African steppe lynx. Domestic caracal - lynx for lovers of exotic pets

There are many amazing creatures of nature in our world. How many wild cats can be found on our planet! Do you, for example, know what breeds of lynx exist? This is Spanish, and Canadian, and even steppe. We'll talk about the latter.

Steppe lynx

Caracal is carnivorous mammal, which refers to Externally, the animal is very similar to other similar ones, however, genetic characteristics are the reason that it was singled out in a separate series.

"Caracal" means "black ear" in Turkish. By the way, the back of the ears of such cats is black.

In the North, the lynx is called "Barbary". Outwardly, the animal really resembles a lynx, but the caracal is slimmer and a little smaller. Another difference is the solid color.

On average, the body length is 75 cm, the tail is 28 cm, the height at the shoulders is about 44 cm. Its weight ranges from eleven to nineteen kilograms.

The lynx's ears have tassels (no more than five centimeters long) at the ends. The fur is thick and short. The outer side of the ears and tassels are black. The coloration is reminiscent of the North American cougar, with black markings on the sides of the face, a whitish underpart, and a reddish-brown or sandy upperparts. It is very rare, but you can meet such an amazing creature as a black caracal. A steppe lynx with this color is called a “melanistic caracal.”

By morphological characteristics this animal is closer to the puma, although in appearance it looks like a lynx. The caracal is also close to By the way, in captivity it is crossed with it.

The steppe lynx is found in the foothills, deserts and savannas of Africa, as well as in Asia. You rarely see such an animal in the CIS: it is found in Turkmenistan, as well as in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan.

Usually, steppe lynx hunts at night, but in spring and winter it can be found during the day.

Where does the wondrous beast live?

As a rule, burrows of foxes and porcupines, as well as rock crevices, serve as shelters for caracals. Sometimes they use one place for several years. Females occupy small territories, which are located on the periphery, while males choose extensive ones.

Although the steppe lynx has long legs, it cannot run long distances, so it hunts by overtaking its prey with large (up to 4.5 m in length) jumps. She has a very fast reaction. A caracal can immediately snatch several birds from a flying flock. The main food of the steppe lynx is rodents (gophers, gerbils), antelopes (small), and tolai hares. Sometimes reptiles, small insects (mongoose, fox) become its food. In addition, it can attack goats and lambs or steal poultry. The steppe lynx can go without water for a long time; it will obtain liquid from its prey.

To hide its game from other predators, the caracal drags it into the trees.

Reproduction

Steppe lynx breeding all year round, the female can have up to three partners during this period. The duration of pregnancy is about 80 days. One female gives birth to up to six cubs. Before the babies are a month old, she moves them from one den to another every day. When the cubs are six months old, they leave their mother and settle in their own domain. At 18 months, the steppe lynx becomes sexually mature.

Anastasia Korableva

Power and elegance, exotic appearance and feline softness, and most importantly, charming ears with long tassels - all this is ideally combined in the Caracal breed. Large, tapering ears, with five-centimeter erect tassels of black wool, are the most unique feature this cat. Caracals, despite the high cost of kittens and the peculiarities of their maintenance, are actively gaining popularity among cat lovers and exotic animals.

Historical reference

Cats of the Caracal genus live in the deserts and savannas of Africa, Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and the Caspian Sea coast since ancient times. It is believed that the historical homeland of this animal is Türkiye. The word Karakal means “black ears” in Turkish.

From ancient times steppe caracals were tamed and used by the inhabitants of Asia and Africa.

• Excavations in Egypt have yielded paintings of caracals and bronze sculptures, as well as embalmed carcasses. This means that caracals occupied an important place in the life of the Egyptians.
• In China, emperors gave caracals as valuable gifts.
• Caracals in India long time used for hunting small game.
• In Asia, this breed was used to help hunt game.

INTERESTING FACT! In Iran, caracals were entertainment for wealthy gambling people. Animals were tamed, trained to hunt birds, and entered into competitions based on the number of birds caught in a jump.

The fact is that caracals are wonderful jumpers; they can jump up to 3 meters in the air to catch flying birds. Up to ten pigeons can be caught in this way at a time. The winner is the one whose cat knocks out large quantity birds from a jump. All these facts prove that the domestication of caracals is not something new, but rather began centuries ago.

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.

