Homemade caracal description of the breed, character, health and what to feed?

• Posted by Olga Arkhipova
• Date: March 21, 2018

Caracals are predators of the cat family, distinguished by long black tufts on their ears. These are very capricious and demanding animals. However, with proper care and caring attitude, desert cats will become loyal and devoted friends to their owners.

• 2 Where does the caracal live
  2.1 Video: caracal

Origin and habitat of the caracal

The name caracal is believed to come from the Turkish “kara kulak”, which means “black ear”. Officially, there are 9 subspecies, classified by country of residence.

Caracal has been known since ancient times. For example, Indian princes tamed big cats and used them to hunt small game. Since the animal resembles a lynx in appearance, it was often mistakenly called that, although these 2 predators have no relationship either in terms of species or habitat.

The name caracal is believed to come from the Turkish "kara kulak", which means "black ear"

The caracal is considered a rare predator of the cat family, on the verge of extinction. It is listed in the International Red Book. The natural habitat of these animals: deserts and savannas of Africa, Asia Minor and Central Asia, hilly areas of Israel, forests of Pakistan. It is also found on the Arabian Peninsula, the coast of the Caspian Sea, in Southern Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Character and habits

Properly raised and raised with love, caracals are good-natured and playful animals that can scare people only by their appearance. The caracal is very energetic, curious and intelligent. He treats all family members well and makes contact. With strangers he shows restraint or even aggression if he believes that the time has come to protect his territory. The caracal becomes very attached to its owner, and recognizes only one owner. Although caracals are fairly easy to tame, they will never behave like regular house cats, although they may purr when scratched behind the ears.

The first 2 years of growing up are the most difficult. During this period, the caracal is the most emotional, just like people in adolescence. At the same time, he is vulnerable and scary, and can be dangerous for the owner and for others. Therefore, it is worth devoting as much time as possible to education and not neglecting the help of specialists. Having reached puberty, caracals begin to mark and defend their territory. Both males and females do this.

Caracals love to bathe, fetch toys, and walk well on a leash. In terms of character in games, they are similar to dogs, but at the same time they differ in the gracefulness of cats. They get along well with other cats and their brothers. It is difficult to predict a relationship with a dog. But birds and small rodents will in any case be potential dinner for the red pet.

Families with small children should be careful when introducing caracals. One way or another, the animal is a predator with an independent and capricious character.

Appearance and physiology

Caracals are slender cats of medium size, an adult can weigh up to 20 kg, males usually weigh 13-18, females - about 11 kg. The body length of the predator is 62-90 cm, not counting the tail, which grows up to 34 cm. The height of the cat is up to 40 cm.

The caracal is considered a rare predator of the cat family, on the verge of extinction

The main distinctive qualities of caracals:

1. Long black tassels on large, tapering ears; in young individuals they are much shorter. It is believed that this structure of the ears helps animals in camouflage and communicate with each other.
2. Reddish-sandy, brown, brick-red coat color. Specimens with black fur were found. This sign depends on the habitat of the animal. The coat is short and lies close to the body.
3. The color is uniform throughout the body, lighter on the neck, chest and belly, decorated with many small spots. On the face there are pronounced transitions of shades from lighter to richer, it looks quite attractive. The outer surface of the ears is black. Newborn kittens are darker, with red spots on the belly, which disappear as they grow older.
4. The ability to jump vertically from a standing position to a height of more than 3 m, which allows it to hunt easily. This quality is due to the fact that caracals have longer hind legs than their front legs.
5. Vision and hearing are very well developed.

Caring for the health of the steppe lynx at home

Domestic caracals are easy to care for and have excellent immunity. Animals rarely get sick if their owners take proper care.

Regular examination by a veterinarian is the key to the health and longevity of a domestic caracal.

The main health problem may be Aueszky's disease, characterized by the appearance of itchy lesions on the animal's skin and a disorder of nerve endings. Such an illness is possible in case of irregularities in the diet, when the animal is fed pork.

If the owner carefully complies with the requirements for keeping and caring for the steppe lynx, regularly administers vaccinations and visits the veterinarian with the pet, then there will be no problems with the well-being of such a wild cat.

