It is truly a wonderful experience as well.
That tail is something else. It is so long and thick. When he gets running around and playing, I have been hit in the face with that tail
Thank you for the kind words
Originally Posted by AmberThe Bobcat
I know this is going to sound gross to many of you, but I got the BIG kids a treat for tonight. I got them frozen ratsWhole prey food, the best they can get. Of course, the rats will be served thawed. Hmmm, should I take some pictures of this for all to see
Well, they sure did love their treat...playing with them like it was a new toyOriginally Posted by kateyes
I bet they loved their treat!
Well, for the bobcats, it is pretty difficult to step on their tails because they are so short. As for the cougar, his tail is very long and I have not stepped on it, but yesterday it got shut in the door as he was coming inside from being out in the enclosure. His tail is so long, that you see him inside the house and yet 5 inches of his tail is still outside. Well, it was the screen door, so he did not get injured, thank God. He did yell, that was all and he looked at me like::censor::censor::censor:: I felt bad that I did that. Do they get aggressive? Yes, they can, but this usually happens when they play. When you play with these guys, you have to know when to stop or they can get overly stimulated and get quite feisty. With Boris, he doesn't really do this, but Amber is another story. They will let you know when they are getting a little crazy. I just stop and walk away. 5 minutes later, they are back to normal. They key here is this. When you see them getting very excited, you stop. That way, you never cross that threshold. With the cougar, he wants to play rough all the time, this is normal. Sort of like a puppy. You always use a toy to play with him, never your arms, legs, hands or any other body part. They will learn that these items are not for playing with or biting. Also, what you do not want him to do when he is an adult, you do not do with him now, such as wrestle or let him chase you. Yes, he would love to wrestle with me, but I do not let him. I will sit on the floor with him and he will come and sit on my lap. I always have a large toy for him and he knows to bite and chew on the toy. Have I ever been bitten? Yes, by Amber during play, but it was an accident. I went to pick up a toy at the exact same time SHE wanted the toy. I got the toy and she got my hand. After I cleaned it, Amber groomed my hand as if to say, I'm sorry. I have not been bitten by Boris, Nakoma or Carmelo cougar.
Amber and Boris do sleep on the bed, but usually close to your feet. Nakoma lives outside in an enclsoure, so I am not sure if he would sleep with us or not. Carmelo cougar however, is a bed hog
Yes they do
Yes they can however, I normally don't let anyone handle or touch them, unless they are another exotic cat owner or friends who have been around the cats since they were kittens. I never let any strangers come into contact with them as well. I am not saying that they would be mean or agressive to anyone, but I never take chances. ANY animal can be aggressive around other people they are not familiar with. I am sure many people who own domestic cats or dogs can agree with this.
It took them a while, the main reason was due to their different scent. They have a different scent than a domestic cat, so our domestics were like, what the heck is THAT thing. They look like a cat, even though they have a short tail, but they smell weird
Hmmm, good question. That was his name who the original owner gave him. I was going to change it, since the original owner abused this poor guy, but I really liked the name. So, I kept it as as.
The bobcats have very soft fur, especially the fur that hangs down the side of their face. With the cougar, his fur isn't rough, but it is more course than the bobcats and not as soft.
Yes, the bobcats and domestics will groom each other. However, they will not groom the cougar. The cougar will groom himself, but that is it. The cougar doesn't groom himself as much as the other cats will. When he is done eating, he will prefer to wipe his feet on the scratching post instead of licking them
Yes, Aurora is THE queen and king of the house...really. Aurora is a 14 pound female domestic Pixie Bob and she let's you know who is boss.
No problem. If you have more I am more than happy to answer
My gosh, she can be a real brat at times. You should see her at feeding time. I have 2 large dog bowls filled with their food to feed 5 domestic cats. Well, Aurora will be eating out of one and the other 4 will be at the other one. Aurora will even yell at our 16 year old when she tries to eat. Of course only after she is done eating, can the others eat out of HER bowl
Yes, for the most part. However, cougars are lazy and will pee right where they are sleeping. Sort of like a kid who wets the bed
Oh boy! I hope you don't have to deal with that often. Meeka, being whole, will pee just about anywhere that pleases her. At least she spares our bed! My fiance is pretty tolerant, but he'd have her booted out in short order if she did it on the bed...Originally Posted by AmberThe Bobcat
Yes, for the most part. However, cougars are lazy and will pee right where they are sleeping. Sort of like a kid who wets the bedSo, to protect our bed, I have to have a plastic tarp on top of all OUR blankets on the bed. On top of that, I have an old blanket that Carmelo sleeps on. That way, if he does go, it is on his blanket only and that can be washed easy. When he is awake, he will go in the box. But heck, why not just go where you are sleeping so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night
Well, the bed is covered, so the only thing that gets wet is HIS blanket. He has his own bedroom too, for when I want a good nights sleep and his own bed. Yep, he pees on that one too, but that one is covered as well. Our female bobcat Amber, will have her moments when she will spray, even though she is spayed. That's just how these guys are. However, she will spray in the same areas, so I have those areas covered with plastic as well. These are just some of the adjustments you need to make with exotics
She heard that and says...you bet I am
Oh Aurora....from all you've said she is one heck of a character. I mean she pushes around a few bobcats and cougars, and still manages to look gorgeous. Tough job!Originally Posted by AmberThe Bobcat
Aurora will pee on the floor if she has too much catnip
Yes and she is my girlOriginally Posted by Renny
Oh Aurora....from all you've said she is one heck of a character. I mean she pushes around a few bobcats and cougars, and still manages to look gorgeous. Tough job!