Breed standard

general characteristics representative of the Caracal breed:

• Body: the developed body of a predator is 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.
• Wool: short, soft and thick, 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 red-brown or brick-red color. The nose is dark.
• Eyes: large, yellow-brown.
• Ears: large, vertically located, 4-6 cm long, with a black back and dense long tassels made of stiff 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 made of coarse hair, which makes it easier to move through the sand in natural environment a 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 working with the breed first from the breeder, and then from 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.

Content Features

Since the caracal is still a wild predatory cat, there are difficulties in keeping it at home, namely:

Care

In the house where the caracal lives, everything should be cleaned as if a curious puppy lives there. The fact is that these cats are very playful, and after their games the house is turned upside down. Everything that can be attributed to a toy in one way or another will be mined, chewed, scratched and even partially eaten.

Games are the basis for the education and socialization of a young individual. Toys should be from quality materials. Take the ones offered for large dogs.

Big cats They love to swim, they swim and enjoy water procedures as often as they are offered.

The claws on the paws must be trimmed in a timely manner. There must be a sufficient number of scratching posts in the house, otherwise the furniture will be significantly damaged.

Nutrition

Special attention need to pay attention to food. As stated earlier, caracals are carnivorous predatory cats that hunt small animals, so they should mainly be fed raw meat. The diet is selected according to the breeder's recommendations.

Can be fed with high quality dry cat food. Nutrition should be balanced. The norm for food consumed per day is about 5% of the cat’s weight.

ATTENTION! It is strictly forbidden to feed pig meat, pork causes Aujeszky's disease, common name This disease is called “pseudorabies” or itchy plague. This disease almost always leads to the death of the animal. It is also necessary to exclude ready meals“from the table”, spices in any form, salted and smoked products.

Walking your pet

The domestic caracal needs active, long-term walking. You can use a leash for walking outside. It is advisable to equip a fenced area in the form of an enclosure - an extension to the house in which it is kept.

Caracals are one of the five most expensive cat breeds in the world. Usually, having learned the answer to the question: how much does a caracal kitten cost, many lose their ardent interest in the breed. The cost of a kitten varies from 10 to 50 thousand dollars (the price in Russia is approximately 700,000 - 3,000,000 rubles). So advertisements about the sale of a caracal kitten on Avito inexpensively or that the animal is being given away for free raise doubts.

When choosing a kitten, it is important to know:

IMPORTANT! Missing package necessary documents the kitten may be subject to criminal liability. The fact is that some species of this breed living in wildlife, are listed in the Red Book.

Breeding

So, you have decided to purchase a kitten as a... pet, and you will realize how important the process of choosing a breeder is.

What should you pay attention to? Foreign breeders are required to have a license to breed caracals. Domestic breeders must be members of phenological organizations (clubs) and have documents confirming permission to breed caracals. Experience in breeding, the opportunity to freely communicate with the breeder and personally visit the kittens’ place of residence are important.

IMPORTANT! When purchasing a caracal kitten, you should carefully study the sales contract. The contract specifies the conditions of ownership, the possibility or limitation of reproduction and other important points.

🐱 Description wild caracals. Photos and videos of the steppe lynx. Who does it hunt and what does it eat? Habitat and number of cats. Price for domestic caracals

Content

The Turkish word “karakulak” - “black ears”, gave the world the name of a species of predatory cat breed, whose erect ears with tassels stand out croaked the cat.

The caracal is a wild cat that prefers a free, free life in the zone of semi-deserts and steppes. Initially, this small predator was used as a hunting animal by many peoples of Africa. Today, the beautiful and intelligent steppe lynx has proven that it is capable of becoming a friend in the family and living life in an enclosure or a spacious house side by side with a person.

Description of the caracal cat

The desert lynx is not such a small predator: its slender body with well-developed muscles reaches 65-85 cm, and its height at the withers is over 50 cm. Weighs beautiful cat ranging from 16-19 kg, cats are larger and can weigh 20-25 kg.

The paws are longer than average. The movable tail is quite long.

The head of the animal is small in size. It is distinguished by high erect ears with dark long tassels.

The animal's eyes are extremely expressive, almond-shaped and have a black outline around them.

The wild caracal has short, very dense and thick fur with spectacular coloring: variations in coat shades from sandy tones to rich brown. The belly is lighter than the rest of the body; the ears are only black on the outer part and tassels. The muzzle is covered with white and dark spots.

