A runner of a killed Colorado mountain lion was a young kitten, according to officials

The mountain lion that a Colorado rider said he killed in January was a young kitten, according to wildlife officials.

Travis Kauffman, 31, was strangled and clubbed the cat to death on Feb. 4 at the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space in Larimer County, Colorado, in an autopsy report issued by Fox's KDVR affiliate.

A MAN SAYS THE MONT LION HAS BEEN KILLED WITH NAKED HANDS "IT WAS JUST LIKE A STRUGGLE GAME"

It was determined that the mountain lion was about 3 to 4 months old and weighed 24 pounds at the time of his necropsy. The animal was recovered after his death.

Kauffman told reporters earlier this month that he had engaged in what looked like "a fight match" with the lion, after he had attacked her then. that he was running alone.

The cat was thrown at him and grabbed his jaw on his right wrist, according to Kauffman. He said that he had tried to protect his face while the mountain lion was scratching him. Finally, Kauffman and the cat hurtled down a slope.

He tried throwing sticks at the lion, but they were rotten and broke. He finally picked up a big rock and tried to hit the cat with his head. Kauffman said that he was able to make the transition from his body weight, by moving his right leg to his wrist, and that he was finally able to walk on the cat's neck – smother him .

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After the incident, Kauffman declared that he was on a "crazy summit" and began running towards civilization. While running, he noticed traces of lion and realized that his environment was "a perfect lion territory".

Kauffman ended up receiving 19 stitches on his left cheek, six on the bridge of the nose and three on the wrist (where the lion's mouth was). Kauffman stated that he had several puncture wounds caused by the cat's teeth and claws, but that he felt otherwise "tall" while he was recovering from the attack .