Is a Caracal cat a good pet?

[Hibidyjibidy]

I've been looking for a new larger than normal cat for the misses and found out that some breeders sell a cat called a "Caracal". Looks somewhat similar to a cougar though smaller. I've read that some have a temperament of a pet while others are utter buggers. Could anybody give me any of their experiences or people that they know of? I would just buy a cougar, though i think they are much too large as a house pet and besides, state laws wont grant any type of permit for one either.

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[BWSmith]

The only thing I can say is that They Are Wild Animals. I have not worked with Caracals, but I have worked to some extent with cougars, lions, panthers, lynxs, and a coupleother odds and ends. My understanding is that they are VERY active. Much more so than a house cat. And will do more damage to the house. I, personally, would not endorse it. But if anyone knows that people (namely me) do not always listen to advice, I would strongly recommend that you spend the extra money and get one that was born and raised in a house, not a pen.
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[Hibidyjibidy]

I have a breeder that sounds quite genuine in regards to intense domestic socialisation already though it would mean that i would be parting with 2900 buckaroos. I just need some real online responses to seal the deal.
Also if i get the animal de-clawed at an early age (5 weeks) then they tend to be a little more couch/furniture friendly with no stress to the cat.
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[Ravnos]

I haven't dealt with caracals specifically, but having dealt with other 'smaller' wild cats... I feel rather confident in saying they are a handful. They don't play nicely with other pets, so they are best being the only animal in the house. You will need to go to great lengths to cat proof your home. Infinitely more so than a house cat. A caracal is a cat that is going to get the size of a labrador retriever, and no matter how domestic they seem, they have the attitudes and instincts that all cats have.

Also, please consider diet. They are not house cats, you can't go buy a can of Whiskas and a bag of Tender Vittles and expect him to be healthy. They require large amounts of real meat. I believe Mazuri makes a good supplimental diet, but I don't think it is complete - I could be wrong on that, but its something you should know ahead of time.

Main thing to consider, is your locality. Almost every single major city in the US bans wild cats as pets, due to public safety issues. That normally includes -any- wild cat, from lions and tigers to servals and bengals. There may even be laws at the state level regarding it and require you to get permits and USDA inspection of your care facilities every year. Don't go on the word of the breeder, even if they seem sincere. Do the calling for yourself before you commit, get all the information for yourself and get names of the people who give the information to you so if there are any issues in the future, you have a record of it. It would really suck to lay down 3 grand only to have animal control officers show up at your home, destroy your pet, fine you for breaking the law, and then bill you for their time.

One thing I do know... in order to run a cattery in Illinois, one is supposed to be licensed. Maybe you should find out just how legit your breeder is. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Rav

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[Kohm]

Caracal: Felis caracal

"It is famed for its ability to spring 10ft vertically and to "bat" flying birds with its paw. Its main foods are rodents, hyraxes, hares, small antelopes, poultry, and other livestock."

Source: Animal, 2001, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London

The only time I've heard of privately owned caracals is as "guards" to keep guineafowl off an airfield, and I've only seen them in a zoo. Seriously, I don't think a caracal is a pet at all.

Anyway, all the best!
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[Hibidyjibidy]

Thanks for the info people. I am quite a stubborn person once my mind is focussed on something so unless i get extremely chaotic stories through owners or friends of them, then it would be quite difficult to turn me. I would accept an appealing challenge anytime. The department of agriculture has given me confirmation that there are no prohibitions against the cat in the county which i live in at time of inquire so i guess all is good so far.

About the food topic.. I only like and try getting the best possible food for myself and i feel it shouldn't be any different with my animals. It isn't a problem for me to throw in a few cups of beef/chicken/liver/rice/suppliments/whatever just to get the animal its best nutritional content. I enjoy watching people/animals eat what i prepare. Satisfaction is a bliss.
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[Dr.Oviparous]