Character of the desert lynx

It is difficult to judge the character of a wild cat in relation to humans. But if you domesticate an animal, you will have to face many difficulties. A person with a big heart and a strong will can cope with the freedom-loving character of the karkal. In order for a cat to demonstrate affection, understanding and obedience, the same training as for puppies of large breed dogs will be required.

Reviews about domesticated caracals are positive: cats quickly learn their new role as a member of the human family and behave with dignity. However, you should not expect the behavior of a soft domestic kitty, after all, this is wild animal, in whose genes a thousand-year memory of nature is embedded.

Lifestyle of caracals

Predators prefer a nocturnal lifestyle to a daytime one. Their life is spent in rock crevices, burrows of foxes and porcupines, where they hide during the day. The same shelter can be occupied by a cat for several years in a row. Large territories belong to males, females have enough of the periphery.

Water is not a hindrance for them; the steppe lynx can easily swim across a small lake. You can’t hide from the beast even on a tree - it’s also a convenient place for hunting caracal.

In spring and winter period wild cat can be seen in daytime days.

A cat hunts not by running after its prey, but by sneaking up on it and overtaking the prey with long jumps. The caracal jumps up to 4.5 m in length and 3 m in height. The retractable claws are so sharp and the speed of the animal is high that sometimes the hunter simultaneously grabs several birds in a flock.

The cat does not leave its prey on the ground, but drags it to the nearest tree, so that in case of danger it does not risk the captured food.

Caracal in the food chain

Caracals occupy a reliable place in the food chain - this fast predators, which are even capable of killing other predators. Previously, these cats were classified as lynxes due to external resemblance, but genetic research has identified the wild karcal as a separate genus.

The wild caracal is close not only to the lynx and serval, but also to the puma in a number of morphological characteristics.

Caracal food

Into a carnivore's diet cats croaked includes a variety of animals. The predator will gladly dine on a hare, rodents, and birds. The desert lynx hunts antelopes, small monkeys, Dorcas gazelles, and the common gazelle.

Season migratory birds allows you to catch pigeons and partridges.

African great bustard, gerenuk and stenbok sharpa are often caught as prey.

In lean years, reptiles are on the menu.

The habitat also affects the diet. In Africa, large ungulates are on the menu, in Asian countries - small vertebrates. Given the opportunity, the caracal will easily attack domestic animals.

The cat kills small prey by biting the back of the head, and larger animals are grabbed by the throat.

At night, in search of prey, animals are able to walk up to 20 km.

Enemies

The main enemy caracal cats a person is considered to be a person who, in turn, also sees the beast as his enemy, because these cats often attack domestic animals.

The sandy-brown color protects cats well from other enemies - the animal only needs to lie down on the ground, and their fur becomes a decent camouflage.

Lions and hyenas are not able to catch up with the predator, as it quickly jumps into the trees and thus escapes in no time. The leopard is considered a serious opponent of the caracal.

Reproduction and care of offspring

Notifies the male that the female is ready chemical reaction her urine. In addition, the cat attracts the attention of cats with sounds similar to coughing.

If a female takes a liking to several males, then a fight occurs between them, or the cat chooses a mate for itself, and the choice will not be in favor of the young and small.

The pair stays together for up to 4 days for frequent mating. Females are not distinguished by fidelity and mate with more than just one male, which is why infanticide occurs among caracals: this way the cat quickly becomes free to mate again.

After a 70-80 day pregnancy, 1 to 6 caracal kittens appear. The female spends a lot of time with her offspring, so caracals have litters once a year. Fathers have no educational significance and do not figure in education.

The mother chooses a secluded place for the cubs, from which they appear only at the age of 4 weeks. A month later caracal kittens They already begin to eat meat, and independence from the mother comes at 5-6 months.

Distribution and abundance of caracals

The wild croak is widespread in many areas of Africa, inhabiting the Arabian and Anatolian peninsulas, and is found throughout Southwestern and central Asia, Kazakhstan and central India.

These cats are not found in the central part of the Sahara Desert, and they also avoid dense forests equatorial West Africa.

The animal is found in the CIS, although not in such numbers as in Africa. Sometimes the karcal is seen in the foothills and deserts of Dagestan, where its population is about 100 individuals.