The first vaccination is given to caracals at the age of 3 months, followed by revaccination 30 days later. Pets are also vaccinated against rabies. Vaccines for steppe lynxes living with humans include panleukemia, rhinotracheitis and calcevirosis.

Routine visits to the veterinary clinic should be carried out twice a year.

Inspection should be carried out regularly, despite the animal’s good health. This is also due to the fact that caracals can be carriers of chlamydia, although such an ailment may not manifest itself outwardly.

Caracals are considered long-lived among other representatives of the cat family. The average lifespan of an animal is at least 12–14 years.

Gallery: caracal cat (25 photos)

What to look for when buying a kitten

Before choosing the kitten itself, you need to look at its parents and other adult relatives.

This will help you get an idea of ​​what he will look like as an adult and what his character will be like. Ask the breeders what the cats eat and whether the parents have had any illnesses.

Each kitten must have a veterinary passport with stamps from the state veterinary clinic on vaccinations against at least rabies and panleukemia. Without the stamp, state vaccination clinics are not valid!

A healthy little caracal should have:

1. shiny wool;
2. clear eyes without streaks or tears;
3. dry nose without discharge;
4. clean “pants” on the hind legs and a place under the tail.

Ask the breeders to show how the kitten plays, allows itself to be brushed, and has its ears or paws examined.

A resistant and unplayful animal is much more difficult to tame. If the cat is offered sterilized, it is worth finding out who performed the operation.

If one caracal is offered for sale, ask for documents about its origin. The purchase and sale of Red Book species, which include the Turkmen subspecies of caracal, is prohibited by law.

How much does a caracal cost?

Having your own predator is not a cheap pleasure. Prices for domesticated caracals in nurseries start at $6,500 for a neutered kitten. Animals suitable for breeding will be even more expensive.

Sometimes they offer to buy cheaper cats. These may be untamed caracals caught in Africa or Asia, and they will require much more effort to train. Such animals are dangerous because they can carry exotic diseases.

The appearance of offspring

The pregnancy of a predatory cat lasts 68-81 days, caracal kittens weigh 195-250 g at birth, the litter usually consists of 1-6 babies. Adult cats are capable of killing their offspring.

A caracal kitten begins to open its eyes slightly within the first day after birth; they open completely on days 6-10. At 10 weeks, the female stops breastfeeding her cubs, continuing to care for them for about a year. 3 weeks after birth, the mother moves the kittens to another den and continues to periodically change habitats.

Caracal food

In the wild, they feed on birds, rodents, hares, and small reptiles. This should be taken into account when creating a diet for your pet. There are several options for feeding a caracal, but the basis is always meat: chicken, beef, poultry, rabbit, feed rats and mice, and sometimes a raw egg. Some owners prefer feeding exclusively live food; they offer mice and quails to kittens, and rats and chickens to adult cats. In rare cases, caracals are fed a high-quality cat food with minimal grains and additives, but this is not the best option for a feral cat.

The caracal's diet must contain live food, with fur/feathers, bones and entrails. This is necessary to maintain normal digestion and microflora.

During the first three years, vitamins and supplements with a full range of micro and macroelements must be introduced into the diet. The caracal is fed once or twice a day, but at different times so that it does not get used to the schedule. A wild cat needs to periodically feel hungry. In addition, she must understand that the only access to food lies through the caring hands of the owner.

The amount of food depends on the weight and age of the animal. The daily portion of meat is approximately 3-5% of the total weight of the predator. That is, a 10 kilogram cat will need 300-500 g of meat food per day. During the warm season, appetite may decrease slightly, while during the cold season it increases. Water should always be freely available. Every 7-14 days you need to do a fasting day. Only access to water is left.

About the possibility of keeping a caracal at home

In order for a caracal to grow up tame and kind at home, you need to follow the recommendations of experts:

• buy a kitten only from a home nursery;
• the age of the purchased pet should not exceed 6 months;
• from the earliest period of the animal’s life, constantly contact it;
• castration of cats is desirable if they are not planned for breeding;
• if there are children under 5 years of age in the house, the purchase should be postponed;
• It is necessary to have documents for the pet proving its origin.

