Kittens need a lot of sleep, so it is too dark for kitten cam when we turn off the lights. We try to make this bobcat kitten cam available for viewers from 10am till 6pm EST.

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Live Bobcat Kitten Cam

Domestic Cat Rescues Baby Bobcats!

3 Very CUTE bobcat KITTENS are given a second chance at life after being adopted by a domestic cat

With a gun in one hand and a sack of bobcat kittens in the other, an Alabama hunter proudly plopped the newborns down on the counter and asked the veterinary assistant to raise them up for him so he could give them to his kids as pets.

The vet tech was stunned, but quickly recomposed herself to tell the hunter she would do it for him so as to rescue the babies from such an awful fate. She immediately began scouring the Internet for an expert in rehab and release. When she called Carole Baskin of Big Cat Rescue it was agreed that the kittens would come to Florida, be raised for re-release back to the wild and the paperwork began.

It took three days to secure the Florida import permit and time was of the essence. The only kitten formula available to the clinic was one that often causes serious dehydration in bobcat kittens. The second more critical factor was that their eyes would be opening any day and if they were to ever live free it was imperative that they not bond to humans. They never make good pets, but the bonding that takes place during the nursing stage could make them fearless of people and that would get them into trouble as adults.

While Big Cat Rescue President and resident Rehabber, Jamie Veronica, hit the road to begin a 24 hour road trip to rescue the baby bobcats, Big Cat Rescue put out a call to all of the Tampa animal based charities and on all of their social networks that they needed a nursing mother cat who had kittens of her own. Jack Talman of FosteringIsCool.com found a mother cat but her kittens were too old and she was going into heat so there was concern that she may not have milk nor interest for new babies.

Big Cat Rescuer, Merrill Kramer, called on Rick Chaboudy, CEO of Suncoast Animal League in Palm Harbor, FL and he said he thought he had a good candidate. Her name was Bobbi because of her half tail and she had given birth to 6 kittens of her own and then adopted two more. He found foster parents for all but two of the kittens and brought Bobbi and her brood over to see what she thought of diversifying her family.

Introductions like these can be very scary because the mother cat can be overly protective of her own kittens and fatally strike out at the new comers. President, Jamie Veronica, has had a considerable amount of experience in this area though and had taken every precaution to make sure it went as well as it possibly could. Bobbi turned out to be a dream come true for three little orphaned bobcats though. She immediately pulled them in close to nurse and began to bathe them. The little bobcat babies were so startled that they hissed at her!
She ignored their resistance and just kept on loving on them. Once they figured out that this strange smelling “bobcat” mom had the real deal to offer at her breasts, they were in love too.

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About the Author:
Big Cat Rescue, a non profit educational sanctuary, is devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic (i.e. wild, not domestic) cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats, and to educating the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity and in the wild.

Cheetah is one of the exotic animals which are kept as pets since five thousand years and can be dated back to Ancient Egyptian civilization. Initially they were used for hunting. Scientifically known as Acinonyx Jubatus, they are fastest of the wild cats and also amongst the animals but aren’t good at climbing trees like other cats. They are capable of reaching a speed of seventy mile per hour and within merely three seconds they can accelerate from zero mph to seventy mph. The length of the cheetah’s body ranges from forty five to fifty five inches and the weight ranges from ninety to one hundred and forty pounds.

They originated from Africa, and can be found in other parts of the world such as Central Asia and Iran. They have an elongated body with a small head and narrow waist, which facilitates aerodynamics. Cheetahs have semi retractable blunt claws which help them to get good grip during fast pursuits. The color of its coarse fur is tan and has small black spots. A rare kind of cheetah known as King Cheetah is larger in size with big merging spots. Its thirty three inch long tail is encircled with five to six black circles and it helps in taking sharp turns as it acts like a rudder. Black lines which start from its eyes and run along the sides of the nose towards the mouth are called tear marks. These lines enable them to see long distances and minimize the glare of the sun.