Domestic cat caracal

If you want to have a caracal in your home, it is worth exploring the possibilities of keeping such a pet at home. The cat loves space, so a free enclosure is built for her or purchased only for spacious houses.

In the enclosure, the animal will need shelter to rest. If a caracal cat lives in a house, then it quickly gets used to the company of its owners and is not burdened by them. You can combine a house and an enclosure, giving the cat the opportunity to walk freely in it.

Owners love the animal's love of bathing - a bath becomes a shared pastime. Wash the domesticated steppe lynx with hypoallergenic shampoo. Kitties quickly get used to the silicone comb and learn to trim their claws.

Caracal kittens are litter trained from childhood, and they quickly get used to a permanent toilet. Since the individual is not small, the appropriate tray is selected.

Domestic caracals should be dewormed and receive annual vaccinations. The immunity of these cats is impeccable, and with proper care the cat will please its owners for 15-18 years, remaining vigorous and active.

Buy a caracal

Buy a caracal kitten maybe not just anywhere, but in a nursery specializing in them. There are nurseries that breed only rare breeds of cats. If you are offered a kitten by hand, without certificates, then it is quite possible that this animal was torn from its mother by poachers.

There are several nurseries in the world, including in Moscow, where you can find the desired domestic caracal. The price for a predator is at least 400,000 rubles

Caracal hybrid breeds

Caracat – Felinologists tried to cross a caracal cat and a domestic cat. The result was a hybrid called caracat. The breed was founded in 1998 in Moscow, and further selection was carried out by specialists in the USA. In 2007, an Abyssinian cat gave the world a caracal kitten. The process stalled, and already the Russian woman Irina Nazarova took up the breeding of caraquets and achieved recognition of the breed by the Russian International Registry ICU and International organization TICA cats.

Video about caracals

The caracal (steppe lynx) is a predator, a mammal of the cat family. For a long time, the caracal was classified as a lynx, since it resembles them in appearance, but after a series of genetic studies it was separated into a separate genus. But still, caracals are closer to lynxes than other cats.

In appearance, the caracal resembles a lynx, only smaller in size, more slender and with a uniform coat color. Body length is 65-82 cm, tail – 25-30 cm, height – approximately 45 cm, weight – 11-19 kg. There are tassels up to 5 cm long at the tips of the ears.

On the paw pads there is a brush made of hard hair, which makes it easier to move through the sand. Well, in general, the size of a caracal does not exceed the size of an ordinary cocker spaniel dog.

The fur is thick and short. In color, the caracal is similar to the North American puma - brown-red fur on top, whitish below, there are black markings on the side of the muzzle. The tassels and ears are black on the outside.

Melanistic caracals with black fur are extremely rare. The color of an animal's fur is largely influenced by its habitat and hunting location. For example, the Israeli caracal has a much paler coat than the one living in India, and some Iranian species have black fur and silver tassels on the ears.

In some African countries, these animals are called “red cats” for their copper-colored fur, in some – “gazelle cats” for their extraordinary mobility and lightness.

Although the caracal external signs and looks like a lynx, morphologically it is closer to the puma. Also close to it is the African serval, with which the caracal easily interbreeds in captivity.

At first glance, the caracal's face is very similar to that of a cat. The only difference is the large triangular ears, topped with long black tassels. In young caracals, the tassels are almost in vertical position, but over time their elasticity is lost, and they begin to hang from the ears like ribbons.

Just don’t be impressed by your good looks and don’t large sizes. Caracals are strong and dangerous predators, far-sighted and experienced hunters, capable of pursuing prey twice their own weight.

With sharp fangs he pierces the throat of his victim, and powerful jaws holds it so that the prey does not escape from its pursuer. The claws and molars are sharp, like blades, with which the caracal cuts prey and separates the meat from the tendons.

The most powerful weapon This animal can be called hind legs, muscular and strong, which would be the envy of even an Olympic-level jumper or sprinter. They give the caracal amazing agility. Also, these animals have well-developed hearing, being unusually acute, they see perfectly in the dark.

Amazing ears, controlled by twenty muscles, help the caracal hear the noise of an approaching victim when the night is dark all around. There are many hairs inside the ear, which help determine the location of prey as accurately as possible.

