Caracal

Which particular facets of the caracal pique your interest? Do you want details about their habitat, behavior, or something else entirely?

Characteristics of the breed

* Features of the breed Caracal based on owner reviews and expert evaluations from Usatik.ru. Since the data is average, it might not accurately reflect an individual’s behavior. It is regrettable that it is impossible to consider every single unique feature of a specific pet.

Brief description of the breed

What is the actual country of origin?

When did the breed appear?

How long does it live?

How much does a cat weigh?

How much does a cat weigh?

How tall is the animal?

What is the length of the animal with the tail?

How much does a kitten cost with documents?

What is the price of a kitten without documents?

A caracal cat possesses all the desirable traits of an exotic appearance, cat softness, elegance, and power. Large, erect, pointed ears with rather long dark tassels are this breed’s most distinctive characteristic. In spite of their high cost and upkeep requirements, caracals are growing in popularity among people who enjoy exotic pets.

Video

Caracal

• History of the origin of caracals
• Caracal – breed description
• Popular colors of caracals
• Character and habits of caracals
• Interesting facts about caracals
• Pros and cons of caracals
• Breeding caracals
• Caracal care
• Caracal diet
• Diseases and health problems
• Caracal – price and how to buy correctly

History of the origin of caracals

Nature, not humankind, created the cat caracal breed. These cats’ native regions are the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, and Central Africa (mainly flat areas where the forests go to the steppe).

Interesting fact: Because wool effectively blends in with the surrounding vegetation, animals prefer to live in steppes and savannahs. In the wild, scribbles live in harmony with servals and other felines, but they have a long history of friendly relations with cheetahs.

According to scientists, the region that is now Turkey was the ancestral home of the caracal. Furthermore, the Turkish word "karakal" translates to "black ears." Historical evidence indicates that caracal domestication started in Ancient Babylon (III–IV century before n. e.). Archaeological discoveries of paintings, frescoes, luxury goods, and household items that show these cats with tethered lions and cheetahs are evidence of this.

It is important to remember that caracals are actual predators. The animals have excellent swimming, jumping, and tree-climbing skills. The animal can leap three or even four meters in length at the same time. Due to these characteristics, cats can hunt nearly any animal with ease. Caracals are not averse to hunting small livestock in addition to wild animals. As a result, these cats were eradicated everywhere when humans settled in the steppe regions, which eventually caused the caracal to become a relatively rare species. Thankfully, people realized their mistake early and started conserving these animals by establishing reserves and sanctuaries within their natural habitat.

Due to their ability to adapt to human presence and their domestication, caracals have become highly sought-after pets. Wild kittens do not want to interact with people; instead, they follow the habits of a predator. You could call this a ticking time bomb. You never know what a wild animal is thinking, after all. Thus, buying a caracal from a home nursery would be the best option if you wanted to have one at home.

Frequently disregarded in conversations concerning exotic pets, the caracal is an intriguing untamed feline recognized for its remarkable look and lively disposition. In addition to being extremely attractive, this animal is also very proficient at climbing and hunting thanks to its nimble build and tufted ears. Although they resemble domestic cats in certain ways, caracals need specific attention and the right kind of habitat to survive. We can better appreciate these amazing creatures and emphasize the significance of wildlife conservation by being aware of their needs and behaviors.

Caracal – description of the breed

Caracals are distinguished from other cats by their peculiar appearance—more specifically, their striking likeness to a lynx. On this, zoologists have their own opinions. Given that the caracal resembles a puma more morphologically than a lynx, they contend that this animal has no resemblance to a lynx.

Compared to a lynx, the tail, limbs, and slender body are significantly longer. These cats have a variety of genetic characteristics in addition to their external differences, which helped to distinguish them as a distinct genus. The African serval is the caracal’s closest relative, along with the puma.

The body of a caracal is described by breed standards as being quite long, strong, and muscular. The male can reach a maximum length of 120 cm, while the female can reach a maximum length of 110 cm. Simultaneously, domestic caracals have an average length of no more than 85 cm, a wither height of 30 to 50 cm, a weight of 10 to 20 kg, and a tail length of 20 to 35 cm. Generally speaking, males are larger than females.