Cheetahs can be trained very easily and also they are very caring animals. They make noises such as chirp, yowl, yip, growl and hiss and their purr is very deafening. But they do not have the ability to roar like other big cats and also are diurnal, where as others are nocturnal. They are carnivorous animals and hunt for small mammals and young ones of larger mammals. Cheetahs hunt when it isn’t hot, like at dawn and dusk. They also do not go after animals which they cannot get hold of easily and they hunt not by smell but by vision. Nearly fifty percent of attempts end in failure as they give up fast. One of the reasons can be the immense heat which is generated while running, which can be serious for the animal. They rest for at least half hour after the intense chase. They also have the ability to make sounds of some birds, in order to catch them.

Cheetahs always eyes for the animal which is distant from its herd. It chases the animal and then trips it. After the animal falls, it suffocates the animal by biting underneath the throat as it does not have the strength to break the neck. For some reason they do not hunt weak and old animals. During high speed chases, cheetahs can get adequate oxygen with the help of big nostrils. They also have an enlarged heart and lungs which utilize the oxygen to the maximum by increasing the respiratory rate while running.

Cheetahs also fall under the category of endangered species. Many organizations and acts have been implemented to conserve them. One of the reasons for their endangerment is that they are environment sensitive and are the most vulnerable. When held in captivity, they should be provided with their natural habitat. Studies have proven that there is a lack of genetic diversity in cheetahs which are held in captivity. They don’t reproduce regularly like other felines and find it difficult to breed. Also their lifespan decreases and the rate of survival are low. In residential areas, they have been killed by poachers on large scale for protecting cattle. Such farmers are now being provided with dogs that can guard the livestock and scare away the wild cheetah. It has also being hunted for its fur with beautiful pattern.

To obtain a permit to keep cheetahs as pets is not only a big problem for individual owners but also for big zoos. People who have passion for cheetahs and haven’t got the permission to own them can donate generously to conserve the species.

Bobcats are small cats belonging to North America. They inhabit the wood areas and deciduous forests stretching from west to southeast America and Mexico. Some even occupy parts of south Canada. They have a small body structure. Their fur is of color yellowish brown or reddish brown with black or dark brown stripes. They have noticeably long ears with black tips. Their weight ranges from twenty four to thirty five pounds.

Owners relate their pet bobcat to a tabby cat, but their requirements are far from those of a domestic cat. They demand special care and extra attention. Like Servels they also have the habit of spraying. They also are very hyper and aggressive by nature. They need to be bought up in mostly in outdoor location where they have lots of space to play, like they do in the wild. If they don’t get adequate place outside, they run around destroying things in the house. Some owners are very content with their pets, but it is recommended that potential owners should do their homework before making up their mind.

Their diet shouldn’t be like any other domestic pet. Since they are exotic pets and come from the wild, they have different nutritional requirements to be healthy. At a time, they eat a whole chicken, which should be presented with feathers intact. They can also be given fresh killed squirrel, rabbit, and beef. They do not eat much during the summers, but make up for it during the winters. They also require special medicine and vaccine doses. A normal dose of sedative given to other domestic pets while declawing can kill them. It would be good for their health if they have their claws, or if the owner has made the decision to declaw them, only the front claws should be removed. Their canines should never be removed. Otherwise, the owner has to cut the food into small bits in order to feed them, as they would not be able to eat a whole chicken without their canines.

Other than their playtime they can be kept in a two-cage home which is fourteen feet tall and twenty-four feet wide and which is connected by a six-foot walkway. The cage in which they are kept should have ramps, platforms, toys so as to keep them occupied. Some are really affectionate and like to lick the face of their owner, but again be ready for their tongue, which feels more like sandpaper. The trained ones even sleep with their owners, but the owner should get habituated to their loud purring. They also get up early in the morning like five and start playing, which means that they will start playing in the bed itself. They play really hard putting in all their energy.

Bobcats also have a liking towards water and they like it especially when it rains. If there are puddles, there is a high chance of the entire house getting messed up. Other than keeping the toilet seat down, also no container filled with water should be left unattended. When they roam around in the house, it is a really bad idea to do the dishes or mop the floor. Bobcats are good with people whom they are familiar with, they get very anxious when guest drop in. At such times, they are better kept in the cage. They become motionless; they hide and remain scared till the stranger leaves their territory. And when the guests leave they come out and sniff all around till they are content.

