Facts about Tigers. The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus Panthera. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. Tigers are carnivores, eating only meat.They mainly feed on large mammals such as deer, wild pigs, antelope and buffalo. Tigers are solitary hunters, and generally search for food alone at night. They quietly stalk their prey until they are close enough to pounce – then they kill their victim with a bite to the neck or back of the head. It is territorial and generally a solitary but social predator, requiring large contiguous areas of habitat to support its requirements for prey and rearing of its offspring. Tiger cubs stay with their mother for about two years and then become independent, leaving their mother's home range to establish their own. Tigers are good swimmers! Unlike most members of the cat family, they like water and often cool off in pools or streams.