Research overview: multiple paternity in cheetah litters

Genetic studies have shown that cheetah litters frequently contain cubs fathered by different males, reflecting female mating with multiple partners. This overview surveys evidence for multiple paternity in cheetahs, how it is detected through parentage analysis, and what it reveals about the species' mating system and female reproductive strategy. It reviews hypotheses that multiple mating increases offspring genetic diversity or reduces the risk of inbreeding in a species with low overall variation. The review connects multiple paternity to male coalition dynamics and to the management of captive breeding, where natural mating patterns differ from arranged pairings. Understanding multiple paternity in cheetahs informs both evolutionary interpretation and practical conservation breeding decisions.