Caracals: breed characteristics, home care rules

There are many animals that can be bred at home. Among them, the caracals stand out. It is useful to know what this species looks like and what it is.

Caracal is considered a wild beast by many people. But in the same way, you can consider him a completely domestic creature. This species easily takes root both in nature and at home.... However, the number of owners of such dangerous pets is still small.

People did not have to breeze the breed of cats on purpose, since all the "work", so to speak, was done by nature itself. Caracals settled in vast African and Asian lands, preferring areas where the forest intersects with the steppe. They can also be seen in the region of the Caspian coast. In arid lands (deserts), caracals are not found.

The animal is able to walk in trees without any problems. It also swims quite well and moves rapidly on the ground. Caracal jumps sometimes more than 4 m in length. This helps him effectively hunt a wide variety of prey. The predator poses a great threat not only to wild herbivores, but also to livestock.

The natural response on the part of people was a massive hunt for animals. It led to the almost complete extinction of the wild cat.But the situation has changed thanks to the organization of reserves where the caracal can feel safe. In addition, the domestication of this beast even made it possible to somewhat increase its livestock. At home, the animal lives calmly and, under certain conditions, does not pose a danger.

It makes no sense to bring kittens into the house. In this case, the habits of the predator are invariably preserved. But the character will be very different from the habits of a domestic cat. It makes sense to look for caracals only in specialized nurseries.

The name of the species comes from the Turkic languages. It translates literally as "black ears". Indeed, this is a typical trait of the caracals. The ears are not just black - they are topped with sharp tips and tassels. The animal usually weighs from 15 to 20 kg, but occasionally the weight reaches 25 kg.

The appearance of the caracals can be described as follows:

• the head is small;
• the muzzle is directed forward, covered with white and dark spots;
• high set of big ears;
• almond-shaped, slightly yellow eyes, along which runs a black stripe;
• powerful, well-developed body;
• body length is from 0.65 to 0.85 m;
• the height of the animal is 0.5 m;
• slender, moderately long legs;
• rather long tail;
• the structure of the ears is similar to tassels;
• the animal has a brown color, close to the sand tone.

According to its genetic characteristics, the caracal (steppe lynx) is clearly distinguished into one species. If we proceed from the main external signs, then the animal is closer to cougars, lynxes and African serval. Compared to normal lynxes, it is smaller and has a uniform color. The predator's paws are covered with rather stiff bristles, which allow it to move on sand and other surfaces without any problems.

In the wild, you can see melanistic caracals. A feature of such specimens is a darker color. The fur is not too long, but quite thick. Its color is about the same as that of pumas from North America: on top the wool is sandy or red-brown, below it is painted white.

It is easy to see black areas on the side of the caracal's face. The ear brushes and the outer side of the auricles are painted in the same color.

Caracals can be seen not only in the savannas, but also in the foothills. The main part of the predators settled in:

• Africa;
• Saudi Arabia;
• Asia Minor;
• Near East.

Much less of them live in the south of Turkmenistan, on the Mangyshlak peninsula. The easternmost parts of the range are Kyrgyzstan and the environs of Bukhara. Some specimens live even in the foothills and deserts of Dagestan. Despite the lack of habit of desert conditions, steppe lynx can survive drought without any problems. The animal goes without drinking for a very long time.

During the day, when the heat reaches its peak, the caracals go into dense thickets - there the temperature is not felt so strongly. Like other felines, the species is formed by solitary animals. The individual hunting zones are strictly guarded by the caracal. The size of such zones can reach 300 km.

Their minimum area is 4 square meters. km. The predator has excellent eyesight and excellent hearing. He needs this in order to hunt more efficiently. Noticing potential prey, the cat almost instantly rushes into the attack. The paws of the caracals are well developed.

But they cannot chase the victim for a long period of time. For this reason, ambush attacks prevail. Potential victims are very diverse: the steppe cat attacks hares and birds, monkeys and porcupines, small antelopes and mongooses. Sometimes she gets for her lunch hedgehogs, rodents, reptiles and foxes.

An adult animal knows how to cope with victims twice its size. Caracal destroys small prey with a crushing bite. If the attacked individual is larger than the predator, a strangulation tactic is used.

With an excess of food, the caracal will make supplies.Later, he will eat them up if he encounters, for example, difficulties while hunting.

Although the caracal is a predator, other animals also hunt him. First of all, these are hyenas and lions. Dense thickets become salvation for the steppe lynx.

Steppe wolves can also be dangerous. When a caracal attacks sheep flocks, it can be attacked, in turn, by a guard dog - alabai.

Hunting for this species in the CIS is strictly prohibited. In the past, he himself was used for hunting. For the price, this method of fishing was quite affordable for most people. But now the situation has changed radically, because now it is, rather, an elite animal.

Caracal accumulates its food reserves in tall trees. There, this prey is almost inaccessible to other animals.

Reproduction takes place all year round. There is a gap of about 6 months between birth and the transition to independent hunting. Interestingly, the color of the coat can vary slightly depending on the habitat.

For a cat like the caracal, courage is typical, as well as a craving for freedom. But after the domestication of the animal, it was possible to develop in him the desire to become attached to humans. Individuals raised in nurseries are distinguished by their devotion. Oddly enough, the character of the caracals is closer not to the feline, but to the canine species. The species is quite large and very active.

It is impossible to keep the animal in a small apartment, and it makes sense to start it only in large country cottages or in aviaries. The predator's behavior makes it dangerous for preschoolers. You can only trust a caracal to adolescents, but it is better to adults. From the very beginning, you should conduct business in such a way that the caracal learns several prohibitions.

Among them:

• nibbling on shoes and wiring;
• sitting on tables, chairs and armchairs;
• eating food put in the master's plates.

