Bobcats are small cats belonging to North America. They
inhabit the wood areas and deciduous forests stretching from
west to southeast America and Mexico. Some even occupy parts of
south Canada. They have a small body structure. Their fur is of
color yellowish brown or reddish brown with black or dark brown
stripes. They have noticeably long ears with black tips. Their
weight ranges from twenty four to thirty five pounds.
Owners relate their pet bobcat to a tabby cat, but their
requirements are far from those of a domestic cat. They demand
special care and extra attention. Like Servels they also have
the habit of spraying. They also are very hyper and aggressive
by nature. They need to be bought up in mostly in outdoor
location where they have lots of space to play, like they do in
the wild. If they don’t get adequate place outside, they run
around destroying things in the house. Some owners are very
content with their pets, but it is recommended that potential
owners should do their homework before making up their mind.
Their diet shouldn’t be like any other domestic pet. Since they
are exotic pets and come from the wild, they have different
nutritional requirements to be healthy. At a time, they eat a
whole chicken, which should be presented with feathers intact.
They can also be given fresh killed squirrel, rabbit, and beef.
They do not eat much during the summers, but make up for it
during the winters. They also require special medicine and
vaccine doses. A normal dose of sedative given to other domestic
pets while declawing can kill them. It would be good for their
health if they have their claws, or if the owner has made the
decision to declaw them, only the front claws should be removed.
Their canines should never be removed. Otherwise, the owner has
to cut the food into small bits in order to feed them, as they
would not be able to eat a whole chicken without their canines.
Other than their playtime they can be kept in a two-cage home
which is fourteen feet tall and twenty-four feet wide and which
is connected by a six-foot walkway. The cage in which they are
kept should have ramps, platforms, toys so as to keep them
occupied. Some are really affectionate and like to lick the face
of their owner, but again be ready for their tongue, which feels
more like sandpaper. The trained ones even sleep with their
owners, but the owner should get habituated to their loud
purring. They also get up early in the morning like five and
start playing, which means that they will start playing in the
bed itself. They play really hard putting in all their energy.
Bobcats also have a liking towards water and they like it
especially when it rains. If there are puddles, there is a high
chance of the entire house getting messed up. Other than keeping
the toilet seat down, also no container filled with water should
be left unattended. When they roam around in the house, it is a
really bad idea to do the dishes or mop the floor. Bobcats are
good with people whom they are familiar with, they get very
anxious when guest drop in. At such times, they are better kept
in the cage. They become motionless; they hide and remain scared
till the stranger leaves their territory. And when the guests
leave they come out and sniff all around till they are content.
Owners wouldn’t be able to go out on long vacations or even
party out on weekends, by leaving the animals alone at home. If
a babysitter is appointed, care must be taken that it shouldn’t
be stranger, but a friend whom the pets are familiar with. When
owners start to realize that they have got more responsibility
than they had asked for, they start thinking of giving up the
pet by either releasing them in the wild, which is extremely
dangerous, or give them to someone else. In the later situation,
bobcats find it extremely difficult to trust and bond with its
new owner. Some states in United States and even other countries
it is illegal to keep a bobcat as a pet.