Life of a desert cat in captivity

If previously keeping a caracal was considered a sign of poverty, now it is the opposite. A caracal kitten costs a lot of money, and its maintenance can cost a pretty penny, so only wealthy people can purchase such a prestigious pet. A person who has adopted a wild desert cat needs to know the basic rules of caring for the animal. It is advisable for a caracal to live in a private house, as there is a need for frequent walks. You can build an aviary on your own site. The site must be surrounded by a high fence. In addition, the enclosure should have a small heated house for the animal (caracals do not tolerate cold well).

Photo gallery: caracal in captivity

Caracals can only be taken outside on a leash

the cat's enclosure should have high places to rest

The kitten should have various toys for active games

In winter, the caracal should be kept warm at home

The caracal enclosure should be equipped with various areas and devices for active games

While the caracl is a kitten, they arrange photo sessions with it

Features of care

If a lynx cat is adopted for home keeping, then the pet must be walked. If this is not done, the predator will release all its activity in the house. You can only walk your pet on a leash. Moreover, an ordinary small leash will not work; you need a device with a strong belt (as for large dogs). In order for the cat to react calmly to the strap, it must be accustomed to the collar from childhood. Even if you don’t take your kitten outside, wear the collar at least once a day for 30–40 minutes (at the same time).

There was a situation when I needed a strong leash. The most expensive leash I found was wide (about 5 cm) and thick (about 0.5 cm). But on his first walk he broke away from the collar. It turns out that even the strongest leash and high-quality collar will not hold a strong animal if they are connected with a regular aluminum carabiner. Therefore, on the advice of experienced dog lovers, I had to buy a new carabiner. They come in several types. The most reliable is one-piece, not welded to the ring. The clasp on this carabiner is short (about 1 cm), located on the long side. I bought the ring itself separately.

It is not recommended to have such a strong cat for people who have small children. A child can “play” a predator in such a way that he will reciprocate, but will not calculate his own strength. To prevent the caracal from scratching anyone, it needs to trim its claws. It is best to teach this procedure from childhood, because it is very difficult to subdue an adult, and the procedure of trimming claws is not pleasant.

keeping a caracal at home requires a lot of time and effort

It is not advisable to bathe a caracal at all. The animal can take care of itself, so the water procedure is recommended only if absolutely necessary. But you need to regularly examine and clean the corners of your eyes and ears. To clean your ears, you need to stock up on cotton swabs and some kind of oil (or Vaseline). This procedure must be carried out very carefully; if you hurt the cat, it may bite you. You also need to periodically comb out a wild cat. For this purpose, you can purchase a brush with natural bristles or a massage mitten. The main condition in this process is that the animal must think that it is being brushed in order to make it feel good. This is the only way the beast will succumb. In general, when it comes to raising a caracal, the main thing is not to overdo it. Under no circumstances should this cat be punished.

And I really like caracals. They are more severe than servals, but their nature is more familiar to me, since I have encountered lynxes since childhood. So I can say for sure: even such a large predator as a lynx does not attack a person. Almost never. An exception is possible only in one case: you are going to a den with cubs, a lynx stands in your way and warns you, and you take a step. Only then can she rush. Lynxes will not go into confrontation with a person just like that, but they should always have an escape route (a place where they can go). Therefore, you cannot try to force the lynx to do something or punish it by driving it into a corner - it will attack.

Yulia L., forum user

https://chins.ru/showthread.php/12163-Ocelot-Caracal-Serval-and-Savannah/page8

Video: Tamed Caracal

Like any other cat, the caracal is well trained to use the litter box. But you need to properly design the place for the toilet. An ordinary cat litter box in an apartment is only suitable for a wild desert cat cub. A teenage caracal will no longer fit into it. The pot should be wide and deep. You can use any filler, but the animal will be more familiar with wood filler (it smells like sawdust). The tray should be located in a quiet room, away from extraneous noise. In addition, it is necessary to regularly prevent helminthiasis, as well as undergo vaccinations. To do this, you need to “make friends” with a veterinarian who can visit you periodically. With proper care, the caracal can live up to 20 years.

Caracal Margosha is still small, she is only two months old. But she goes to a regular cat litter box for diapers, but refused to use litter.

