Caracal - breed description and cat character

For Turks, this cat was called the Black Ear, and we know it as a caracal or steppe lynx. The animal species is very exotic, which immediately attracts attention. Outwardly, it looks like something between a cougar and a trot. These cats look great both in the wild and at home.

Anyone who calls caracal a wild animal will be right. But calling him a domestic cat will also not be a mistake. This feature makes representatives of this breed unique. There are few nurseries in the world where you can see homemade caracal.

This breed is not artificially bred. In the wild, caracal can be found on the Caspian coast, as well as in areas of Asia and Africa, where the steppe borders on forests. These animals do not like the desert. They like the plains more. In such an area, a cat can remain invisible due to its color. Caracals are nocturnal predators. They can run fast, jump far and even swim.

Caracals were domesticated by humans, but this does not mean that any cat of this breed can be taken home. The animal will have all the habits of a wild cat. If you decide to have a caracal, then you can take it only from a special nursery.

Fact! The ears of the caracal have sharp tips with a tassel. This distinguishing feature is the hallmark of the breed.

Appearance

There are 9 types of caracals, but to distinguish them with the naked eye, without having professional knowledge, is impossible. All of them are quite tall. At the withers, growth reaches an average of about 50 cm.

With such growth, the cat does not look large, as it has a very elegant build.

1. The head is elongated and small in size. The muzzle is stretched forward and covered with spots.
2. The ears of the animal are narrow and long, located at a great distance from each other, stand upright. The color of the ears is black. On sharp tips there are brushes. On the back side, the ears are black, sometimes with light gray hair.
3. The eyes are almond-shaped and have a yellowish tint. They are edged with a black stripe.
4. The body of the cat is slim and muscular. The length of the body is approximately 65-85 cm.
5. Caracal has slender large paws of medium length.
6. The tail is long and quite mobile. In length, it is shorter than half the body of a cat.
7. Short thick coat has a red or sand-red color. On the stomach and chest, it is slightly longer. Under the eyes of a cat there is a yellow stripe. Males and females have the same color.

An adult cat can weigh about 16-20 kg. Caracals live for about 15 years.

Cat character

From the wild cat at the home caracal remained courage and love for freedom. But domestication made them more affectionate, able to attach to a person. If you take a kitten of this breed in the kennel, you will get a good faithful friend. Domesticated caracals are playful and curious. Character is characterized by calm, poise. These animals are very kind and devoted to their owners, amenable to training.

According to habits, caracal sometimes even resembles a dog. He is well accustomed to a new house, but when buying an animal, you need to consider that these cats are active. Owners of cramped apartments are better off not acquiring caracals. In such conditions, it will not be possible to create the animal all the conditions that it needs. For them, a spacious aviary or a large country house is more suitable.

Previously, people used caracals for hunting. The cat performed the same functions as a husky or a dachshund on a hunt. Nowadays, domesticated caracals behave like the most affectionate domestic cat.She will sleep and eat with a man.

Caracals are very friendly, they did not notice the appearance of aggression. But do not buy this cat if there is a small child in the house. If you want such a cat, then wait until the child grows up and can learn all the rules of treatment that the animal requires.

If caracal is properly raised, an adult animal will not cause much trouble. The rules of parenting are almost the same as if you were raising a puppy. The animal must learn that it is strictly forbidden to bite the wires and shoes of the owners. Also forbid him to jump onto the table, and eat from his plates.

Advice! Do not hit the cat, but be strict in education. If caracal grows in your home, hide objects and substances from it that could harm the animal. Electric wires, chemical detergents, and poisonous plants should not be available to him.

Is it possible to keep caracal at home?

The answer is yes! If you believe the reviews of the owners, then we can say that with the right upbringing of a kitten, in adulthood there will be no problems. The main thing is to survive the first two years. Up to this age, his behavior can be shy, but be consistent and strict in order to get a "well-educated" cat as a result.

Care

1. You need to bathe caracals only if the animal is very dirty. But every week it needs to be combed. Grind your nails, wipe your ears and eyes.
2. If you do not plan to breed these cats, then it is better to castrate them.
3. Walking this cat is better in the muzzle. This should be done with the same regularity as with dogs.
4. Caracal is a very active and large animal. He constantly needs to move a lot, often on the street. It’s good if you have a spacious enclosure in your yard. You can periodically leave the animal in it. If there is no aviary, you will have to walk with the cat. They quickly get used to the leash. Do not walk the caracal where you can meet a dog. A cat can rush at it, not paying attention to the strength and size of the dog.
5. Another positive feature of the breed can be called the fact that they easily get used to the tray. But place it in some quiet place. Do not put the tray where people often go, doors open. These large cats will need a special deep tray. Silica gel or charcoal is a good filler. Change the contents of the tray daily.
6. The cat molts throughout the year, but in the summer this process occurs with greater intensity. Therefore, as often as possible, it is necessary to comb and clean the animal. This is best done with a rubber brush or silicone glove. Cleanse the entire body of the animal by removing excess hair.
7. Use a pair of wire cutters to cut off the tips of the claws.
8. Caracals in the wild are good at swimming, therefore, at home they are not against swimming. They need to be bathed infrequently, using products that do not cause allergic reactions.
9. In the warm season, wear a collar to protect them from fleas.
10. Take the caracal to the veterinarian who will tell you what vaccinations the animal needs, as well as how to prevent parasites.

Fact! A big plus of this breed is that its representatives are almost not sick. They have strong immunity, like their wild predecessors.

If you castrate a cat or a cat in a timely manner, this will help get rid of many problems that may arise when the mating season begins. At this time, caracal can become uncontrollable, and even show some aggressiveness.

Caracals have excellent immunity. They rarely get sick. If you take care of the cat properly and properly feed, then up to 15 years it will be active and healthy.

What to feed caracal

In addition to animal proteins, vegetables such as cabbage, pumpkin or zucchini should also be included in the diet. In addition, raw fish should be present in the diet. These cats should not be fed soup or cereals from cereals. Make sure that food does not remain in the animal's bowl. If the cat has not finished eating, it is better to throw away the leftovers.

Twice a month, it is recommended to arrange a caracal one-day hunger strike. This mode will mimic the one that is inherent in wild animals. Do not feed your cat human food such as sweets, smoked meats and fat. It is not recommended to feed them with pork. Sometimes you can feed the animal with dry food, but it must be of excellent quality. Choose a food that is designed specifically for the Norwegian cat or Maine Coon.

Where to buy a kitten

Do not buy caracal in an unreliable place, even if you are offered to buy a kitten at an affordable price. You can often fall for deception, acquiring an animal without appropriate documents. So usually sick cats are sold. Also, acquiring caracal from an unreliable buyer, you can get a wild animal instead of the desired domesticated one. Such a cat is not suitable for living in a house or apartment. It is necessary to contact special nurseries, where cats are bred by professionals.

Everyone interested will want to know the cost of a home caracal. These cats are considered exotic, so their cost is high. In Russia, home caracal can be bought for 450,000 rubles. In Ukraine, this price will be about 210,000 hryvnia.

Video: Caracal cat breed