The adventures of 'Whiskers," a cougar cub growing from cuddly kitten to efficient hunter on the Western slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Whiskers, a cougar cub from a litter of three, familiarizes himself with his habitat in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Among the animals observed are banded Canadian geese, badgers, beavers, grizzly bears, marmots, big horn sheep, and skunks. Whiskers soon learns to avoid porcupines, snakes, and coyotes. Although an eagle attempts to abduct him, his mother rescues the cub. At 2 years of age, Whiskers becomes independent. An expert hunter, he enjoys elk, rabbit, and trout. Treed by men and dogs, his natural enemies, the cougar nevertheless manages to escape.

Narrator Michael Rye accompanies viewers on a journey to the Rocky Mountains, where Whiskers, a baby cougar, uses instinct and hard-won wisdom to find his place amidst the area's other native species. The film spends two years with Whiskers, documenting his impromptu meetings with birds, reptiles and other animals, some of which view the film's star as a potential afternoon snack. Though Whiskers is initially lost when his mother cuts him loose, he's soon a man on his own.