The name “caracal” comes from the Turkish word “karakulak” - “black ear”. The explanation for this name is the black back of the ears of caracals. The population of North Africa calls the karcal "Barbary lynx."

Caracals are found in deserts, savannas, foothills of Africa, deserts of Central and Asia Minor, and the Arabian Peninsula. Also, these animals can be found, only infrequently, in the desert of Southern Turkmenistan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea (up to the Mangyshlak Peninsula), and occasionally found in Uzbekistan, in the Bukhara region.

Different subspecies of caracals are common in different areas:

· IN South Africa and Sudan - Caracalcaracalcaracal.

· IN North Africa– Caracalcaracalalgira.

· In Namibia– Caracal caracal damarensis.

· In Botswana – Caracal caracal limpopoensis.

· In Gabon – Caracal caracal luciani.

· In Turkmenistan – Caracal caracal michaelis (Turkmen caracal). This subspecies is endangered, the total number of remaining individuals is no more than 300.

· In Ethiopia and Sudan – Caracalcaracalnubica.

· In Nigeria – Caracal caracal poecilictis.

· From Anterior India to Arabia - Caracalcaracalschmitzi (Indian caracal).

Caracals are active mainly at night, but in winter and spring they can also be found during the day. These animals choose fox or porcupine burrows and rock crevices as their shelters. Caracals can live in one shelter for several years.

Territories occupied by males have large area, females get smaller areas on the periphery.

The long legs of the caracal allow it to jump up to 4.5 m in length, which it actively uses when hunting, but to run long time can not. An unusually high reaction speed and very sharp retractable claws enable the caracal to grab more than one bird from a flock that has begun to take off. But the main food of this animal is rodents (jerboas, gerbils, gophers), tolai hares, sometimes small antelopes, and in Turkmenistan, goitered gazelles.

Sometimes the caracal preys on porcupines, hedgehogs, insects, reptiles, small predators (mongooses or foxes), and young ostriches. Capable of kidnapping poultry, attacking goats and lambs. Caracals can go without water for a long time; they only need the liquid contained in the prey they eat.

Like the leopard, the caracal hides its caught prey in a tree, away from other predatory animals.

Caracals breed all year round, depending on their habitat; a female can have three partners during her estrus, which lasts six days. Gestation lasts 61-79 days, and 1 to 6 spotted blind cubs are born.

The older caracals become, the fewer spots remain on their skin. A week after birth, the kittens' eyes open, and two to four days later they begin to stand up and walk. The cubs grow slowly, with an average daily weight gain of approximately 21 grams.

Until the babies are one month old, the female carries them from den to den every day. Having reached a certain age, usually a year, the young caracal leaves its mother to settle in its own domain. Females settle close to the parental territory, and males go far - from 100 km. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 16-18 months.

Caracals lead a fairly solitary life, with the exception of the breeding season. Occasionally you can find family groups with a small number. The area of ​​an individual male's territory is 95-350 km2, it partially overlaps with the domains of other males; females have smaller territories - 2-112 km2.

Caracals can be easily tamed. In Persia and India, tame animals were used to hunt hares, peacocks, pheasants, and small antelopes. In ancient times, this type of hunting was very popular in eastern countries.

In India, the caracal was given the name “little cheetah” or “cheetah for the poor”, since, unlike the cheetah, it was caught and kept by poor people. Nowadays such hunting is rare.

In Africa, mainly in the south, caracals are common animals that are even considered pests. There is a special ritual for hunting caracals: they are lured with devices that can imitate the cry of a mouse or a wounded hare, and they are shot at night from under headlights. In addition, caracals are used in South Africa to drive away birds (mainly guinea fowl) from the runways of military airfields.

The subspecies of caracals found in Asia are much rarer and are even listed in the IICITIES Appendix.

Here is what the Red Book of Kazakhstan writes about the caracal:

· What does a taxon mean for the conservation of the gene pool? desert cat, very peculiar, is the only representative of the subgenus Caracal. central Asia– the habitat of a special Turkmen subspecies, the northern part of the range covers Kazakhstan.

· Spreading. The limits of the Mangistau region are on Ustyurt (mostly near the Northern, Western and Southern cliffs), the Mangyshlak, Buzachi, Tyub-Karagan peninsulas, in the large sandy massifs of Tuesu, Karynzharyk, Sengirkum, Bostankum, Mataikum, Sam, etc. Previously, caracals were found in Northern Kyzylkum.