Perchik, forum user (owner of two caracals)

https://forums.zooclub.ru/showthread.php?t=95713

What to feed a tame caracal

The diet of a domestic caracal should not differ much from the natural one

A caracal living with a person must be fed meat. This is the main component of the diet. The following products can be used as protein foods:

• any types of meat;
• meat by-products;
• hare and rabbit meat;
• food rodents;
• poultry fillets (chicken, duck, etc.);
• minced meat and chicken;
• raw fish.

In addition, the steppe lynx needs vitamins and minerals. To prevent your cat’s body from suffering from a lack of vitamins, you can purchase special vitamin supplements (you should first consult a veterinarian). The predator needs to be fed twice a day. The serving size is calculated based on the body weight of the animal. In addition, the caracal needs clean water. The water bowl should be washed every day. If you have a wild cat kitten, then the feeding rules may be different. This is how the smallest kittens are fed milk. This should be done at least until the age of one month.

Caring for a caracal

This domestic lynx is very smart, energetic and quick-witted. But given that this is a predator, you need to ensure that the requirements are met clearly, and it is also necessary to adhere to the principle of consistency. It is necessary for the cat to feel the authority of the owner and maintain subordination with him. It will be useful to establish certain rules of behavior in the house.

It is important to castrate or sterilize your cat if there are no plans to reproduce the species - domestic lynxes will try to escape and mercilessly mark their territory when they mature. This means the apartment where they will live may suffer.

Unlike domestic cats, this animal does not bury feces. They remain on the surface of the tray.

You don’t need to brush your domestic lynx often; once a week will be enough. It is more convenient to do this using a furminator. Ears and eyes also need to be checked no more than once a week, and they can be cleaned as needed, so as not to once again cause unpleasant emotions in animals. Cats do not take well to “manicures”; in catteries, claws are often removed with a laser. If claws are still present, you need to find a log-shaped scratching post for the caracal.

Varieties

There are 9 subspecies of caracal:

• West African caracal (Caracal caracal poecilictis) - found in Central and Western Africa, Senegal, Nigeria;
• Indian caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) - lives in Western Asia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and India;
• common caracal (Caracal caracal caracal) - found in Central and Southern Africa;
• Gabonese caracal (Caracal caracal lucani) – found in Gabon, Congo, Angola;
• Namibian caracal (Caracal caracal damarensis) – lives in Namibia;
• North African caracal (Caracal caracal algira) – lives in North Africa;
• Nubian caracal (Caracal caracal nubica) - found in Ethiopia and Sudan;
• Transvaal caracal (Caracal caracal limpoensis) - found in Botswana and northern South Africa;
• Turkmen caracal (Caracal caracal michaelis) – lives in Turkmenistan.

Origin

The caracal was originally classified as a lynx, but scientists later discovered that it belongs to a much older lineage that diverged from the ancestral line of cats more than 1 million years before the appearance of the lynx.

Phylogenetic analysis has shown that the Caracal lineage (serval, caracal and African golden cat) diverged from other felids between 8.5 and 5.6 million years ago , when their ancestor arrived in Africa. The serval diverged from the caracal clade about 5.4 million years ago, and the golden cat about 1.9 million years ago. The key to distinguishing these species is a combination of coat pattern and color, body size, ear shape, and tail pattern, color and set.

Scientific classification

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia (mammals)
• Order: Carnivora (predatory)
• Family: Felidae (felines)
• Genus: Caracal (caracals)
• Species: Caracal caracal (caracal)

Buffon in 1761 chose the name "caracal" in connection with the Turkic name for the animal "karrah-kulak" or "kara-kulak", which means a cat with black ears . In Afrikaans (an African language, a dialect of Dutch), this cat is called “rooikat” - “red cat”. Other names for caracal: African lynx, desert or steppe lynx.

Lifestyle

Photo: Christiaan Viljoen

Although the caracal is primarily nocturnal , activity levels are bimodal and dependent on ambient temperature rather than photoperiod. Travel speed usually increases at night. This predator prefers temperatures below 20 °C, and daytime activity increases on cool, cloudy days. Males move 5-15 km daily, and females move 2.5-10 km per day.

