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The reed cat is famous in the world of zoology under various names. The reed breed cat got its unusual nickname because of its habitat. This predatory representative of the fauna lives in wooded river valleys and impenetrable thickets of high reeds. However, the territory on which the furry predator breeds is quite extensive. The reed cat lives in Transcaucasia and the lower Volga, in India, parts of Eastern Turkey, Iran, in the lower Nile, as well as in the river valley of Central Asia, etc.
Description of reed cat
The reed predator with its appearance resembles a wild lynx. However, it is not so large. The fur coat has a reddish-gray color, black tassels are visible on the ears.
- The body of the reed cat is about 60-90 centimeters in length, and the weight of the predatory animal does not exceed 5-12 kilograms. The largest representatives of this cat family live in the Caucasus and in Palestine. But individuals of small sizes, outwardly resembling pets, live in Thailand and on the island of Sri Lanka in South Asia.
- The tail of the reed cat is thin and short, reaches 20-30 cm in length. It has a gray color with a pair of dark rings and a black dot at its tip.
- The round head of the predator is medium in size, its muzzle is slightly elongated forward, and large erect ears with black tassels stick out on the top of the head.
- Sharp claws are formed on strong paws.
- The natural coat color of these predators helps them to camouflage themselves on the ground. Depending on the breeding territory, the color of the coat in different types of reed cats has different shades. This helps them merge with the environment and lead the hunt. However, the main colors are gray and brown shades, and sometimes the reed cat's fur coat has an olive, red and even whitish color.
The pattern on the fur coat resembles thin transverse stripes interspersed with small fuzzy spots. The unusual color of the coat can hardly be traced. The clearest and brightest color can be found in young individuals of this family, in particular in kittens. In winter, the fur coat of predators becomes thick and fluffy, and with the onset of summer, it acquires a rough, faded and not thick look. Individuals that live in cold climates have longer hair with dense and thick fur.
In zoology, it is customary to distinguish about nine species of the reed cat family. All these representatives of the fauna have a different coat color and often differ in size, however, their general external features are preserved.
Predator habitat
The representative of predatory fauna prefers to live in the dense valleys of low-lying forests, along lakes and rivers with dense reeds. It finds its refuge in the depths of reeds and among the dry stalks of reeds. Earth never digs. With the help of reeds, she lays a rookery on the ground and arranges an overnight stay. Sometimes a reed cat can find shelter in holes left by badgers or porcupines.
The reed cat avoids very open territories, cleverly scrambles through impenetrable thickets of thorny bushes. The predator does not have any trails. An individual of this species can not often be found at an altitude of over 800 meters, and in the tropical zone the animal lives at an altitude of up to 2.5 meters. At the same time, the reed cat does not tolerate a very cold climate.
The reed beast prefers loneliness. However, with the onset of the season of courtship games, everything changes. The predator acquires a female to breed offspring.Males and females live together, take good care of the health of growing offspring, and the food obtained is shared by all members of the family. Reed cats hunt in the territory from 45 to 180 km2. The area on which predators hunt depends on the region where the individual lives. The hunting grounds of males and females are often intertwined.
Fact! The reed cat is an excellent swimmer, cleverly diving and not afraid of water. He does not like to climb trees.
The big long ears of the reed cat gave the beast good hearing. He has excellent vision, thanks to which the predator sees well at night. However, the smell of this predatory beast is not very well developed, so the reed cat is worse than other representatives of the cat family distinguishes surrounding smells.
What eats and where does it hunt?
Reed cats have a rich menu. The diet includes both waterfowl of fauna and birds, as well as reptiles, fish and crustaceans. Sometimes the beast steals food for food from people living in neighboring settlements. Hunts for poultry.
Go hunting at different times of the day or night, but prefers twilight. Looking for prey in impassable reed thickets. He searches for the victim without haste, listens to every sound and movement around. It monitors the prey from the shelter, then silently sneaks closer. It reaches prey with just a few confident jumps. Then the reed cat smothers its prey with its paws.
Terrestrial birds enter the diet of a reed cat, in addition, a predator often ruins bird nests. To catch a flying bird, makes a vertical sharp jump. And in order to catch a rodent, this cat can lurk for a long time near the mink and wait for the desired prey. He catches fish with the help of a cunning maneuver: he paws on the surface of the water, depicting insects, thus luring his future catch with bait. Pulls out the caught fish from the water using a clawed paw or catches it with its teeth. The reed predator is not afraid of snakes, on the contrary - it hunts them in the same way as it can deal with a lizard.
