Guides
Cougar Dating Guides
Straight answers about older women, younger men and how to meet each other.
- Free to join
- 18+ only
These guides answer the questions people ask us most about cougar dating, written plainly by the Local Cougars team. Each one gives you the answer first and the detail after, so you can stop reading as soon as you have what you need.
Where to start
New to all this? Start with what cougar dating is, then read the guide written for you: how to meet older women if you are a younger man, or dating a younger man if you are a woman. Choosing a site? Our comparisons set the options side by side, and the best cougar dating sites are ranked in one guide, with a section for each of our four countries.
Advice you can trust
Where a guide uses a figure, it says where the figure comes from, such as the Office for National Statistics for how common age-gap marriages are. Where it describes another site, it says when we checked. And where we describe Local Cougars, we use the real make-up of our membership.
Every guide
Pick the question you want answered.
- What Is Cougar Dating?
What a cougar, a cub and a toyboy are, how common it is, and why it works.
- Is Local Cougars Legit?
Who runs it, whether members are real, what is free and how to cancel.
- What Are the Best Cougar Dating Sites?
Five cougar dating sites side by side, with what works in the UK, the USA, Australia and South Africa.
- How to Meet Older Women
Where to find women who want an age gap, and how to get a reply.
- Dating a Younger Man
What to expect, whether it lasts, money and the scams to avoid.
- First Date Ideas for Cougar Dating
Ten first dates that suit an age gap, plus profile tips.
About our guides
Who writes these guides?
The Local Cougars team, using the real make-up of our membership and checked public sources.
Are the facts checked?
Yes. Every figure says where it comes from, and every description of another site says when we checked it.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Members can contact the support team from their account at any time.