Karkal or “black ear”: everything about the wild cat, is it possible to keep it at home

Animal lovers are drawn to the intriguing wild cat known as the Karkal, or "black ear," because of its remarkable appearance and distinctive qualities. This elusive feline, native to the rocky and grasslands of Central Asia, is well-known for its gorgeous coat and tufted ears, which pique the interest of both animal lovers and prospective pet owners.

Can this wild cat, however, survive as a pet? There are a few things to consider before bringing a Karkal home, despite its endearing appearance. Anyone considering adopting a wild cat must be aware of the animal’s natural behavior, habitat requirements, and domestication difficulties.

We’ll cover all you need to know about the Karkal in this article. We’ll go over everything you need to know about this fascinating animal, from its way of life in the wild to things prospective owners should know. The Karkal will pique your interest whether you’re a cat lover or just interested in learning more about the wild world.

Known by many by the nickname "black ear," the Karkal is an intriguing wild cat native to Central Asia that is distinguished by its unusual behaviors and striking appearance. This article addresses the adaptability of the Karkal to human environments, looks at its traits and habitat, and questions whether it is morally and practically acceptable to keep one as a pet. Potential owners can make educated decisions about the difficulties and obligations involved in raising a wild cat in a home environment by learning about this elusive animal.

Caracals in the wild and the history of domestication

The caracal has a very large habitat. These are the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, Asia Minor, Central Asia, the Middle East, and southern Turkmenistan. They are also savannas, steppes in the desert, and the foothills of Africa. Caracals are occasionally discovered along the Caspian Sea coast in Kyrgyzstan and the Uzbek region of Bukhara.

There are nine recognized subspecies, with varying dimensions and hues. The majority of them are fairly common, mostly found in Africa, but the Turkmen caracal is classified as an endangered species in the Red Book.

How did caracals come to be so content? The caracal is a great hunter and can be content for a considerable amount of time with the liquid from the prey it has consumed. It can jump up to 4.5 meters with its strong hind legs, and its retractable claws enable it to catch not only rodents but also birds and goitered gazelles. The caracal, on the other hand, dislikes running and instead locates its prey before attacking when the distance is short. The caracal climbs with its prey to a low tree where it eats it to keep rivals from encroaching.

Caracals are predators of the night. It will only emerge from its den during the daytime when it senses danger or hunger. Cats inhabit the cracks in rocks and occasionally take up residence in abandoned animal burrows.

A caracal’s sense of territory is extremely strong. Cats that are caracals are loners; a female cat will only allow "gentlemen" to approach her during mating, and kittens leave their mother at three or four months old to find their own "hunting grounds." A cat can have up to six kittens (usually three), and they can live up to twenty years.

It is evident that the boundaries of the oldest known human states, Egypt and Babylon, are part of the caracal’s habitat. This is where the custom of preparing cats, such as cheetahs and caracals, for hunting first emerged. The trainability, obedience, and owner loyalty of these two species set them apart. The caracal has earned the moniker "cheetah for the poor" because of their diminutive stature and lack of pretense. These days, caracal hunting is more of an exotic form of entertainment; however, they are trained for security purposes or, as in South Africa, to frighten away birds from airfields.

Appearance

The caracal’s strength and grace combine to draw attention. The animal weighs up to 20 kg and is about half a meter tall at the withers. Its almost square silhouette is created by its long legs, which are a little longer in the back than the front. Although it appears to be half the length of the body, the tail is not stubby. Particularly on the hind legs, the coat is thick, short, and coarse. It is slightly longer on the lower body and has a well-developed undercoat.

The coloring is from sandy to brown, turning into a much lighter tone on the belly with numerous small spots, which helps the caracal to remain invisible against the background of burnt sand. Males are no different in color from cats, but are a little more massive. The shape of the head is round, slightly elongated, like a lynx, but the ears are noticeably longer, and not only due to the tassels – their length can be 5 cm. As already mentioned, the caracal"s ears are most often the color of "salt and pepper", and in caracals from Namibia they are pure white, but the tassels are always coal-black. Characteristic black "paths" give the muzzle a sad expression.

Character

The character of the caracal is largely determined by upbringing. Unlike other cats – with the exception, perhaps, of the cheetah – the caracal is well trained and recognizes the "rules of subordination" if the owner does not spare the time and instills them in the kitten at an early age. Caracal is a predator, and it is very important that in its manifestations the beast does not go beyond the limits of what is permitted. Caracals are not prone to mood swings and displays of anger – however, to traditional displays of cat affection too. They are very curious, energetic and love to play. The owner"s task is to ensure that the manifestation of these traits does not become destructive, for example, does not develop a habit of biting household members or destroying furniture for fun. In the first two years, the kitten can be very emotional, this should be taken into account and patience and perseverance should be shown. Help from professionals will not be superfluous. Rudeness and punishment are contraindicated.

Just like in the wild, caracals fiercely defend their domain. Male and female cats both mark it occasionally, even in well-bred animals. He is capable of reacting violently toward strangers despite being tolerant of the owner and family members’ intrusion. The caracal is a powerful animal that is difficult to handle.