Owners wouldn’t be able to go out on long vacations or even party out on weekends, by leaving the animals alone at home. If a babysitter is appointed, care must be taken that it shouldn’t be stranger, but a friend whom the pets are familiar with. When owners start to realize that they have got more responsibility than they had asked for, they start thinking of giving up the pet by either releasing them in the wild, which is extremely dangerous, or give them to someone else. In the later situation, bobcats find it extremely difficult to trust and bond with its new owner. Some states in United States and even other countries it is illegal to keep a bobcat as a pet.

The striking pattern of clouded leopard outdoes all other patterns, stripes, spots and shades. It can be better explained as marble blotches and hence, clouded leopard is sometimes called marbled cat. No one blotch is similar and the larger ones are more beautiful when compared to the smaller ones. Clouded animals are on the verge of extinction and the Endangered Species Act has been passed for them. Some states even say that it is illegal to keep them as pets and even in states where they are allowed, they come for a huge price.

There is major difference between weight of males and females. The males weigh up to sixty pounds where as the females weigh thirty pounds. Since the natural habitats of these animals are found on high altitudes, they have a long, thick and furry tail. They have the longest canine teeth among the cat family. The structure of the body in front is compressed and powerful. Clouded leopards have short but muscular legs with huge front paws.

Since the animal comes from the mountainous region, it is very found of climbing. Its cage should be built at least ten feet high and it would be even better if trees are provided within the captivity. Climbing trees and reaching great height is a must exercise for them to satisfy their psychological needs. But extra care must be taken when they are outdoors and on trees because if they escape they are very quick and difficult to catch. The cage can also be equipped with hanging toys, which they can leap to reach. Other than that other toys can be included.

Clouded leopards can be fed with fresh chicken, pigeons, chunks of beef, rabbits, rats and even with fresh blood. Before consuming the food it does a ritual which aids their digestion process. They have a very unique way of hunting it prey. The prey is killed first, after which the clouded leopard plays with the deceased prey for more than an hour. At the end, it eats its prey. And if a tree is provided in its living habitat, it will take its dead prey up the tree and eat it there. Clouded leopards can make up to forty sounds and have very good vocal chords. They mimic many birds and also monkeys in order to trick them and subsequently kill them. Other than the regular food they should also be given daily vitamins supplements and giblets. Their daily diet should comprise of at least one chicken, a rabbit and a rat.

Clouded leopards make partners for life and bonds very early in life. Unsuccessful attempts are made to breed them by introducing the pair to each other post adolescence which is too late. In order to be successful, the pair should be introduced very early so that they can take time to develop the comfort level and build love. The pair shouldn’t be separated till death, as that will affect both of them immensely. After the birth of the offspring, it can be kept with the mother for six weeks, after which it can be paired with the opposite sex for bonding. If the cub is separated earlier than that, it can be fed with bottled milk, which also helps to develop a relationship with the owner.

In zoos, too, these animals shouldn’t be exposed a lot to the public, which drags them into extreme stress and eventually untimely death. Also they shouldn’t be transferred frequently and separated from their partners after a certain age.

Raccoons are sometimes called the masked animals because of the black fur near their eyes which resembles a bandit’s mask. Their fur is usually of the colors white, black, grey and brown. They can be found in major parts of North America and Europe. Their native habitats are deciduous and mixed forests.

They have five long fingers on each limb which help them in easily opening latches, boxes, jars, open trash cans and turn knobs. There prints have great resemblance to human baby’s handprints. Raccoon’s tracks are found mostly on mud near water, where they usually wander in search of food. Their body weight can vary from six to thirty-five pounds and the length of their body can vary from twenty-four to thirty-six inches. Their bushy tail measures up to ten centimeters and has an alternate coloring of white and black. The black circle around their eyes, make them look mischievous and give them an image of a thief. That is substantiated by the fact that they are often sighted in urban areas stealing human garbage or eating other pet animal’s food.

