Our EXOTIC furbabies

Gosh they are so gorgeous!! They all look so happy and content-oh yeah and spoiled!!

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I think they are too spoiled and are starting to take advantage of it

I don't think its possible for Carmelo to get any more adorable.

So I just spent the last hour going through every page in this thread. Awesome. I really can't think of another word. Carmelo is something else, he really is. Just going through this page I feel like I have a bond with him You really know your stuff. And I thought I was going to be hardcore because my upcoming bengal is going to have some asian leopard blood I don't mean to pry, but what do you do for a living? I can imagine that taking care of ONE exotic can be quite expensive, let alone 4!

Hi, John! Just catching up with the "kitties". (Hadn't read anything since my auto accident in April.)

Ari just stampeded through our small house and I was just imagining if he was Carmelo's size. Makes me glad I don't have a cougar cub.!

Give everyone a skritch from me!!

If you were able to get the land do you think that you would do and exotic rescue?

I also want to say you changed my mind on owning exotics. I can see how much these guys are loved.

Oh what a bunch of cuties they are, I would never get anything done if I had those bigole babies. Well I don't get anything done even with what I have,,,there Beautiful

Originally Posted by HelloEvo

So I just spent the last hour going through every page in this thread. Awesome. I really can't think of another word. Carmelo is something else, he really is. Just going through this page I feel like I have a bond with him

You really know your stuff. And I thought I was going to be hardcore because my upcoming bengal is going to have some asian leopard blood

I don't mean to pry, but what do you do for a living? I can imagine that taking care of ONE exotic can be quite expensive, let alone 4!

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Thank you for the kind words Well, I think you will have your hands full with you bengal. From what I understand, they can be quite mischievous themselves As for a living, I am a police/fire/911 dispatcher for 2 cities. My wife works in a nursing home. Actually, the biggest cost comes from caging materials and as with most pets, veterinary care. Carmelo, as well as with the bobcats, needs a very strong enclosure for him, when he goes outside. You can not just tie them out on a leash in your yard. The food cost is not as costly as one might think. Since I feed an all raw meat diet, the cost of chicken and even beef, when I find it on sale, is usually less per pound, than most high quality commercial domestic cat foods. If you find a meat packing business, you can get this meat for a lot lower than what you can find at any store. However, Carmelo now eats about 3 chicken leg quarters per day and with the bobcats, there is an additional 6-8 chicken legs and 1 or 2 leg quarters per day. So, that is a lot of chicken. There is also the cost of the vitamin supplements, but when I buy the vitamins, it lasts for a few months. Of course, there is also your time, which owning these guys takes a lot of. But, I love it. For me and my wife, it is such a joy sharing our lives with these magnificent animals.

Give everyone a skritch from me!!

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Skritches and kisses were given By the way, how are you feeling now? Hope all is going well for you!!

If you were able to get the land do you think that you would do and exotic rescue?

I also want to say you changed my mind on owning exotics. I can see how much these guys are loved.

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Yes, I would love to have a small rescue facilty. Not overly large, because once you get too big, I feel the animals do not get the good attention they so much deserve. It could also be used as a temporary home, where they could stay until a good responsible loving owner could be found. I am so happy that after you read this forum, that you have changed your thinking on exotic animal ownership That is another reason why I have this here, as an educational tool. It is my goal to support 100%, responsible exotic animal ownership. But, I want anyone who has the desire, to realize just what it takes to do so. I want people to see just what it takes; all the hard work, time, sacrifices and above all, responsibility. This is actually true for ALL animals, whether exotic or domestic. But with exotics, it is so very important that no mistakes are made. That the animal has the very best care and that you do not own it to be a show off, as a toy, or to attract attention from others. The welfare of the animal is very important, as well as the safety of the public.

Oh what a bunch of cuties they are, I would never get anything done if I had those bigole babies. Well I don't get anything done even with what I have,,,there Beautiful

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I hear ya!! That is why our house looks like a tornado has just gone through it many times

I wanted to post this clip from a news article I read. The reason is simple. In all cases where stupid ban laws on exotics are introduced, the lousy AR (Animal Rights) groups ALWAYS use statistics on how many people are killed or injured by captive animals. In ALL cases, their numbers are nothing but pure lies. Here are real statistics showing how many people are killed by WILD cougars. As you will see, the death rate to humans by wild cougars is next to nothing. The same holds true for captive cougars. In fact, there has not been a case of a captive cougar killing anyone. I am not saying that owning these animals does not take a great deal of responsibilty, care and is for everyone. It is not for everyone, but only for someone willing to give up a great deal of their time and money for the welfare of the animals and for the safety of the public. I just wanted to post these true statistics, to prove that these animals pose no real threat to humans. All these so called dangers are as always, much exaggerated. Here is the article

Mountain lion threat to humans exaggerated
By M.J. SMITH


Sunday, June 25, 2006 7:37 PM PDT
BULLHEAD CITY - Though the large cat with many names has received a level of
notoriety as a threat to humans, people are more likely to be killed by wild
deer, lightning, bees or domestic dogs<--(Yes, domestic dogs are more dangerous and have caused more deaths and injuries than exotic cats in captivity) than the illusive mountain lion,
according to statistics.

While it may seem like the tawny colored cats are often stealing the
limelight with their ferocious antics, since 1890, the cougar has been credited with
only 15 verified human attacks in California, where more than half the state
is prime mountain lion habitat, according to the California Department of
Fish and Game.
“On the list of daily dangers faced by Californians, cougars are but a
footnote,” a representative of the Mountain Lion Foundation said. “In the last
100 years, only 14 fatal cougar attacks occurred on the entire North American
continent. In that time, more than 15,000 people were killed by lightning,
4,000 by bees, 10,000 by deer and 1,300 by rattlesnakes.”

