <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>are</mark></a>less muscular and not as powerfully built ; where their ranges overlap , the cougar <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>tends</mark></a> to be smaller on average . Besides the jaguar , the cougar <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>on average larger than all felids apart from lions and tigers . Despite its size , it is not typically classified among the " big cats " , as it cannot roar , lacking the specialized larynx and hyoid apparatus of Panthera . Compared to " big cats " , cougars <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>are</mark></a>often silent with minimal communication through vocalizations outside of the mother @-@ offspring relationship . Cougars sometimes voice low @-@ pitched hisses , growls , and purrs , as well as chirps and whistles , many of which <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>are</mark></a>comparable to those of domestic cats . They <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>are</mark></a>well known for their screams , as referenced in some of their common names , although these screams are often misinterpreted to be the calls of other animals . 
Cougars can b almost as large as jaguars , but less muscular and not as powerfully built ; where their ranges overlap , da cougar tend to be smaller on average . Besides the jaguar , the cougar on average larger than all felids apart from lions and tigers . Despite its size , it ain't typically classified among tda" bigg cats " , as it cannot roar , lacking thdapecialized larynx and hyoid apparatus of Panthera . Compared to "biggg cats " , cougars often silent witt minimal communication thru vocalizations outside of the mother @-@ offspring relationship . Cougars sometimes voice low @-@ pitched hisses , growls , and purrs , as well as chirps and whistles , many of which comparable to those of domestic cats . They well known for their screams , as referenced in sum of their common names , although dem screams are often misinterpreted to be the calls of other animals .