Keeping a caracal at home

Although a caracal can be housed in an apartment in a city, it is preferable to have the animal live on a piece of land where it can run around freely. As long as you "settle" a kitten with a caracal and not the other way around, they get along with both cats and dogs. Only birds and decorative rodents will be at risk from it. If there are young children present, additional caution should be taken.

It takes at least 15 m² of "living space" for a caracal. Your pet takes up an entire room in an apartment, but in a private home, you can construct an enclosure that allows for unrestricted walking and is at least 2.5 meters high. Maintaining a scratching post can save you a lot of uncomfortable time spent trimming claws. It will be happy to climb shelves and thick branches that are attached at different heights. Cat toys are too small for a caracal, even though they love toys. Toys meant for small dogs or kids are appropriate.

Care

A caracal maintains the cleanliness of its own fur, just like other cats do. It enjoys taking baths, but for it, it’s more of an amusement than a sanitary practice. But caracals shed all year long, with summertime sheds being particularly heavy. At this point, the animal needs to be brushed with a furminator at least once a week to prevent it from choking on its own fur and swallowing it.

Although specialized scissors can be used to trim claws, it is best to leave this task to a veterinarian. Although using a scratching post will make this less frequent, the procedure is still necessary.

Furthermore, you ought to examine your pet’s ears once a week and, if required, clean them with cotton swabs.

Hygiene

Before releasing their kittens to their owners, the majority of caracal breeders acclimate them to the litter box. Nevertheless, since the caracal does not bury its waste—rather, it leaves it on the surface—the litter box will need to be cleaned right away. You can use regular shavings or wood pellets in the toilet.

Nutrition

In the wild, caracals hunt small rodents, birds and reptiles. The diet of a domestic caracal should also include "live" food, in wool or feathers, with bones and entrails, since its digestion has not been adapted to "civilized" food, like that of domestic cats. The rest of the cysteuhic cat is not too picky. The need for protein will be replenished with beef, turkey, rabbit or chicken, and you should not cut out cartilage and bones – this is a source of calcium, in addition, predators like to defeat and gnaw the bones. About once a week, raw sea fish, dairy products, eggs can be introduced into the menu. A certain number of "side dispensers" will not hurt: zucchini, carrots, cabbage and pumpkin, they are added with wiped.

Tablets containing vitamins and minerals are required for children under three years old. They’ll be practical and mature cats.

It is strictly forbidden to eat pork, smoked meats, sweets, soups, cereals, or food from the table. Crucians are occasionally fed dry food, but this is only permitted on the veterinarian’s advice. Although Karakala is fed one or two times a day, the feeding schedule ought to "swim." A portion of food is equal to three to five percent of its weight. The leftovers from the "meal" should be thrown out right away.

The caracal is meant to have a fasting day once every one to two weeks during which it is only allowed to drink water.

The caracal is a desert dweller, so it can withstand thirst quite well. At home, though, the cat should always have access to a fresh water bowl that is cleaned out whenever food or trash gets inside.

Education

By nature, the caracal is a loner, but he understands the need for "subordination" well and is ready to recognize a person as the owner. Having brought a kitten home, try to make him understand this as early as possible, but in no case resort to rudeness and punishment. Use other preventive measures – for example, decisively take away an item not intended for play. Caracals are very smart and trainable. If the breeder has not trained the kitten to the litter box, it will be much easier to do this than a domestic cat. It would be a good idea to accustom the caracal to a harness and muzzle, and for city dwellers it is simply necessary. Walking with a muzzle is not only a tribute to the requirements of the administration, but also a concern for the safety of dogs and cats walking nearby. In addition, such a skill can serve you well if you have to transport a caracal without a cage.

Health

Enviable health and a robust natural immunity set caracals apart. Along with appropriate care, prompt vaccinations will be the primary form of treatment. The kitten receives its first vaccination between weeks 10 and 12, and a second vaccination between weeks 4 and 5. The second, at 12 or 13 weeks, died of rabies. The third is a vaccination three to four weeks after the teeth are switched.

After that, vaccinations against calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and feline panleukemia as well as systemic deworming are required once a year. routine checkups—at the very least, every six months.

Aujeszky’s disease, also known as pseudorabies, is one of the diseases that can easily be prevented in cats. It suffices to exclude pork from the diet in order to achieve this.

The intriguing wild cat known as the Karkal, or "black ear," is distinguished by its remarkable appearance and unusual habits. This creature is ideally suited to its natural environment thanks to its large ears and nimble body. But it’s important to keep in mind that Karkals are wild creatures, and as such, their needs are very different from those of domestic cats.

Although it may seem appealing to keep a Karkal as a pet, there are drawbacks. These cats need a specific diet in addition to large areas to roam and hunt. It is challenging to reproduce their natural habitats at home, but they flourish in settings that closely resemble them.

Karkals can also behave in an unpredictable manner because they are not domesticated. Because of this, most people shouldn’t keep them as house pets. It’s important to acknowledge their beauty from a distance and to back conservation initiatives that preserve their natural habitats.

Overall, the Karkal is an amazing wild cat that is most appreciated in its natural habitat. If you’re thinking about bringing a feline friend into your home, there are many lovely domesticated breeds that can provide happiness and company without the difficulties associated with owning a wild animal.

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