13 Vintage Photos of Big Cats for International Cat Day

Happy International Cat Day! Get your feline fix with these vintage photos of big cats in action.

1. BIG CAT STARE DOWN

June 1928: In the same cage, a lion and a tiger are outstaring each other.

2. JUST A DOG AND HIS BOXER PALS

1950: A lion shares a cage with some boxers.

3. LION VS. LEOPARD

A woman circus performer, dressed in a leopard skin gladiator costume, places her head in a lion's mouth. (Date unknown.)

4. A VERY TIRED LEOPARD CUB

1935: A Leopard cub in a cage at the zoo.

5. PUMA BINGE-WATCH

1955: Kiba, a South American puma sleeping in the front room of her master's home, while the family watches television.

6. LOUNGING LION

1930: A lion lies on a couch while his trainer kneels beside him.

7. GIVE A CAT A BONE

June 1956: A three-month-old tiger cub abandoned by her mother at birth tackles a bone at the London Zoo.

8. A LITTLE R&R

1939: Habiba, a 10-year-old lion at Chessington Zoo in Surrey, relaxes while keeper Hans Brick manipulates its hind legs.

9. GAME ON

February 1937: The game hunter, Mr Gandar-Dower, and one of the cheetahs which he brought back to Hackbridge Kennels, Surrey, from Kenya.

10. BATH TIME

1940: Melvin Koaants cleaning the African Lion at Los Angeles Zoo.

11. BE TRUE TO YOUR TEETH

December 1936: George 'Tornado' Smith cleaning the teeth of his pet lioness, Briton, at the Kursaal amusement park in Southend, Essex. Smith is a stunt motorcycle rider on the wall of death sideshow at the park and Briton features in his act, riding in a sidecar.

12. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S MEETING WITH A LION CUB

July 1943: British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill with his wife Clementine holding a lion cub during a trip to London Zoo.

13. TIGER WEIGH-IN

July 1960: Frank Meakins weighs Doreen and Julie, twin tiger cubs, born at the Whipsnade Zoo, in May.

All photos and captions courtesy of Getty Images.