What about a snow leopard hybrid? they do get bigger and more impressive than regular cats, make a lot better pets, and are absolutly beautiful. they are quite a bit less $$ than the caracal, about $800-$1000 I think. you need no type of lisence, or permit either, they're totally legal (in FL anyway) -Juggalo
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[scarlettrose2006]

well...i only have one thing to say about all that.....to declaw a cat is like to take ones fingers off....literally...
they take the claw and the first digit off....its a amputation.
Yes, when done at a young age, the cat might "get used to it", but many even normal housecats turn to excessive biting. I don't know how a basically still wild animal would do...they really rely on their claws for a great many things. I do have a housecat that is not declawed, and i watch him use the claws to even pick up things...to play and such...never is he destructive at all, most people think he is declawed.
Yes a wild cat would most certainly do A LOT more damage then any housecat, declawed or not.
Also think about it carefully.
If you get that wild cat, declaw it, and later figure out it does not work for you...that cat will be hard to place...probably impossible indoors....since if you have to get rid off it, its most likely due to being 1. agressive 2. destructive 3. spraying (YUCK, try to get THAT smell out of the house EVER, and i would think...big cat, LOTS spray..ugh, and quite natural to any sex wild cat to spray liberally, fixed or not)
That cat will have lost the ability to ever live outdoors, yes some house cats got "used" to live without claws....and will either use backclaws....or bite....for defense.
But a wild cat without claws...can never be rehabilitated for a quality outdoor life.
I have rescued A GREAT DEAL of cats.....declawed and not, and i have seen a lot of neurosis, and aggressivness in the declawed ones.
Before anyone jumps on me.....that owns declawed cats, i'm sure there are some where it works out just fine....but its really something that shouldn't be done...if we have to mutilate a animal in order to live with it, we shouldn't get it.
Before i get flamed........all this is just IMHO, and thru my observation, being a avid animal rescuer that went through lots of cat rescues.
Lucy
ps. if my spelling or grammar is lacking, its due to me being german...[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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Lucy

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[Hibidyjibidy]

Now you're just teasing me. I thought i read that any leopard is illigal in any county in Illinois but if you would be so kind as to give me a link to the web page that sells this cat, then i would like to read up about them coz i haven't seen anything of that. Worse comes to worse i will move into a state that hasn't a restriction like that. Am thinking about moving in a few months anyway. Cheers
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[Dr.Oviparous]

It's not really a leopard, as far as I know they are a cross between a normal housecat and some type of wild cat (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not an expert on these cats, but I'll try to find you a link. a friend of mine just purchased a pair from a private breeder in south FL. I'll see if they've got a site. -Juggalo
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[DogVsRaptor]

Maybe you should just get a big dog. Most big dogs can't jump
10 feet in the air and take a bird out of the sky. Or get a big housecat.
The cat you want seems dangerous to me.
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[Hibidyjibidy]

Dogs are old to me (boring if i dare say) due to many drifting through my life. I am here to obtain as much info as i can before i take the responsibility of ownership.
About SCARLETT'S post... Thank you. I am undecided about that though the leather furniture would scream the job. Personally i would rather the animal be in its rawest form. I still feel confident about the raising of one as a pet. I can love a pet, play a pet and definately take trouble from a pet. I wont go into boring detail but like i said, hands down for a challenge.

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[scarlettrose2006]

I understand your desire for "something different" and commend your willingness to get as informed as possibly beforehand.
It is a big challenge, like you said.
From the little i know about them, I think you need to have a cage...which should be at the minimum 6x8x8 feet big.
A vet willing to treat such a spitfire...and should NOT have other smaller pets or small children.
Those cats take down prey twice their size easily and willingly.
They kill by biting through the throat. They could take out a small child or other pet easily if they felt the need or desire.
You also have to keep in mind liabilitys that come along with such a "pet". Should it hurt/kill other peoples pets or kids...EVEN if on your property, or worse....on someone elses...you will have to pay dearly...as most insurances would not even dream of covering you for any such incidents.
For me personally the worst to deal with would be the smell...
A big cat..certainly a "wild" one will most likely "mark"....spray the house....whether its male or female....fixed or not. That even happens with both sexes of housecats...fixed or not.
A somewhat wild cat will have more so the desire and "instinct" to spray.
Let me tell you.....its a horrible smell, and the most challenging if not impossible to remove...one of the reasons i got out of catrescue.
Big cat......lots of spray.
Again, little that i do know....i think a lot of people are keeping the exotic cats in some sort of outside enclosure most of the time....and in some sort of inside enclosure rest of the time. Places they can keep the destructiveness and spraying somewhat under control.
I'm not trying to discourage you, just pointing out some of the disadvantages. I guess a good place to get more information, would also be a exotic cat rescue....at least they can inform you of the reasons why people get rid of the wild cats after they grow up....and you can then make up your mind if you can deal with those issues.
Again, declawing is mutilating....it might save your leather coutch from scratching.....but spraying on the leather coutch is just as destructive....and a lot more smelly.
Either way, good luck with the search, and if you decide to get one....please post pics...as they are extremely cute kittens...[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Lucy
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