You can't beat the cat. However, in this case, be sure to deal with him strictly. Small cubs can suffer from toxic plants, household chemicals. It is dangerous to wrap electric cords and ropes around the neck, string bags on the head. You will have to constantly protect animals from contact with these objects, but it is better to completely remove dangerous things from the field of view.

A caracal cub cannot be found in bird markets. It is unlikely that you will be able to buy it on the Internet. The advertisements for the sale of an animal represent either fraud or the sale of frankly questionable individuals. It is advisable to contact professional breeders or highly specialized nurseries. But it is better to take an animal in home-type nurseries.

The enclosure is poorly suited - only with continuous contact with people from the first hours of life, a kitten can grow up tame, but this is not guaranteed either. For this reason, it is recommended to check the reputation of the nursery and individual specialists in advance. There is no point in acquiring an animal older than six months, otherwise it will not be able to adapt to the changed environment.

Of course, you cannot buy caracals from dealers and from those who do not provide the required package of documents. From the very beginning, you should decide what the animal is required for: as a pet or for the purpose of self-breeding. This is invariably reflected in the price. In addition, it is advisable to castrate or sterilize predators purchased not for mating at the age of 3 to 5 months, otherwise the individual will be aggressive and will begin to mark the territory everywhere. It’s even worse if the animal starts to run away.

The cost of small caracals in serious nurseries cannot be less than $ 8 thousand. Taking into account the additional costs and the steady increase in the cost of keeping animals, it will be necessary to plan at least another 25% to this amount. Moreover, the specimens intended for breeding will be somewhat more expensive.

As already mentioned, keeping a caracal in an apartment in the city is almost impractical. But if the animal is raised correctly and brought up in love and care, then it will be distinguished by good nature and playful disposition. Caracal is energetic, curious and has a high intellectual level. Usually the animal shows an even, good attitude towards all family members. An adult predator makes contact with any of them without any problems.

His attitude towards strangers is much more restrained. Sometimes the beast even behaves aggressively.

Caracal is characterized by attachment to the owners. But only one person will the animal obey without talking. It is important to know that even a small domesticated individual should not be perceived as an analogue of a domestic cat.

Despite the ease and high speed of domestication, the caracal will always behave differently from a regular pet. Yes, he will rejoice when he is scratched behind the ear. But this is the maximum you can count on. In the first 2 years, the desert lynx experiences many psychological problems. For him, this is analogous to human adolescence.

Caracal can be kept at home, but only with great care - it poses a potential threat to the owners and people around them. You will have to spend a lot of time on educational work. It is even advisable to turn to professionals more often for help. It is worth remembering that the caracal is kept at home:

• bathes frequently;
• can bring toys at the call of the owners;
• walks without much difficulty with a leash.

The animal plays in much the same way as dogs. At the same time, they are graceful, like representatives of the feline family. Caracals easily get along with other cats. It is difficult to imagine how they will communicate with dogs. But if a bird or a small rodent (hamster) already lives at home, then predator instincts are almost guaranteed to work.

The desert lynx often becomes a source of problems in families with small children. Even if she is not too aggressive, she still often shows self-will and emphasized independence. In the most difficult situations, adults may not have time to pull up a pet. This also applies to the most disciplined and trained individuals.

Admiring "ginger kittens" in an aviary or in a photograph and keeping them is not the same thing. The animal needs more free space. The minimum ceiling height should be 2.5 m. In this case, the area of ​​the attached enclosure should be at least 15 square meters. m.

A caracal can become a real destroyer of a house: it will not be difficult for him to make a terrible mess, break, break, turn over a lot of things. Those toys that will please the domestic cat, his steppe brother will not be to the taste. These things are too small. What will definitely help are toys designed for medium sized dogs or for children.

From the very beginning, you should tune in to serious expenses. Users can choose different feeding patterns for the caracal. But meat should invariably figure in their basis. Raw chicken eggs are occasionally added to the diet. Some of the owners prefer purely "live" food.

Kids need quails and mice. Adults should be fed chickens, rats. In some cases, first-class cat food is used. Among them are selected those that contain a little grains and other additives. But even so, such a diet is difficult to consider the best choice.

It is worth adding that caracal live food, albeit in a small amount, is required systematically - without it, the normal activity of the digestive system and microflora is unattainable. In the first 36 months of life, the steppe animal must certainly receive vitamins and complexes of microelements.

A wild animal, including after domestication, should experience at least a slight hunger from time to time. It is not just not harmful - the absence of this feeling is unnatural. The exact amount of food is determined by the weight and age of the caracal. It should be assumed that every day the animal should eat from 3 to 5% of its own weight. When the warm days come, the caracal needs less food than in the cold.

Water must be provided without restriction. The unloading period is done every 10 days on average. Then the caracals need to be given only water for a day. They should not be allowed to get food and water on their own.

Caracal meat should be given only low-fat varieties. They should be fed raw sea fish once a week at most. Fasting days cannot be spent for pregnant and lactating individuals. It is unacceptable to give something sweet and food from the table. Feeding spicy, salty and spicy foods is unacceptable.

The following products also fall under the ban:

• sausage;
• sausages and wieners;
• all types of smoked meat (regardless of the smoking method).

Brushing the cat should be done about 1 time per week. She will tolerate bathing calmly, but the need for this procedure arises only when the wool is heavily soiled. To remove the claws on the front limbs, they turn to nurseries - there they will be quickly and painlessly cut off with a laser.

Removing claws at home is not recommended. The cat will react badly to this procedure. It is required to provide a claw. An examination of the ears and eyes of the animal is carried out weekly. They are cleaned out as needed.

How to keep a caracal at home, see below.