Raccoons are omnivorous and apart from eating nut, berries, corn, mice, human garbage they also eat fish, shellfish, salamanders, egg, bird, frog, insects and amphibians. They have a habit of washing their food before consuming it, especially those who live in captivity. Pet raccoons can also be fed with cat food, as they enjoy it very much. A female raccoon gives birth to four to five offspring at a time. Raccoons mate in January or February and following by birth in April or May. They don’t hibernate in winter, but do become inactive.

Besides rabies, raccoons can also be the carriers of parvovirus, canine distemper, and roundworm. Nearly thirty-eight percent cases of rabies are a result of raccoon bites, in United States. If any unknown raccoon is spotted in the locality at daytime, the local health department should be contacted immediately. Raccoons show no sign of rabies and their body fluids will have the virus if they are infected.

It is illegal to keep raccoons as pet in majority of states of America because of the reason that they are carrier of rabies which could risk human life. In states where they are permitted, special exotic pet permit should be taken. Orphans raccoons which are rescued from the forest have a higher risk of being rabies carriers. They should not only be vaccinated, but also tamed. Raccoons can be bought from special breeders who would have taken care of everything before hand because taming a raccoon is a really tough job. They have really wild instincts which require thorough and strenuous training.

They have a natural tendency to bite, contaminate the food of other animals by excreting in it and are nocturnal. All these weird habits of raccoons require complete dedication of time and hard work. They can be even made to sleep at night. But raccoons held in captivity face health problems like obesity and develop a strange diet. The problem aggravates due to lack exercise. As they are omnivorous, they should be also fed with non-veg. diet, which is difficult for people who are vegetarian. When people make decision of keeping raccoons as pets, they should be ready to keep it forever, because captive raccoons face lots of dangers when released in the wild.

Servals are African wild cats and are also known as Leptailurus Serval. Its most distinctive features are the tall oval ears which are placed very closely to each other. It is mostly found in African countries such as Ethiopia, Benin, Tanzania, Mozambique, Congo, Angola, Togo, Uganda, Transvaal, and Algeria. Spread all over Africa, they are found where water can be found.

The average length of the body of a serval is about thirty-four inches and the tail is about sixteen inches long. It can live from twelve years to twenty years. Its weight can range from twenty to forty four pounds. It tawny fur has a pattern of round black spots. Some even have freckled spots. Servals have melanin in their skin which sometimes gives them the appearance of a black panther. A kind of serval is known to exist with white fur and grayish silver spots.

Servals which have high melanin content can be found in the mountains, while the rest belong to the savannas, bush lands, marshlands, grasslands, reed beds marsh, bamboo forests and open woodlands. It is not habituated to live in desert, semi-desert areas and its habitat should have a water body. Since its environment should have water and trees around, it also has the ability to swim and climb trees, when required. The servals have the longest legs among the cats, when the body and leg ratio is considered. Apart from having long ears, it also has long neck which helps it to see its prey when it is hiding in tall grass. The ears are so sharp that they can track rodents which are moving underground. It increases concentration while listening, by closing its eyes.

Before pursing its prey, it pauses for few minutes and listens to the animal’s movements. Serval relies on its hearing rather than its visuals. It has a characteristic hop which makes it easier to catch birds. They have terrific leaping and pouncing abilities. They can jump as high as ten feet and can make a precise jump from even as far as three to twelve feet. They can even dig burrows and look for rodents deep in the ground. With all these qualities, serval is a very good hunter. It feeds mainly on rodents apart from eating bird, fish, frog, insects, hare, reptiles and hyraxes. Servals eat their catch really fast and sometimes when the prey is big, it throws out the food as it gets stuck in its throat and chokes it. They hunt at mid-night and early morning.

When kept in captivity, everyday they need to be served with one to three pounds of raw meat with bones. Care should be taken that the meat shouldn’t be cooked. Apart from that, they can also be given premium natural cat food, beef, turkey, chicken, canned tuna, and canned salmon. No exotic pets can be trained to use the letterbox properly, but this habit can vary from animal to animal. Owners who don’t have time to devote to train a serval, shouldn’t go for one. Even after thorough training, the pet does develop undesirable bathroom habits. Pet servals have a fascination for water, so its better if the toilet lid is closed at all times.

