I remember years ago when Beanie Babies came out, there were nearly as good as currency.  Nowadays, there are so many available and their overall popularity have diminished such that they are easier to find and are relatively inexpensive.  This is the case for current or retired characters.  There are some that will still bring in a large value but the majority is now just a cute stuffed animal to have.  Beanie Babies are nice to have when you have young children as they are small and are easily transported.  A child's hand can easily grip this stuffed animal and due to the large variety available, you will likely find one that will appeal to the child.  My aunt and daughter have a special connection over the cat varieties that are available.  As a result, my daughter has multiple stuffed cat Beanie Babies.  One of the items she has is the Beanie Baby Canton the Cougar.  This wild cat is represented in a sweet little stuffed animal. 

The color of this Beanie Baby is my favorite aspect of this stuffed animal.  The coat is made out of thin polyester fibers that are colored in a light tan.  The coat appears to be shiny as it does reflect light nicely.  The underside of the cat is done in white plain polyester fibers.  The cat is about 8.5" inches long when it is fully stretched out while it is lying on its belly.  The cat sits the most effectively in this position.  The inside of the cat features small pellets that keep the animal in a particular position.  When the cat is stood up, the pellets move down towards the hind quarters and it can now be arranged into a sitting position.  The cougar is not very stable in this position.  The cat has a tail that is about three inches long. 

The face of the cougar gives the stuffed animal its personality.  The cat has a light pink plastic nose that has black threading coming from the bottom to reflect a mouth.  The cougar has two whiskers which come out on both sides of the mouth.  Although the whiskers are secured tightly to the animal, this appears to be the weakest point on the animal.  The cat has a white fur around its nose and mouth surrounded by a dark and thick stripe.  The ears have a similar color pattern in which the top are colored in dark brown while the underside is colored in white.  The cat has plastic eyes that resemble that of a real animal.  This is a perception within the eyes that is common in felines.

Overall, the cougar is cute although it does not have any qualities that I would consider special.  It does have the brown stripe around the nose that gives a closer appearance to this wild feline rather than appearing as your standard house cat.  My daughter enjoys having multiple cats although she is not especially drawn to this animal in particular.  She enjoys the appearance of the overall collection and insists that they sit together.  My daughter is approaching five years of age and now prefers more interactive toys as compared to Beanie Babies.  She has collected multiple animals but they mainly stay in her toy box at this time. 

Beanie Babies can be cleaned with a damp cloth and are surface wash only.  The coloring of this cougar does make the appearance of any stains less obvious on the top of the body.  As the bottom of the body is done in white, it will show marks very quickly.

This stuffed animal is intended for children three years of age.

This Beanie Baby was born on May 29, 1998 and has been retired.  I have not been able to determine at what time is was retired.  The cougar includes the common red heart shaped tag that comes attached to the ear of the animal.  The tag says:

I climb rocks and run really fast
Try to catch me, it's a blast
Through the mountains, I used to roam
Now in your room, I'll call it home!

Overall, it is a cute item for a person who enjoys cats, especially those of the wild variety.  It is small enough to be stored on a bookshelf, bed, or carry in a bag when transporting. 

I have seen this stuffed animal in the store for about $7.  I usually see this cat in the grocery stores.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Stuffed Toy
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years