What big cat Cannot roar?
One big cat that purrs but can't roar is the cheetah. Biologists place it in a genus all its own (Acinonyx), simply because it can't retract its claws completely.
For the most part, big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars) can roar, but they can't purr. Cougars and smaller cats (bobcats, ocelots, lynxes, and house cats, among others) can purr, but they can't roar.
Purring and roaring are mutually exclusive, so lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars are all incapable of purring, while every other cat can purr but not roar.
Did you know cheetahs can't roar? Apparently the ability to roar is made possible by a special two-piece hyoid bone in the throat and the only cats that have them are lions, tigers leopards, and jaguars. Other cats like cheetahs only have a one-piece hyoid bone.
Roar Versus Purr
In fact, only four species of cats can actually roar. These are lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars. The most widely accepted explanation for the mechanism of a roar versus a purr comes down to a bone called the hyoid, situated near the larynx.
However, a lion coalition of 2–3 males would have a clear advantage over a lone tiger. A group of 2–4 female lions would have a similar advantage over a lone tigress. They conclude that while one on one, a tiger would certainly best a lion, in the wild the lion pride could hold their own against the solitary tiger.
Overall Strongest: Tiger
The largest cat is also a member of the Panthera genus and beats the lion in terms of strength, speed, aggression, fighting skills, and coordination. Its large size is a factor that makes it the strongest cat in the world.
According to a conservation charity called Save China's Tigers, “Recent research indicates that the tiger is indeed stronger than the lion in terms of physical strength… A tiger is generally physically larger than a lion. Most experts would favor a Siberian and Bengal tiger over an African lion.”
Jaguars roar
Both males and females roar, which helps bring them together when they want to mate. A jaguar's usual call is called a 'saw' because it sounds like the sawing of wood - but with the saw only moving in one direction.
Cheetahs Can't Roar, They Meow Instead.
Which animal has the scariest roar?
A tiger's intimidating roar has the power to paralyze the animal that hears it and that even includes experienced human trainers.
Tigers have a roaring good time.
When tigers roar, the sound can be heard nearly two miles away. Why are a tiger's pipes so powerful? It turns out they can stretch their vocal cords in a special way that pumps up the volume of their vocalizations.

It is a well-recorded fact that Cheetahs are docile animals and do not pose a threat to humans. These beautiful cats are shy and will avoid direct contact with humans.
They also have elastic ligaments on their hyoid bone, which is attached to the larynx. The elastic ligaments make the whole structure more flexible and better suited to create lower-pitched sounds. This is why lions can't meow. Their throats just aren't made for it!
There are seven members in the big-cat family: lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard, mainland clouded leopard, and Sunda clouded leopard and all of them are under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
Differences in size
Tigers are the largest felines in the world and can reach up to 12.5 feet in length (including the tail) and up to 650 pounds. On their part, lions tend to weigh between 330 and 550 kilos and measure between 6.5 and 11 feet. Interestingly, lions have longer tails than tigers.
That majestic beast is none other than the lion, also called the king of the jungle! The lion is one of the most powerful creatures in its environment.
Tigers are solitary hunters so no matter how powerful the tiger is, it can't win a fight with two or more lions at the same time so that being said why is the tiger not considered for the title of the king.
The strength of the tiger can also be its greatest weakness. Often the tiger becomes frustrated with more calculating styles and can be forced into making critical errors, or evasive techniques can be used to attack the tiger's endurance.
One big cat that purrs but can't roar is the cheetah. Biologists place it in a genus all its own (Acinonyx), simply because it can't retract its claws completely.
Do cheetahs roar or meow?
Cheetahs Can't Roar, They Meow Instead.
While big cats such as lions and tigers can roar, domesticated house cats can only meow and purr. The reason house cats can't roar is due to their voice box and throat, according to the science news website Live Science, which added that cat species can either roar or purr but can't do both.
Cheetahs can't roar, though they can they purr. Still, conservation groups tend to embrace the wider definition of “big cats” that also includes snow leopards and cougars. Even though their speed makes them fearsome hunters, cheetahs are the most vulnerable of the world's big cats.
Jaguars roar
Both males and females roar, which helps bring them together when they want to mate. A jaguar's usual call is called a 'saw' because it sounds like the sawing of wood - but with the saw only moving in one direction.
Tigers have a roaring good time.
When tigers roar, the sound can be heard nearly two miles away. Why are a tiger's pipes so powerful? It turns out they can stretch their vocal cords in a special way that pumps up the volume of their vocalizations.
Snow leopards make sounds similar to those made by other large cats, including a purr, mew, hiss, growl, moan, and yowl. However, snow leopards cannot roar due to the physiology of their throat, and instead make a non-aggressive puffing sound called a 'chuff'. Snow leopards are not aggressive towards humans.