Caracal Caresheet

Classification: Lynx Caracal
Family: Felidae
Latin: caracal caracal, formerly aka felis caracal
Commmon: Caracal
Origination: North Africa

Size of average adult:

Height: 40-45 cm (16-17 inches) tall at shoulder
Length: 66-76 cm (26-30 inches) head-body length
Weight:

Males: 40-50 lbs.
Females: 30 lbs.

I like to describe the caracal as looking somewhat like a miniature cougar. They have somewhat reddish to beige fur that's basically a solid color, a white spotted underbelly, and black ears with tufts on the ends. They weigh 30 to 50 pounds when full grown. The females are smaller than the males.

Caracals like to "talk". For those of you who have never been around exotics cats, a caracal's hissing can sound extremely aggressive or angry. But hissing is how they talk along with growling, purring, and a few other vocalizations. They actually have different kinds of hisses, with only one or two types that are warning or aggressive. As kittens they have a bird-like sound that's most unusual.

Caracals can be dangerous to small children. While I don't believe a bottle raised caracal intends to hurt a small child, their playful nature would make a toddler great fun to stalk and play with, which could get out of hand and hurt your child. Therefore I do not recommend caracals in households with children under the age of six.

When considering sharing your home with a caracal, remember that these felines possess all the strength, grace and agility of their African and South American cousins. "Proofing" your house accordingly is prudent. This includes unstable furniture and bookshelves, since a caracal can jump as high as 8 feet straight up.

When bottle raised from a kitten, a caracal can get along with other similar sized household pets. However, since they are carnivores, you will most likely find their relationship with any other pets (birds, hamsters, sugar gliders, etc.) that would be natural prey in their native habitat as tasty.

Wild: Birds, rabbits, and other small mammals
Captivity: ZuPreem Feline Diet, Mazuri Small Exotic Feline Diet, raw chicken and turkey

There are many successful ways to feed a caracal in a pet environment. Do your research and pick out what best suits you. I feed my breeding adults once a day. In my breeding environment I feed a variety of foods that include, but are not limited to ZuPreem Feline Diet, a premium brand cat food, raw chicken leg quarters, other raw chicken parts, and raw ground turkey. I will be adding Mazuri Small Exotic Feline Diet in the future.

Sexual maturity: 18 to 24 months
Breeding season: Spring or Fall
Gestation: 70 to 85 days
Litter size: 1 to 6 kittens, average 3

Caracals can breed any time of the year, spring and fall being most common. They can produce between 1-6 kittens. Two or three have been most common here. Caracals can be ready to breed as early as 18 months of age, but two years is more common. Of my two pair of breeding caracals, one pair will breed any time day or night, and we usually see them breeding at least once. My other pair I never see breeding, but Meeko, the male, has an extremely different disposition during the breeding cycle. They will give birth between 70-85 days after breeding.

Bottle-feeding is not necessary to get a great bond with your kitten, but bottling your kitten greatly enhances and facilitates this bonding experience. The younger your kitten is when you officially adopt it, the quicker the bond.

When you bring home your kitten at this early age, be prepared to stimulate it (make it go to the bathroom) either before or after it's meal. You are the "momma" now, and it's your responsibility to see to your new baby's health.

Kittens can be weaned in the 6-12 week range. You will want to get your kitten on to a once- or twice-a-day feeding at about 4 months old.

Start litter training as soon as your kitten starts going to the bathroom on it's own. Caracals litter train somewhat easily, but it's never a good assumption to believe they will be 100% accurate 100% of the time.

Caracals kittens are quite playful and extremely affectionate. Like any other kitten, they like to play with toys and stalk imaginary prey. In order to keep them happy and healthy, you should provide your caracal with plenty of opportunities to play with a variety of toys for mental stimulation and enrichment.

Caracals, like all their feline relatives, also enjoy a good nap.

When raising your kitten, keep in mind that this is a carnivore and a predator. While roughhousing and pouncing are great fun with a six-week-old kitten, these same behaviors can get out of hand as a 40 pound adult. Play gently and never allow mouthing on your person. Use toys for these activities.

I personally recommend de-clawing all four feet. As early as your vet will do this procedure is best, hopefully around five weeks of age. I feel this greatly enhances the quality of life for both you and your kitten since you both can interact together safely. Caracals can unintentionally scratch you during play. Your furniture will be saved as well. De-clawing is, however, a personal choice, and this is simply my recommendation.

I also recommend neuter/spay in a pet setting. This can prevent spraying/marking behavior, and keep you pet the mellow individual it is. Discuss a vaccination and worming schedule with your vet as well.

I recommend that you have some sort of area or enclosure where you can be assured of your baby's safety as well as the safety of your home. How much time is actually spent in this can somewhat determine what size it needs to be. If you have an outdoor enclosure, it needs to have a top on it. There needs to be both shade and sun available. Bigger is always better. Our housing is chain link enclosures that are 12x24 feet and 6 feet high. We use a large plastic doghouse in some of our pens, wood houses in others. When building your enclosure, keep in mind your environment and provide what is necessary for a happy, healthy cat.

Caracals are found in arid to semi-arid woodlands and savannas including scrub areas of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran. Iraq, and nearly all of Africa, especially in areas of north Africa such as Sudan and Ethiopia.

Approximate life span: 15-20 years in captivity.

Other Costs: shipping or pick up, supplies (as kittens and as adults), enclosures (caging), toys, and food. Routine Vet services can include: general health check up, vaccinations, worming, spay/neuter, and de-clawing. Often a vet will charge more for exotic care than domestic animals (cats or dogs).

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Chances are the answers to your questions are found somewhere on our site. There are also questions we ask of you BEFORE we'll answer any inquiries. Please review our site completely, especially our Policies page.

Please remember that the animal health and husbandry information contained on this page is merely what has worked for us. Please realize that we do not claim to know all the answers about each animal, but can only offer you the best information we have based on our experience. This information is not meant to be a substitute for common sense and proper veterinary care. Remember that age, health, sex, metabolism and individual temperament can vary from animal to animal to dictate the proper environmental and nutritional requirements for each individual animal. Please use common sense and monitor your animal's condition daily. If you have questions, please consult your veterinarian directly if the health and welfare of your animal is in question.

This caresheet is just a beginning and is not intended to be your entire education about Caracals. There are so many things to know and talk about that we simply cannot remember to list everything you will need to know. We are also just one opinion, and you should solicit other opinions to see what others think before you make up your mind. It is your responsibility to find out as much as you possibly can BEFORE you decide to buy a Caracal.

For more information on Caracals, you can join free Yahoo! Groups discussion lists at:

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exoticcatbreeds