The caracal prefers solitude , and only occasionally are the movements of two adults or females accompanied by their offspring observed.

Males exhibit throwing behavior by moving their paws across wet sand after urinating, or mark by raising their tail vertically and spraying urine onto vegetation and logs around their territory. Females also exhibit throwing behavior, although not as frequently as males. Both sexes use "tree scratches" to mark their territories.

History of the breed

It is known that in Africa and Asia, when people went hunting, they certainly took cats with them. The rich tried to tame cheetahs, and those who did not have extra money settled on caracals and ocelots. They could easily catch peacocks, pheasants, wild hares and even small antelopes.

It was not difficult to tame a caracal; at its core, it is a rather docile animal. For this reason, they began to be kept at home as pets.

The name of the animal is translated from Turkish as “black ear”, because their ears are black on the outside, as are the tassels on their ears.

In 1998, at the Moscow Zoo, the result of an unplanned crossing of a caracal and an Abyssinian cat was a kitten, which was their first hybrid. In 2007, in America, during a planned mating of a caracal and an Abyssinian cat, only one kitten was born. And felinologists were unable to fulfill the plan for the Caraket program. After a long time, Irina Nazarova managed to get healthy kittens from mating caracals and domestic purebred cats. Today the breed is recognized by the ISU and the international association TICA.

Characteristics of the Caracal breed

Caracals stand out from other wild cats with their appearance. A cat that looks like a real desert lynx is the first impression this unusually beautiful animal makes. However, the caracal is not related to the lynx genus and morphologically the breed is more close to the puma.

The paws, thin body and tail are much longer than those of a true lynx, unusually elongated black ears with tassels, as well as a number of genetic differences made it possible to distinguish the caracal into a separate genus. The African serval is also considered close to the caracal family.

To avoid confusion with wild caracals, the breed was given a second name - caraquet , to emphasize the domesticity of cats and their focus on humans.

Breed standard

General characteristics of the Caracal breed:

• Body: developed body of a predator – strong, muscular; the length of males can reach 120 cm, females - 110 cm, the average size of a pet is 70-85 cm. Weight: 10-20 kg. Tail length is from 19 to 35 cm. Height at withers is from 30 to 50 cm. Females are smaller than males.
• Coat: Short, soft and dense, honey brown in color, slightly longer and lighter on the inside.
• Head: Dark spots on both sides of the muzzle, black spots above the eyes and a black stripe from the eye to the nose form a uniform tan or brick red color. The nose is dark.
• Eyes: large, yellow-brown.
• Ears: large, vertically positioned, 4-6 cm long, with a black back and dense long tassels made of hard wool.
• Limbs: long, allowing you to easily jump to a height of up to 3 meters. The forelimbs are longer than the hind limbs. The paws have a dense brush of hard hair, which makes it easier to move through the sand in their natural habitat.
• Lifespan: In a home environment, the caracal lives up to 15 years.

Photos of caracals

Photos of beautiful representatives of the breed:

Health

Caracals, if properly kept, have good health and good immunity. With proper care and quality nutrition, they practically do not get sick. However, these cats are very curious, and can sometimes chew and swallow inedible objects.

Caracals are vaccinated with regular cat vaccines. Life expectancy at home reaches 15 years.

Important! Before purchasing a caracal kitten, be sure to check with reputable veterinarians in your area. This will allow you to quickly resolve issues related to the health and development of your pet.

Character

A well-bred and trained caracal is affectionate and friendly to all household members. He is active, sociable, loves to play. Socialization is one of the most important stages of working with a breed, first for the breeder and then for the owner.

Caracals meow not so often; the main way of communication is hissing and growling in cases of dissatisfaction or uterine rumbling in a complacent mood.

In character, the caracal resembles a cat and a dog at the same time: the gracefulness and curiosity of a cat are mixed with the activity of a puppy. He quickly learns to go for walks on a leash. Educational activities are also a game for him. It is necessary to use various gaming equipment. Pay special attention to games with the ball and suspension.

Attention! Playing with your pet with your hands and feet is strictly prohibited. In a fit of excitement, the animal can damage your limb.