Mating and breeding future offspring
The most suitable time for breeding future offspring in reed cats comes from the beginning of February - March, and can last until mid-spring. Mating games in predators of this species are brutal and very aggressive. Cats flirt with each other with the help of loud and sharp sounds, growl wildly, enter into a fight with a partner. That is why during the mating period it is better not to get in the way of reed predators.
When the female responds to the courtship of the reed wild male, she begins to prepare for the birth of future offspring. The female goes in search of suitable shelter for the birth of her kittens. The predator covers its lair with its fur to warm the rookery.
The reed cat children appear two months after the mating games, around the beginning of May. The female carries from two to six kittens, sometimes this figure reaches ten. As a rule, more females than males are born. A newborn kitten can weigh from 60 to 100 grams. Future predators appear blind, and open their eyes only after two weeks.
A reed female feeds her cubs with breast milk for up to about three months of their life. Moreover, starting from two months, little by little it teaches them to eat the food of adults. Young reed cats grow up very quickly. During the period of development of the cubs, the male remains next to his children. By about five months, future predators become completely independent and can do without the help of their parents.
Sexual maturity in predators of this species occurs by about eight months of their life. The life expectancy of this species in nature reaches an average of 14 years.
The habitat of reed cats in captivity
Few owners decide to acquire a predatory beast, and primarily because of the rather high cost of one such individual. In addition, the maintenance and care of reed cats is no less costly. However, before getting such a predatory beast, it is necessary to study well the habits and lifestyle features of reed cats. If future owners do not have enough time that they can devote to raising an exotic pet, then you should not think about breeding a predatory animal at home.
The reason is that it is difficult to tame a wild beast to live outside its natural habitat. At home, a cat of this breed takes root problematically. The most suitable place for a predatory animal to live is a special enclosure for pets, equipped with everything necessary. For the correct development of the predator, the area of the aviary should be at least 3 square meters, and the height of the cage should reach 5 square meters. If the cage’s cage is smaller, the reed cat will feel limited in movement and may become ill.
The housing for the predator must be protected with a metal mesh. And pour the surface of the floor with a solution of concrete and lay wooden boards on top of it. Wood flooring is covered with sand mixed with soil from above. Also in the aviary should provide areas for sowing herbs and plants. This will help to get as close as possible to the natural conditions in which the reed predator lives. The cage should be equipped according to the example of a dog kennel, and additionally you need to lay straw, make stone or wooden terraces. For the toilet, ordinary large trays filled with powder are suitable.
Young individuals of reed breed, which were brought up at the age of 3 months, are accustomed to life in captivity quite easily. However, kittens need increased attention during the upbringing. If you look at the photos of domesticated cats from the reed family, it is quite difficult to distinguish them from ordinary kittens. However, predatory pets are not as innocent as they might seem at first. Animals possess the character of a real predator and are masterful. The owner is chosen one and for life, follow him everywhere. Other people are often treated a little aggressively.
For the proper development of reed breed cats, it is necessary to create a large open space for the daily games of predators. The thing is that these cats are very fond of movement and freedom. The most suitable place to live in captivity is considered a house in the country or a summer house.
These predators expect affection and care from the owner. Reed cats should often be walked outdoors. Wild animals get used to the tray well, they do not need frequent combing of wool.
This predator eats only once during the day. 200 grams of lean meat is included in the full-fledged diet of the beast, the best thing is beef. Also, predatory cats like to feast on mice or rats. In addition to beef per day, a reed cat is enough to eat two mice or one rat. In addition, hatched chickens or quails may be included in the daily menu of predatory animals. Once a week, cats need to be fed fresh fish.
It is also useful for predatory cats to make fasting days and give the predator a little hunger during the day. Such a strict diet should not be resorted to often, it is enough to enter it only once a week. Unloading the body helps captive predators to maintain a healthy lifestyle. And the diet itself helps to prevent excess weight in predatory cats. Also, the diet of animals is important to supplement with the necessary vitamins, mineral supplements, calcium, herbs.
Buying Reed Cat
Buying a kitten of this breed for breeding at home is not so easy.You can buy a predatory animal in specialized nurseries that breed and raise exotic animals. You can also find animals for sale at various thematic exhibitions with the participation of predatory animals.
When buying a predator, it is important to get acquainted with the vaccinations and the passport of the animal to confirm its pedigree and the purity of the breed. The cost of cats of this family can be found on a specialized site for breeding animals. Roughly the cost of the reed cat’s parody in the animal market varies from three to eight thousand dollars.
Video: reed cat in the wild
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