· Habitats. Caracals are typical inhabitants of semi-fixed sands, which are overgrown with comb grass, saxaul, dzhuzgun and other types of shrubs. They can also be found in pre-chink zones and on the chinks themselves, in hilly areas of the desert with clay soil and small bushes, in treeless low mountains and partially deserted foothills, along river beds overgrown with black saxaul and tamarisk. As sandy massifs are increasingly subject to development, many caracals are forced into ravines and onto kyra plains.

· Number. Rare animal. The size of the population depends on the number of species that form the basis of food - yellow ground squirrel, tolai hare, great gerbil. In 1951-1994, about twenty caracals were caught in the Mangistau region, and about fifteen were encountered. Consequently, it lives in Kazakhstan. Apparently, up to several dozen animals. In the north-west of Turkmenistan, under the same habitat conditions, the population density of caracals in 1986 was 0.5-1.5 per 100 km. way, in some areas it reached 3-6 individuals per 100 km.

· What are the main limiting factors? Firstly, this is poaching. Secondly, the population of rodents and the tolai hare is falling. Thirdly, winters have become snowy and harsh, and caracals are not adapted to this.

· Biological features. Excluding the cold season, leads nightlife. Eats a varied diet. About a quarter of the diet consists of tolai hares, a little less - yellow ground squirrels, followed by large gerbils. In addition to the above, caracals eat jerboas, hedgehogs, foxes, steppe cats, birds (audotka, jack, chukar, hazel grouse, pigeon), reptiles, arthropods, etc. Can attack young Ustyurt rams, goitered gazelles, and sometimes sheep. In Turkmenistan they do not disdain porcupines. Lives in former burrows of porcupines and foxes. In the warm season, it often makes its home under bushes. Caracal babies are born in early April. Pregnancy lasts approximately 70 days, with a litter of 3-4 cubs. The enemies of the caracal are wolves and shepherds' dogs. Young animals may be offended and predator birds large sizes. Competitors include the same birds, as well as steppe cats and foxes.

· Breeding. Caracals are kept in zoos in Moscow, Tashkent, Berlin, Vilnius and others. Reproduction in captivity is possible.

· Security measures taken. The Karagiye-Karakolsky and Aktau-Buzachinsky nature reserves and the Ustyurt nature reserve were created.

· Security measures that would be nice to take. It is necessary to create a network of protected areas in the Mangistau region, expand the territory of the Ustyurt Nature Reserve, and organize new reserves - Zhabayushkansky and Besbulaksky, with an area of ​​​​about 500 thousand hectares each.

For an adult caracal Every day you need to get about 3-5% of meat own weight. Thus, the daily dose of meat from a 10-kilogram Caracal is 300-500g. Caracal may need a larger dosage during the growth period. On very hot days, the cat's appetite is often not great, while in the cold season it is much better.

As a rule, there should be one or two feedings per day. Feeding should not be done at the same time every day, as animals get very used to this time.

Caracal should sometimes feel hungry and should under no circumstances have constant access to food, as is common among some cat owners. The meat should be at room temperature. Anything not eaten must be removed after feeding. Possible food residues should also not be left behind. For adults caracals It is advisable to do one day of complete fasting every 8-14 days.

Feeding a baby caracal

In order to raise a healthy, strong and loving person caracal kitten, you need to invest a lot of time, patience and knowledge into this process.

The health of a kitten directly depends on the quality of the milk consumed, which must be supplemented with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. In this case, the milk must be at the correct temperature, corresponding to the age of the kitten, and the amount of serving is also important.

If you do not adhere to these rules, the kitten will grow up with signs of rickets, gastrointestinal and other diseases, which can subsequently lead to death. Therefore, it is very important to establish good health and development from a very young age.

Tummy massage

Why do caracal and serval kittens have their tummy massaged since childhood?

Due to the fact that the kitten is bottle-fed and the cat mother does not have access to lick the kitten’s tummy, the human mother should take on this role, massaging the baby’s tummy as often as possible. In order for the kitten to go to the toilet well and regularly, and for his gas to pass, this procedure is only to help the kitten. This process also helps to establish contact between a person and a kitten; the baby completely trusts the person, relaxes and often falls asleep in his arms. I adore this procedure, I get great pleasure from it myself, and when the kitten falls asleep I try to put everything aside, sit and take care of his sweet sleep.