The coat of the caracal is light brown or honey in color, and it is short, thick, and soft. The fur on the inside of the paws and belly is lighter, longer, and slightly softer. A cat’s head is usually characterized by its large ears (4-6 cm) and prominent tassels made of hard, dark wool.

There are darker patches under the eyes and on either side of the muzzle. A black stripe runs from the nose to the eyes. The caracal has large eyes with a yellow iris and a dark, nearly black nose. The animal’s long, strong, and slender paws have a type of "brush" that makes moving across sandy terrain in the wild much easier for the animal.

Popular colors of caracals

Breeders of this breed have not yet succeeded in producing a wide range of colors since the caracal first gained popularity as a pet. Thus, the only distinction between the color of the domestic caracal and the wild one is that the former’s fur may be silkier and more glossy. This occurs as a result of the pet being more consistent and varied.

The length of the woolen cover in karacal is 3.5–9 cm. It is fairly dense and thick. These cats’ wool ranges in color from honey or light brown to reddish-brown. The wool is typically longer, softer, and lighter on the inside of the body and shorter, tougher, and darker on the outside.

It is observed that women’s hair generally has a slightly lighter hue than men’s. Males are usually no lighter than sand, but their stomachs can be nearly white at the same time. In the winter, the woolen cover of scales has tougher, longer (3 cm) soil (protective hair), while in the summer, it is softer, shorter (2 cm).

Fascinating fact: The cat’s entire body is painted in a relatively uniform manner, with the exception of the muzzle, tail, and paw tips, which have darker stripes and spots.

The caracal has, shall we say, extraordinary ears. They have long, dark, stiffer fur tassels on top, making them fairly large and wide. Regarding the tassels’ purpose, various theories exist. One of them said that these hair tufts aid in the cats’ ability to blend in with the steppe vegetation when they hunt or to ward off bothersome insects with their muzzles. The most popular explanation is that caracals converse with one another through their tassels.

Character and habits of caracals

Because they were only recently domesticated, caracals still exhibited some of their innate qualities, such as bravery and a love of freedom. Due to domestication, these cats also acquired qualities like tenderness, curiosity, friendship, devotion, and goodwill at the same time.

Fascinating fact: Purchasing a caracal kitten offers a person a great opportunity to have a wonderful and devoted friend, in part because caracals resemble dogs more than cats in terms of behavior and disposition.

It is important to remember that kittens adjust to new homes fairly quickly and effortlessly. It’s critical to remember that these cats are not only big in stature but also highly active. It is therefore impossible to provide them with comfortable living conditions in a small apartment. The ideal setting for these animals would be a big house with a roomy fenced-in backyard or an aviary.

A novice owner of a caracal should be aware of the guidelines for interacting with these creatures. If the owner gives the cat plenty of attention during its upbringing, the cat won’t cause any trouble. The majority of the guidelines for raising caracals are also applicable to raising puppies.

For instance, the animal should be able to recall only a few rules with clarity and distinction:

• Do not chew electrical wires;
• Do not chew shoes;
• Do not jump on the table;
• Do not eat from the owners" plates.

Carakeles don’t meow very often because their primary means of expression are their uterine rumbling (pleasure) and hissing and growling (dissatisfaction).

Interesting facts about caracals

Numerous depictions of caracals were discovered during the excavation of ancient Egyptian cities. These included drawings on clay vessels, wall paintings, bronze figurines, and their embalmed corpses. This fact suggests that the caracal was once worshipped by the ancient Egyptians who saw it as a sacred animal.

The caracal was also highly prized and regarded as a priceless gift in ancient China, particularly if it came from the emperor. These cats have been used for centuries to hunt small game in India.

Two centuries ago, caracals were a popular form of amusement for wealthy gamblers in Iran. They were captured as kittens, domesticated, trained to hunt birds, and then displayed in exhibitions. Gaining more bird catches was the main goal of the competition.

It is strictly forbidden to use your hands or feet to play with a caracal. This cat is a predator, albeit a domesticated one, and that is the whole point. Simply put, it can lead to very serious injuries during a hunt.

