Woman stops to help bobcat, gets bitten

By Hum
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Grand Master

Memphis

Posted
Posted

Yes, in principle you can raise bobcat kittens as pets, but you can't fully trust them because they're still a wild animal at heart - no different than raising a wolf cub they can turn on you in a heartbeat. That's why in most states it's illegal or very tightly regulated.

"Great pets"? No. Go get a Maine Coon if you want a big kitty - they think they're dogs anyhow.

Please, none of the owners I have met have had them turn on anyone, that said I have heard stories of them hurting little kids so that's a worry. But for single person looking for a bigger cat, their track record of not turning on the owner is far far superior to any other exotic cat.

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Grand Master

DocM

Posted
Posted

For the record; 29 states have bans on owning wild felines and 14 states require a special license, some of each having both as grandfather provisions, so it seems the safety factor isn't so cut and dried.

I'm sure some people think they have control of the situation & animal, but they only think they do. Wild felines, including bobcat and lynx, can become territorial and have severe mood swings out of the blue. Their diet can also be a problem as just raw meats or kitty food isn't enough and they can become constipated. This brings up another problem: how do you take an illegal animal to the vet? If you find one disreputable enough not to report it, are they really qualified to treat exotics in the first place?

Wild felines belong in the wild or registered facilities, period.

Grand Master

Memphis

Posted
Posted

For the record; 29 states have bans on owning wild felines and 14 states require a special license, some of each having both as grandfather provisions, so it seems the safety factor isn't so cut and dried.

I'm sure some people think they have control of the situation & animal, but they only think they do. Wild felines, including bobcat and lynx, can become territorial and have severe mood swings out of the blue. Their diet can also be a problem as just raw meats or kitty food isn't enough and they can become constipated. This brings up another problem: how do you take an illegal animal to the vet? If you find one disreputable enough not to report it, are they really qualified to treat exotics in the first place?

Wild felines belong in the wild or registered facilities, period.

The owners I know just need a tattoo tag and a permit here. The big cat scare is legitimate in many circumstances, but I don't think it is with bobcats for the most part. Remember ferrets were illegal pets to until the early 1990 and still are in some states.

Grand Master

DocM

Posted
Posted

I've seen them attack, kill and feed off a >100 lb. doe, and even take on a prairie wolf with ease. Wish I had a dollar for every one that tried to get our livestock. Those instincts are always there, but while domestic cats have been bred for docility for 5,000+ years bobcat and lynx have not. Flip the wrong switch and you're in the house with, essentially, a small mountain lion.

Grand Master

Memphis

Posted
Posted

I've seen them attack, kill and feed off a >100 lb. doe, and even take on a prairie wolf with ease. Wish I had a dollar for every one that tried to get our livestock. Those instincts are always there, but while domestic cats have been bred for docility for 5,000+ years bobcat and lynx have not. Flip the wrong switch and you're in the house with, essentially, a small mountain lion.

Oh IM not saying their just Luke a house cat, just that the differences are about as substantial when raised from birth as a rottweiler vs a calm breed.

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