I would post the entire article, but it is quite long. This was the most important part As for the part about domestic dogs being more dangerous, I do NOT support any type of ban on domestic dog ownership. This was just to point out that, even though domestic dogs have caused more deaths and injuries, exotic cats in captivity, are the ones being banned from private ownership. This is wrong!! Owning ANY animal takes responsibilty, whether exotic or domestic.

i'm still not sure i believe people should own exotics, but you have made me reconsider my position, which was before simply "absolutely not".

any new pics of your furbabies? how's Carmelo doing?

ETA - is Aurora part Maine Coon?

Okay, yet another stupid question John. Does the vet visit you or do they visit the vet?
How do you transport them?

Originally Posted by arcadian girl

i'm still not sure i believe people should own exotics, but you have made me reconsider my position, which was before simply "absolutely not".

any new pics of your furbabies? how's Carmelo doing?

ETA - is Aurora part Maine Coon?

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Well, people should be allowed to own exotics, but not everyone should own them. You must do your homeowrk well before you decide to live with such an animal and you must be 100% dedicated to provide the proper care for such an animal for it's entire life. I know not everyone will agree that the cats I own, should be owned. That is their free opion. However, at no time, should their opinion ever prevent me from owning my cats. It is my right to do so. In other words, if someone feels that people should not own exotics, they push for laws banning such ownership. That is wrong. For instance, I HATE SUV's and feel the majority of people do not know how to handle such a large vehicle. However, I would never push for laws banning such ownership. I feel that people who do own them, should have to pass a special test to get a license to drive one, much in the same way a person who drives a large tractor trailer truck or "semi" needs to get a CDL endorsement. I have a license to own my cats and I also took a course on exotic (wild) feline husbandry. I belong to a few different exotic animal organizations as well. I have owned cats all my life. In the long run, it boils down to this. There will never be a time when people all agree on the same thing. What one person does, others may feel is stupid or wrong. Everyone is free to have that opinion. However, at no time, should their opinion affect or take away anyone's rights as long as, what that person does or is doing, is not a risk of causing great harm to people or the environment. Owning exotics does NOT fall under this category. I hope I made myself clear. I just want you to know, that I am in no way mad or angry at your post
As for the pic's, I have a few, but have not had the time to take a lot. I will try to get more posted soon. Carmelo, he is doing great and growing like a bad weed I was able to weigh him a couple days ago. He is quite the big boy at 93 pounds now.
Aurora is a Pixie Bob. She is a domestic and as the legend of this breed goes, she is part bobcat. However, this has not been proven. I have 4 Pixie Bobs as well and 1 Siamese mix, Katrina, whom we adopted from a shelter at the age of 10. She is now 16

Okay, yet another stupid question John. Does the vet visit you or do they visit the vet?
How do you transport them?

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No question is ever stupid I have always taken them to the vet. However, now that Carmelo is getting to be much larger, my vet may have to come out here. She does make house calls, she makes visits for people who have livestock. However, if she doesn't come out, there are ways to tranport Carmelo. One way, is by using what is known as a squeeze cage. This cage has moveable side walls, that once the cat goes in, move inward, so the cat can not turn around and risk biting the vet. (Just like domestics, they don't like going to the vets office either )You only move the sides inward once at the vets office, not during transport. The cage has large holes, so the vet can reach in and check the cat. Another way is to use a sedative, but I do not like the idea of using this type of drug on my cats. I would only do this, if there was no other choice.

Ok, hold onto your seats. I have a lot of pictures coming right at you
Our girl Amber



Our boy Boris

I'm not done
Our adopted boy, Nakoma

He doesn't like the camera this close



Another good closeup. He is such a handsome boy.

Hi John!! My back is doing better, thank you. Still some pain, but a couple of Aleve and a purr from a kitty or two helps!

Carmelo is 93 pounds? He almost outweighs my niece's daughter. She's 98 lbs and will always be petite, but I know she would love to meet your Carmelo. She loves her cats - just like her Jan-Jan! (My pet name she gave me. )

The article you quoted just reminded me of a story passed down from my Dad's side. My Great great grandfather's oldest brother went to California for the gold rush. At one point he discovered a cougar about to pounce on him and he banged his cooking pans to scare it. He survived that encounter only to be murdered in the mid 1870s.

Yep, even more
Our big baby cougar boy, Carmelo



Carmelo getting a drink of water.

I took this picture, just to give you an idea of just how big Carmelo has gotten. That is my shoe, a size 13 1/2. Carmelo weighs 93 pounds now.

The flourescent light gave this picture a bad color.

Love all the pics. And you can see Carmelo still has his baby spots.

For the Aurora fans. Heeeeeere she is


This is MY paper, you don't get to read it

Aurora, the queen

Ok, this is it for now.
Auora's daughter, Lil Roar.

Hmmm, not so little is she

Hi John!! My back is doing better, thank you. Still some pain, but a couple of Aleve and a purr from a kitty or two helps!

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Glad to hear you are feeling much better. Of course, there is nothing that kitty love and purrs can't help

Love all the pics. And you can see Carmelo still has his baby spots.

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I know, those spots just won't go away

Originally Posted by AmberThe Bobcat

For the Aurora fans. Heeeeeere she is

This is MY paper, you don't get to read it

Aurora, the queen

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I see she has also laid claim to the Fire Mountain Gems catalog! I get them, too, and the local inhabitants say they are comfy!