The pregnancy period of female serval lasts for nearly three months. At a time, the female can give birth to two or three cubs. Very rarely, even five cubs are born at a time. They are brought up behind shrubs or even in abandoned burrows.

Because of the human interference with the natural habitats of servals, they are decreasing in number. They are diminishing in numbers because of large scale hunting for their fur. That is the reason why they have been given the endangered species tag and are being protected in many nations. They are classified as exotic pets which are not threatened with extinction but will be, if their hunting is brought to an end. They have now become rare in the Sahara and almost extinct in the South African Cape.

Skunks are famous for their ability to produce foul smelling odor to defend a prey. These mammals belong to the Mephitidae family. Eleven species of skunks are known. The types of species can be divided into four in general: Spilogale or spotted skunks, Mydaus or stink badgers, Conepatus or hog-nosed skunks, and Mephitis or stripped and hooded skunks. Skunks are found in North America, South America, Canada, Philippines and Indonesia.

Lengthwise they vary from forty centimeters to seventy centimeters and in weight they vary from one pound to ten pounds. They have front claws which help them to dig easily and have short muscular legs, which go with their reasonably long striped body. Commonly, their fur is of white and black colors, but there are skunks with gray, brown and cream colored fur. Skunks are stripped from birth. A thick stripe runs from their tail to the top of their head. Some many have two thin strips, broken strips or white spots. Some Skunks legs are also stripped.

Some countries have laws about keeping skunks as pets. It is legal to have a skunk as a pet in United States. Usually mephitis species are preferred pets as they are very social. Before selling a skunk, the pet retailers remove the scent glands of skunks. They are supposed to live longer in captivity when compared to living in wild. Their lifespan is from ten to twenty years. It’s usual with Pilgrims and European settlers, in United States, to keep skunks as pets.

Skunks feed on both plants and animal and hence are omnivorous. Coming to animals they eat insects, earthworms, lizards, frogs, rodents, salamanders, snakes, moles, birds and eggs. When they cannot find meat, they feed on wild fruits and seeds. Some skunks even feed on garbage, in urban areas.

Skunks are crepuscular animals. Skunks stay aloof when not breeding, but stay in communal dens in the winters. They do not hibernate in the winters, but become inactive and do not eat much. They live in burrows dug by them or man made pits or natural pits, depending on their necessities and situation. In winter, a huddle with one male and nearly twelve female live a den. They use the same den, every year in the winter.

Skunks have superb hearing and smelling sense. But their vision is not good. They can not see clearly more than three meters and that is the reason why most skunks are killed in road accidents. According to a study, nearly fifty percent skunks die due to road traffic and not more than ten percent cross three years of life.

Skunks have the ability to carry rabies. Almost thirty one percent of them are infected with it, but all the human rabies cases result from dog and bat bites. Before keeping them as pets, they should be vaccinated to avoid any mishaps. And incase, a skunk bites certain measures should be taken. Clean the wound thoroughly with antibacterial solution and water. If the wound is bleeding, apply ice pack or pressure to stop it. Emergency service should be called immediately. After getting to the doctor, insists on taking a tetanus shot. Try to catch the skunk, either dead or alive, so that it won’t spread rabies to others in the neighborhood. Also test can be performed to determine whether the skunk had rabies or not.

Sugar gliders are marsupials belonging to Indonesia, Australia and New Guinea. They are small gliding possums and weight up to three to five ozs. They have a silky fur of the colour pearl grey with patches of colors cream and black. The black colour is usually on their ears and end of the tail. They are named sugar gliders because they are able to glide because of the patagium or the skin membrane which connects first toe of the hind foot with the fifth finger of the forelimb, on either side. They expand them to create an aerodynamic plane to glide from one tree to another.

