An orphaned cougar cub, found near death, is now recovering in Washington.

The five-month-old wild cat was reportedly emaciated and dehydrated when rescued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife earlier in March.

Dr Kadie Anderson, head veterinarian at Northwest Trek, said: 'When the cub arrived, he was in critical condition—extremely underweight, dehydrated, and anemic.

'He also had ticks and had been recently sprayed by a skunk. It took us 30 hours of administering fluids via an IV catheter to begin rehydrating him.'

Footage shows the cub enjoying food and drink at his new home on March 27.

Authorities said that since his rescue, the cub has been making steady progress towards recovery.

A cougar, also called mountain lion or puma, is a large wild cat native to the Americas. It is known for its agility and strength and primarily hunts deer and small mammals. Found in diverse habitats, cougars are solitary apex predators.