This breed of cat does not belong in an apartment because its ancestors were free-range animals used to covering large distances on foot. The ideal home for a caracal would be a private residence with a large, fenced yard—which is required—or an enclosure designed specifically for the animal.

Cats frequently struggle to learn how to use a litter box. The animal needs lots of attention from the owner and frequent, vigorous walks.

Because caracals are heat-loving animals, they do not fare well in the cold. If there are young children residing in the home, it is not advised to have these cats.

Pros and cons of caracals

Like any breed of cat, the caracal has a long list of benefits and drawbacks, so the prospective owner should thoroughly educate himself on these issues before bringing this exotic cat home.

1. Unusual and exotic appearance;
2. Excellent health and strong immunity, resistance to most of the most common cat diseases;
3. Canine devotion to the owner;
4. Kittens" ability to quickly adapt to a new home;
5. Playfulness, activity, curiosity;
6. Love of affection and attention;
7. Love of freedom, but at the same time problem-free training for walking on a leash.

1. Wild nature and specific character;
2. Very high price;
3. Very expensive to maintain;
4. Problematic in acquisition due to the large number of poachers and illegal nurseries that understate the price and do not provide documents;
5. Due to the love of freedom and character, the animal is not suitable for apartment keeping (only a private house with a yard or an aviary);
6. It is categorically not recommended for keeping in families with children under five years old;
7. It is practically impossible to train, which is why some owners have difficulties with litter box training.

The caracal is becoming more and more popular among people who enjoy exotic animals, despite its extremely high cost. The biggest catteries maintain statistics showing an increasing number of caracal kittens being bought every year. Meanwhile, the proportion of private owners is increasing steadily.

Breeding caracals

Due to their rarity and exotic nature, caracals are only bred by specialized catteries. By the way, the cattery needs to meet a few requirements in order to be allowed to breed these cats:

1. Be a member of several phenological organizations (clubs);
2. Have a special license;
3. Have all supporting documents.

It is important to understand how crucial the process of selecting a breeder is when making the decision to buy a caracal kitten for pet ownership. The nursery should have at least five to ten years of experience breeding caracals, rather than just two or three.

Important information: Carefully read the sales contract before acquiring a caracal kitten. Ultimately, a lot of nurseries work to keep the ability to breed caracals and forbid their customers from doing the same.

Here are some details regarding caracal reproduction. These are solitary creatures that only form pairs in order to reproduce. A woman’s pregnancy usually lasts between 75 and 80 days. The female creates a den for herself in a tree hollow or a hole after the "interesting situation" ends, and it is there that she gives birth to two or three kittens.

The kittens are blind, completely helpless, and reliant on their mother for the first seven to ten days of their lives. While nursing the infants, she occasionally goes hunting. After about a month, the kittens start to come out of the den and play in the vicinity while the mother watches over them. The kittens attempt to eat solid food a month later. Kittens live with their mother until they are approximately ten months old, at which point they separate and start living on their own.

Caracal Care

Due to its reputation as an animal that is highly active, caracals require a lot of movement and outdoor time. As previously stated, this cat is not fit to live in an apartment, not even a big one.

A private residence’s grounds need to be enclosed by a fence that is at least 2.5 meters high. The cat can simply hop over the fence and flee if it is lowered. Although there is a good chance the caracal will return, it is best to avoid taking a chance, especially given its untamed nature. Constructing a roomy enclosure would be the ideal way to keep this pet.

Fascinating fact: Everything in the house should be stored as though a very inquisitive puppy lived there if the caracal even occasionally visits. It’s all about how playful and inquisitive these cats are. When the animal is playing, it has the ability to completely flip everything in the house, and it can chew, scratch, and even consume anything that is in its path.

It’s crucial to remember that a caracal kitten’s socialization and education begin with play. As a result, the animal should have a wide variety of toys. The ideal toys are ones designed for large dogs.

Caracals don’t need any extra attention, and they typically take care of their own hygiene. Since they are natural swimmers, they adore swimming and have no fear of the water. Caracals only require routine nail care. No other procedures are required. All of the furniture in the house will undoubtedly suffer if the pet’s claws are not clipped. An adequate number of scratching posts can be used as an alternative to trimming the claws.

