The museum will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 for the Christmas holiday. We will reopen on Thursday, December 26.

Saber-toothed Cat 101

La Brea Tar Pits presents everything you need to know about saber-toothed cats.

Get to know your saber-toothed cat

This classic vintage educational video is sure to put a Smilodon on your face.

With more than 2,500 of the fatal felines recovered, these cats are true Tar Pits icons. What better way to learn about these precious predators than from  Cali, La Brea Tar Pits' own life-sized Smilodon puppet. From their famous fangs to their surprising social lives, take a look at what their bones can teach us about saber-toothed cats.