Care Sheet for Exotic AnimalsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.33 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 04/22/2007 |
Main Category: | Non-Reptile/Amphibian |
Sub Category: | Exotic Animals |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Senshokukiba |
Years Experience: | N/A |
Species: | Bobcats |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | This care sheet focusses on Bobcats. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Both male and female Bobcats have two openings in the anal area. They are closer together in the female. The one closest to the tail in both sexes is the anus. In a female, the vulva is a vertical slit almost joined to the anus like an upside down exclamation mark. In a male, the tip of the penis is hidden in a small round opening about 1/2 inch below the anus. Testicles in a male Bobcat usually become obvious when the kitten is about several old and clearly visible in an adult male who is not neutered. If you are unable to determine the sex of your cat, I would suggest you take it to your local veterinarian for a physical examination as he/she would be in the best position to advise you.
Bobcats stand approximately 25–30 cm (10–12 inches) high at the shoulder. The male Bobcat typically weighs from 11–16 kg (24–35 lb).
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Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Bobcats require a cool, fresh supply of water throughout the day. |
Lighting and UVB: | N/A |
Temperatures and Humidity: | N/A |
Heating and Equipment: | A decent sized pool should be provided for all Bobcats because they love to play in water.
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Caging Provided: | Before bringing a bobcat into your neighborhood, make sure you check with the state to see if it’s legal. Some laws prohibit servals and other larger cats to enter communities.
Second, visit your neighbors. Make them aware that there’s a bobcat near them. Explain the animal’s characteristics and show them a photo of the animal.
It’s been strongly suggested that you erect an outdoor enclosure for your bobcat. Even if your house is extremely big, give your serval a place to get out of the house. Let him get out of a possible static environment. An outdoor enclosure will keep your cat happy and content. When he’s outside, he has the ability to watch other living creatures move around him. This entertains him.
If possible, connect the outdoor enclosure to your house. Put a doggy door that will let him enter the house if he gets frightened or nervous. This will make sure he’s not totally stressed out.
Make sure a perimeter fence surrounds the enclosure so no one can disturb your serval. You want to guard against any possibility of injuries or theft.
Society will hold you to a higher standard when you own a bobcat.
Feel free to let your bobcat run about your house. Make sure he’s not near any thing harmful that can hurt him though. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | For the first eight to twelve weeks of their life, bobcats need to nurse. This is a must in both the wild and in captivity.
If you are hand rearing a young bobcat, it’s recommended that you purchase a quality milk such as KMR or Milk Matrix 33/40 with additional calcium and vitamins.
Simply warm it up and pour it into a bottle. Make sure it’s not to hot though.
Once the bobcat reaches about six weeks of age, begin adding canned kitten meat diet to the milk. Iams makes this product and it’s used by those who are rearing young bobcats.
In the wild, an adult bobcat’s diet will consist of various foods and they’ll usually feed on what’s local in their habitat or what’s available. Small rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels are commonly eaten. They will feast on a variety of insects, reptiles, and amphibians, however.
In captivity it is important that they receive fresh meat. Raw chicken or turkey is acceptable. You should think about purchasing a complete, formulated diet for larger cats such as ZuPreem Feline Diet or Mazuri Small Exotic Feline Diet. You might also feed your serval a premium brand cat food. Do some research and choose a food that works best for you.
The calcium/phosphorus ratio must be at least 1.2 to 1.
If you have smaller animals in your house such as reptiles or rodents, be wary. They are naturally carnivorous, so they may view your smaller pets as potential food.
Keep in mind, that this does not include larger animals such as other cats or dogs.
Bobcats usually have great relationships with these house pets. Problems usually won’t occur with them if they’re trained in properly. However, in the wild bobcats will prey on large animals like deer.
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Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Vitamin supplements may be required, depending on the quality of meat you provide for your Bobcat. |
Maintenance: | N/A |
Some Words on this Species: | Bobcats are small and bear a certain resemblance to the familiar tabby cat, so to many people the idea of owning one as a pet seems quite approachable. However, potential pet owners should be aware that the behavior of a bobcat is quite different in many ways from a domestic cat, and the level of care required will far exceed that of a domestic cat.
Bobcats have a reputation among many owners as being both more aggressive and more certain to spray than some other exotic species such as the serval. There are many very happy bobcat owners, but those are typically people who have done their homework ahead of time and are prepared to cope with issues such as spraying, the need for an outdoor enclosure, and rough play behavior. |
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