Additionally, you can train a caracal to use a litter box, though this is not required and not every owner is successful in doing so. The kitten should ideally be trained to use the nursery’s litter box. In caracals, seasonal molting takes place twice a year. During this time, you must brush your pet with a special brush to expedite the fur change.

Diet of caracals

As a predator, caracals primarily consume protein-rich foods. It’s evident that meat contains the majority of protein. This cat should therefore be fed mostly meat products. What is a pet’s daily eating limit? About one kilogram of meat products can be consumed by an adult caracal, depending on its size, weight, and personal traits. Granted, this is incredibly costly, but there is nothing that can be done because the animal is accustomed to eating meat in the wild and is unlikely to subsist on porridge alone.

The top meat items for caracals are:

• Turkey;
• Chicken;
• Beef;
• Offal.

Meat products should include bones and cartilage, which help to train the jaws and provide a calcium source. Meat does not require cooking. Apart from meat, caracals have a strong preference for fish. Thus, its menu ought to feature this product as well. It is preferable if the fish is well frozen and should be seared rather than from a river or lake. Eggs and dairy products (cottage cheese, kefir) should be included in the pet’s diet if they were introduced to the kitten in the nursery.

In addition to meat, some caracals have a strong taste for particular kinds of vegetables. As a result, you might try adding zucchini, pumpkin, or cabbage to its menu. The caracal should only be fed twice a day. The food needs to be taken out if it was not consumed. Setting up a day’s fast for the pet a couple of times a month is also crucial. This is a necessary situation, not cruel. This is their natural diet, after all.

Items you shouldn’t give to a caracal include:

• Food from your table;
• Smoked and fatty foods;
• Sweets;
• Pork.

Regarding the final item on the list, it is important to be aware that eating pork meat frequently results in the extremely treatable condition known as pseudorabies, or Aujeszky’s disease in cats.

Diseases and health problems

Like all wild animals, caracals stand out for having excellent immunity, endurance, and overall health. Thus, these cats generally never experience health issues as long as they follow all maintenance guidelines and eat a balanced diet that is as close to nature as possible. Caracals have an average lifespan of up to 15 years, both in the wild and in captivity.

It’s important to note that because of their natural curiosity, these animals frequently chew through or swallow whole inedible objects. They occasionally require emergency veterinary care because of this. Consequently, it’s critical to know the location of a reputable veterinary clinic close by so that you can visit them in case of emergency when purchasing a caracal kitten for your household.

Remember that caracals are still considered members of the feline family. Additionally, because they live with humans, they occasionally interact with other cats. Consequently, it is highly desirable to vaccinate caracals against the most prevalent feline diseases (rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukemia).

Crucial information: Regular cat vaccinations are administered to caracals. Vaccinating your pet against rabies is also crucial. After all, this is a deadly and incurable illness that poses a risk to humans as well as animals.

Scientific evidence has demonstrated that, although caracals do not exhibit clinical symptoms of the disease, they can, in extremely rare circumstances, be carriers of chlamydia. Furthermore, it is still unclear to scientists how and where the animal could "pick up" such a fascinating infection.

Topic	Caracal
Habitat	Found in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia.
Size	About 40 to 50 cm tall, weighs 8 to 19 kg.
Diet	Carnivorous, primarily hunts small mammals and birds.
Distinctive Features	Long tufted ears and a sleek, muscular body.
Behavior	Solitary and territorial, often active at night.

The caracal is an incredibly fascinating animal. Its remarkable tufted ears and graceful, nimble body captivate the interest of animal enthusiasts worldwide. Caracals stand out from other house pets due to their distinct behaviors and wild nature. They are masters of their surroundings, demonstrating the beauty of nature in action with their amazing jumping ability and keen hunting skills.

Although they can be fascinating, it’s crucial to keep in mind that caracals are wild animals. They flourish in the wild, where they are free to roam and follow their innate desires. We can better appreciate their place in the ecosystem if we are aware of their needs and behaviors. We can learn about the harmony of nature and the value of protecting wildlife by watching them.

Video on the topic

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