Sugar gliders have the habit of nibbling on each other, and this shouldn’t be confused with biting. They nibble to do many things like testing food, to show affection, force, groom, etc. Babies initially are taught by biting. When they are angered, they get aggressive and bite really hard. So, new owners should be alert until the pets becomes familiar and stops biting. Care should be taken that this biting shouldn’t turn into a habit. Incase, if it turns into a regular behavior, the animal should be held firmly when it bites, so that it cannot move and gets tired of crabbing. Although this takes a long time the pet will eventually get over its natural instinct. The animal must submit to the owner and it shouldn’t be given the feeling it has won. He should also be released very slowly; otherwise it will bite again and flee. Also, they can be fed with some food, to appreciate their discipline when they start learning. They also become comfortable with humans, when they eat in front of them. Usually female sugar gliders are tough to tame, especially those which come directly from the wild.

Sugar gliders come from a very rough environment. They are basically hunting animals. So they should be provided with a rich environment so that they don’t get disturbed mentally. The cage should be very big so that they can leap freely. Small cages hinder the health of the animal. They are also very active and need exercise. Their cage should be equipped with toys like exercise wheels with a diameter of eleven inches. They are also very inquisitive animals, so new things like cardboard boxes, should be introduced in their cage from time to time to prevent boredom. The food can also be placed in different places to keep them on their heels. Food can also be hidden in branch holes, which they can dig out.

The cage of sugar gliders should be cleaned every week to ensure their hygiene. The urine should be spot cleaned as the ammonia in it can be very harmful to the respiratory system of sugar gilders. Also the moisture can encourage the growth of harmful fungus. If the cage isn’t cleaned for a long time, not only will the occupants become sick but also the house will be filled with odor. Some precautions should be taken while cleaning the cage and also it should be sprayed with disinfectant so as to kill the germs and bacteria.

Sugar gliders are habituated to living in groups. That is the reason why they are never kept alone as pets, as this will adversely affect their health. It also requires attention from humans around it. They cling onto each other when they sleep, so as to keep warm. They communicate with each other by squeaking, crabbing, chirping and barking. They have a good memory and can retain a grudge against a human after receiving harm from him, even if it was caused by accident.

Females have the ability to beget offspring every seven to ten months. They give birth to a baby sugar glider after sixteen days of pregnancy, which usually weighs only 0.2 grams. After the birth, the baby shifts to the mother’s pouch, where it stays for seventy days and feeds on milk from the nipples. Both the mother and father have equal participation of bringing up their offspring.

Tigers are felines which are extremely popular among pet lovers who have immense passion for exotic animals. At the same time they are also the most dangerous of all the exotic pets. In the first place, it is really difficult to get a permit for them to be kept as pets. And even if the owner gets the permit, they have to face other issues like finance, responsibility, threats, and regulatory issues so much so that even the local inspector drops by every now and then to inspect the animal and the living conditions provided by the owner. Although owing a tiger sounds impressive but it is more like building castle on clouds.

Potential owners shouldn’t get turned down, but they should very well understand the challenges they have to undergo during the whole process. They should work as a volunteer at a zoo which has adult tigers to understand in depth about what they are going to do.

Cubs usually like to cuddle and sleep with humans around. They can be fed with milk bottles like a human baby. They need to be taken out for a walk, frequently. They won’t complain if the owners keep other pets along with them. Tigers like to play wild games around the house. They attack a piece of furniture multiple times and drag them from one corner to other, because of their wild instincts of hunting. They will get companionship and would enjoy playing with each other, inside the house as well as outside. Problem arises only when the tiger outgrows other pets, as they start biting and attacking the weaker one. They should not only be moved out of the house, but also will require a bigger cage, if a smaller cage was built earlier. The expense for building a larger cage will be huge. When they grow, they need to be shifted to a cage which is at least eighty-seven feet long and thirty-feet tall. A small swimming pool should also be built for them, which they can enjoy in the scorching sun.

But when they grow, they become very heavy and the owner finds it difficult to take it outside for a walk as he will find it impossible to manage the leash with the animal’s weight on it. The animals will then begin to miss out the freedom and will sometimes get aggressive and start roaring a lot. To keep them occupied, the owner can place things strategically, so that the animal gets involved in the activity of sniffing out things and food. They can be given toys to play with, but they won’t last for long and should be replaced by new ones frequently. They even throw the toys outside their cage, which the owner should get it back for him to play again. When the owner leaves the house, even for a while, the animals should be securely tied within the cage. There are chances that they can break open and attack humans in the neighborhood.

