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Can You Domesticate A Bobcat Kitten: An Expert Guide
Keeping
wild animals as pets has always been on a desire on many people and has also
been a subject of controversy.
Mammals are also not an exception, and the
bobcat can be a perfect example of this matter.
The main impracticality of
having a bobcat kitten as a pet is as follows:
However, funnily enough these
messages arouse several concerns such as this one.
Understanding Bobcats
What Are Bobcats?
Bobcats
or the scientific name for them is Lynx rufus are small felines living in North
America.
This is characterized by their tufted ears, spotted skin, and short
tails which are cut at the tips making them look like a bob.
Bobcats are mostly
solitary and have distinct territories; inhabiting a number of climates such as
forest, desert, swamp.
Habitat: There is a point that everyone should know and that is the fact bobcats live in almost every area ranging from wooded area to suburban areas.
Physical Characteristics: The normal body weight of Bobcats ranges between 15-30 pounds slightly heavier male Bobcats than females. They have grayish to brown fur with black spots all over their body.
Natural Behavior of Bobcats
Bobcats
are carnivores that reside in the wild, and they feed on Small mammals,
birds
as well as occasionally mule deer.
It means that they are night active and are
generally shy and tend to avoid people.
Hunting and Diet: Bobcats mainly eat rabbit, hare, rodents and birds. They sneak around and depend on their eyes or ears to capture pray.
Territory: Bobcats are solitary animals, during mating time they make territories and use scents and scratch marks on trees as a way of letting others know that they are around.
Reproduction:
Female bobcats give birth in late spring and mid summer and the mating season
is from late winter to early spring.
The females of the species are responsible
for feeding the kittens alone and have to pass on their hunting techniques to
their kittens for several months.
Can
Bobcats Be Domesticated?
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"Taming the Wild: Can Bobcats Truly Become Pets?"
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Distinction
between Domestication and Taming Domestication can be described as the raising
of animals retaining their nature and making them ready for taming while taming
focuses on the act of rendering animals tame.
However,
it should be important to distinguish between the processes of domestication,
and taming though they belong to the same category..
Sociogenesis on the other
hand is the process by which a specific species evolves to dwell with people;
it is a many generation process.
Taming means that one or several animals which
was/were initially wild come to accept a human being and what the latter does.
Difficulties
Related to the Taming of a Bobcat Kitten
"Challenges of Taming a Bobcat Kitten: Nature vs. Nurture"
Behavioral Challenges: Bobcats are very predatory animals and territorial which makes it hard for them to be tamed. They can at times become aggressive or destructive especially when they are growing up.
Aggression: Bobcats are shy but if provoked or if the cat instincts are triggered then they become dangerous.
Destructive Behavior: Subsequently, bobcats when they are brought, they are capable of scratching the surfaces, and since they have the instinct of marking their territories they tend to cause damage to items such as furniture.
Health
and Care: Bobcats also have different dietary and health requirement as
compared to normal domestic cats. Sustenance and health care pertaining to the
nutritional needs have to be done correctly.
"Health and Care: Raising a Bobcat Kitten Right"
Diet: Wild bobcat diet should be copied as much as possible by feeding a captive bobcat raw meat and bones.
Health Issues: Like many other animals, bobcats are also vulnerable to different diseases and illness, mainly if they suffer from improper treatment; some of them are dental diseases and nutritional disorders.
Legal Considerations: Proprietary rights of many wild animals including bobcats are prohibited by the law in many regions. In this regard, there is a necessity to verify the local legislation on the given subject and receive corresponding permissions.
Permits: In most regions of the World owning a bobcat is restricted by law that demands a permit and the process is quite taxing and costly.
Zoning Laws: Some places have their local laws that strictly regulate the area where people are allowed to keep wild animals or even ban it.
Socialization: The bobcat by its very character is a lonely animal, which makes it unlikely that it will adjust to home conditions or have contact with other animals.
Interaction with Other Pets: Generally, domestics cannot be good friends with other pets; specially small ones that he would consider a prey.
Human
Interaction: Although a bobcat kitten is able to be trained so that it will
allow interaction with people it still does not make the animal a typical or
dependable family pet.
Can Bobcat Be Domesticated
Pros And Cons of having a bobcat kitten
Pros
Unique Companion: The bobcat as a pet may be interesting and interesting for people who have always dreamed of extracting their own pet wild cat.
Educational Value: Wild cats in general and bobcats in particular is one more factor that can be easily noticed close up.
Cons
Aggression Risks: Despite the improvement in their socialization skills, a bobcat is capable of aggressive and unforeseeable actions.
High Maintenance: Bobcats are carnivores, and thus have specific diet needs, large habitats as well as environmental stimuli to be provided for.
Dietary Needs: It is costly and challenging to prepare the diet that will suffice the nutritional needs of a bobcat.
Enclosure Requirements: Species like the bobcats require spacious and secure facilities that can adequately meet their needs and demands.
Legal Issues: Legal action and specific guidelines may cause difficulties in the acquisition.
Ethical Concerns: The idea of using a wild animal as a pet may bring in some of the issues of animal rights and preservation into perceptive.
Animal
Welfare: Even if a person has the capability of keeping a bobcat as a pet in
his or her home, the environment created there might not be friendly to the
cat.
Facts and Figures
Lifespan: Bobcats are found in the wild around 10-12 years of age, while the domesticated ones are known to live for about 20 years.
Size: Bobcats which are adults are 28-47 inches long and their tails contribute to these dimensions; these cats weigh 15-30 pounds.
Diet: Bobcats are mesocarnivores thus in the wild, they exclusively hunt for their food and mainly consume meat.
Legality: The laws on ownership are quite distinct; as for example, some states of the U. S. lets people own bobcats given that they obtain a license for this legal procedure while some of the states of the U. S. suppressed the legal ownership of bobcats.
FAQs
Q: Is it legal to own a pet bobcat kitten?
Laws vary by location. While in certain states or countries, it is legal to own a bobcat and all necessary permits have to be obtained, some other places forbid it. It is therefore good to first consult the law before going ahead to own one.
Q: Is it possible to train a bobcat kitten in the same way one would train a normal domesticated cat?
It is possible to carter with bobcats to some degree but they will not be as obedient or as easily trained as domesticated cats for their will always be the wild in them.
Q: What is diet of bobcats when they are in captivity?
A wild bobcat diet consists mainly of meat and bones with, at times, small mammals and birds which should be given to bobcats in captivity.
Q: What is house requirement for bobcat?
One interesting fact with bobcats is that they require a lot of space for them to be kept because they require large areas to move around and to exercise and also play hide and seek. They cannot make a typical household environment sufficient for their wants.
Conclusion
- Although some people may consider the possibility of taming a bobcat kitten, this plan is full of difficulties and sins.
- Bobcats, being wildlife, have the inherent rights and deserve a proper living condition and conditions that cannot be properly provided in a home.
- The legal, ethical, and practical dimensions should be reflected upon before anyone can consider taming a bobcat.
- Thus, it is more reasonable and enjoyable for most people to observe bobcats and their activity in the wild or donate to the preservation work instead of hunting.