Kitten stimulation. What is it for?

The main task of a responsible breeder is to raise a healthy and at the same time affectionate kitten who loves a person. To do this, you need to take the time and take him away from the mother cat at the right moment, start feeding him with high-quality, correct milk every two hours, increasing the intervals over time.

During this period, the kitten still does not know how to urinate and defecate on its own. And the breeder, his human mother, must teach him this. Only after a month does the kitten begin to urinate on its own and then defecate. Until this moment, mandatory stimulation of kittens is necessary. The video shows an example of kitten stimulation.

Character and behavior

Caracals very smart, playful and affectionate animals. Education should take place from childhood.

Game with caracal– this is communication and education at the same time. Hunting games with pendant and ball are always a favorite. Classes can last as long as they are interesting Karakalu.

They love to swim, run after a ball, bring it to you, and walk well on a leash.

In character and play they are similar to dogs, but at the same time they have the gracefulness of a cat. When caracals they run up and breathe quickly with their mouths open, like dogs.

Video - caracal in the family

Caracals chirp, purr and lick very beautifully and tenderly! Caracals go to the toilet in a tray, leaving excrement on the surface of the sorbent, without burying it like domestic cats.

Socialization of the caracal from birth

I’ll tell you a little about the need for early communication between a kitten and a person.

If possible, it is best to make contact from the first days of life. But if the mother cat does not allow access to the kittens, then - from the moment the kitten is transferred to a bottle (feeding by a person, with milk from a bottle). On average, this occurs from 10 days of age (plus or minus 2-3 days). From this moment on, the human mother takes full responsibility for the kitten’s life: she feeds, massages the tummy, stimulates bowel movements, carries in her arms, and teaches. And all this 24 hours a day, seven days a week! By the 4th week of life, it becomes easier, since the break in night feeding increases and you can sleep for about 6 hours.

In our family, our children know how to feed kittens. This is very helpful when there are many kittens in a litter or several litters at the same time. Having prepared the right amount of milk at the right temperature, my children and I feed several kittens at the same time. It is also very important that our children help a lot in the socialization of kittens; they know how to handle them correctly in this regard. at a young age. Therefore, by the time the kittens are handed over to the buyer, the kittens are not afraid of humans, but on the contrary, they trust him, love him and always follow him. Proper socialization of kittens from a very early age is the main thing, without which a caracal or serval will not grow up who will love and are not afraid of humans.

Socialization with other animals

One rule applies to all games: toys are provided only for a while, then they are hidden - otherwise interest in them quickly disappears. Caracals They are very curious and therefore always rejoice if something new appears for research. After a couple of days, old toys become interesting again. Potato, apple, plastic bottle will always please him. play with caracal You only need toys, not your hand or foot. Hands are only for affection! How do caracals talk? They can purr, growl, meow, chirp, hiss, and purr. They also lick like dogs. They communicate with humans using the habits of an ordinary cat and a dog at the same time. Therefore, the caracal is suitable for both cat lovers and dog lovers. But you also need to take into account the size of the caracal, on average they are slightly below or slightly above the knee, weight from 16 to 23 kg (they may be heavier, but this is due to overfeeding). We do not recommend keeping caracals (and servals) in apartments; a spacious house with the possibility of building an enclosure for free range is suitable for them. Before buying such a kitten, you need to study everything, communicate with the breeders, weigh the pros and cons (it is important that the breeder tells not only the pros, but also the disadvantages of keeping such animals), only then take the conscious step of purchasing such a tail. We are in the media TSN, UA - Koshenya vartistu s car. Channel "1+1" - February, 2019 TSN on channel "1+1" from 02/16/2019. The story is about our VIPLEO® nursery in Kiev and our graduate - a caracal who lives in Kharkov. The other serval in the story that another participant talks about is not our graduate, he was bought from another seller. Overall, I’m very pleased with the program, it turned out to be short and realistic, without “rose-colored glasses.” The shooting itself was a breeze, it took a long time to film and there was a lot of interesting stuff. Naturally, all interesting shots cannot be included in the news program. You can film and talk about these cats for hours, but airtime, unfortunately, is limited... Thanks to the channel and 1+1 journalists for filming!