After the passage of eighteen months, tigers shed their baby teeth and grow four inches canines. That’s when most of the owners freak out because although till then they had tamed the animal, but the wild predator will always dwell in the animal. The owners no longer go inside the cage to feed the animal, and even if they do, they carry a pepper spray along with them. Special protective measures should be taken to ensure the safety of people not only in the house, but around the house as well.

One of the most hectic parts is cage keeping. There are chances of algae growth which requires lot of scrubbing and water. The old hay should be thrown out, which makes really big pile and not to forget animal waste. The water in the swimming pools should also be replaced often. As they are fed with whole animals, the remains accumulate which should be cleaned as they will start decaying. Especially during the summers, maggots grow rapidly if even one cage cleaning schedule is missed.

Bengal cats are a hybrid variety of cats, which are very homely and friendly by nature with a very wild look. They are also very intelligent and alert. Along with being friendly, they are very good at sports. Their distinct features are markings such as spots and rosette. It has very close resemblance to the Asian Leopard Cat and from its taxonomic name was the word ‘Bengal’ derived.

Bengals have an average build. Males weigh up to fifteen pounds and females weigh up to ten pounds. The horizontal lines on the side of their face, which starts from the end of their eyes and go up to the back of their neck, are known as mascara. Their bodies have spotting which is usually rosette or some even have a marbled coat pattern. Bengals with spots, with more than one color, are the ones, which are more in demand. The color of spots varies from rust to chocolate brown to cocoa to gray and black. Their tail, hind legs and fore limbs has symmetrical stripes. Bengals cats win championships in most of the competitions held to award the most exotic pet because of their looks, intelligence and friendly nature.

Bengals are a result of years of selective crossbreeding techniques. Jean Mill of United States developed Bengals in 1970s. They are a hybrid breed created from crossing other breeds of domestic cats like American shorthair, Egyptian maus, ocicat, Abyssinian and other shorthaired pet cats. Basically, they originated by crossing small Asian Leopard cat or ALC and domestic cats. This gives them the wild and exotic look with a friendly nature. Breeders are still working all over the globe to develop more qualities in this breed. The foundation generations of the filial are the first three generations of Bengals. Most of the males of these generations didn’t have the ability to reproduce, where as the females were. After the fifth generation, they were no longer crossbred; instead breeding was done between two Bengal cats.

Presently there are three kinds of Bengal cats available as pets, the Cheetoh, the Toyger, and the Serengeti cat. The Cheetoh are hybrid cats derived by crossing Ocicat and Bengal, to get a breed of spotted cats. The Toyger are hybrid cats, which are produced by crossing domestic pets that results in a cat with stripes. The Serengeti cat has been produced by crossing Siamese or Oriental cats to get a cat that looks like an African Serval.

Based on their patterns they can be named as brown marbled tabby, brown spotted tabby, seal mink marbled tabby, seal mink spotted tabby, seal sepia marbled tabby, seal sepia spotted tabby, seal marbled lynx point, and seal spotted lynx point. Other than the mentioned colors, they also come in blue, grey, and black, but still yet to get recognition across the world in these colors.

Unlike other domestic cats, Bengals get fascinated with running water and are easy to bathe. They get attracted to tap water, shower and instantly jump inside the tub. They are also trained to vocalize so as to interact with their owners. They are good with sports and play hide and seek and also learn games very well. Young ones need human attention and can be bonded with by playing for at least an hour during the day and evening. They are attention seekers and always try to be involved in human activities. They follow their owners, but do not like to be placed on laps. People who have made their minds to keep Bengals as pet should be aware that they have to spend lots of time with the cat, otherwise it will get bored. And if the cat gets bored it can get frustrated and can trouble a lot. They have a very high energy level, which they need to let out, that can only be done by keeping them occupied with activities. Owners who do not have time to spare should certainly keep Bengals in pairs, so that they can play with each other. But both the Bengals should be given equal attention, otherwise the neglected one tends to become envious of the other.