How much does a caracal kitten cost on average and what does the price depend on?

One glance at this creature is enough to send a sweet shiver of awe through you. This shows respect for the forces of nature, and the caracal is a very strong animal. For us it is exotic, for the Turks it is a “black ear”, for the Kazakhs it is a “black brush”. For the world of zoology, this is Lynx Caracal, but simply - the steppe lynx or croak. If this miracle looks amazing in nature, imagine how it will look at home! So, a caracal cat at home: who is she, and how to live side by side with her.

History of the origin of the breed

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The animal is rare, it is on the verge of extinction in its habitat. But the distribution area is still large. The caracal cat lives in the savannas and deserts of Africa, and is also considered its homeland in Asia Minor and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula. Seals are also found on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

In nature there are nine subspecies of this wild breed. They differ in size and color. African animals are the most numerous, but the Turkmen species has long been in the Red Book, recognized as endangered.

It so happened that a previously wild animal became a domestic animal, and moreover, an exclusive pet. But we are not talking about wild steppe cats, but about domestic caracals raised in nurseries.

Population and species status

To date, there is no accurate data on the number of caracals in the wild, so it is almost impossible to give an accurate assessment of the population status of these living creatures. In Asia and northern Africa, these predators are considered rare, but in the south and center of the African continent, caracals are considered problem animals, so they can be hunted at any time of the day or night. Ranchers sometimes leave behind poisoned animal carcasses, which kills many predators.

In South Africa, an average of 2,200 caracals were killed between 1931 and 1952, while in Namibia almost 3 thousand individuals were killed in 1981 alone.

To protect their livestock, local residents of many countries thoughtlessly destroy these animals. They are also caught and traded in the Arabian Peninsula. Many animals die in road accidents.

Description and standards of caracal

Above we said that there are 9 subspecies of caracal, although a person far from botany or felinology is unlikely to notice the difference from photographs.

Any steppe lynx is very large and tall. You can’t call her massive: her natural grace cannot be hidden, her heaviness does not catch the eye.

The elongated head is crowned with elongated narrow ears with the most charming tassels at the tips. There is a decent distance between the ears and they stand strictly vertical. On the back of the ears the skin is either flat black or gray.

The body looks lean and short. The tail is shorter than half the body. The graceful caracal moves on high, lean limbs. The paws are massive and large.

The color of the coat is beautiful, reminiscent of ocher mixed with sand. The villi are short and reddish. The fur on the belly and chest is longer. Yellow stripes under the eyes. There are no differences in color between males and females.

Dimensions and weight of caracals

The tall caracal cat reaches half a meter at the withers in adulthood. Pretty solid! The weight of cats reaches 15-21 kg. The weight of females is less than that of males. If such a pet sits on his lap, the owner will immediately feel every kilogram of the handsome man.

Caracal hybrids

Several breeders in Russia, Ukraine and the USA have bred and continue to breed caracal-domestic cat hybrids. Moreover, in the USA the Abyssinian cat is used.

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The experimental breed was named caracat (cara(cal)+cat), which indicates its origin. The first generation hybrid is the most difficult to breed, because the male caracal does not accept representatives of another species for the purpose of reproduction. But breeders are persistent; today there are cats in the world that look like caracals, with an affectionate character and smaller dimensions.

For some reason, dogs don’t perceive Carket as a cat. For them, this is a creature equivalent to them, and relationships are built on the dog-dog principle

Another hybrid is the servical, or ser-caracal. In this case, breeders took a male from a serval and a female from a caracal. The cat's appearance resembles a serval, and its ears come from Caracal blood. This is a completely new breed, a pure experiment.

Brief description of the breed

The Caracal is an unusual breed of cat. The animal is distinguished by its nobility, grace and kindness. Outwardly it resembles a small lynx.

Breed standards:

• Long body – 62-85 cm.
• Large weight - 16-18 kg (larger individuals are also found, weighing about 25 kg).
• The height reaches half a meter.
• Slender body.
• Small head.
• Almond-shaped, expressive eyes with dark edging.
• High-set and large ears with dark tufts.
• The coat is short, dense, thick.
• The tail is long and mobile.

The coloring of the caracal cat is spectacular. The coat ranges from sandy to rich brown. The paws, tail and back are darker than the belly by standard. There are dark and white spots on the muzzle. The outer part of the ears is black. Kittens have spots on their bodies that disappear as they grow older.

A peculiarity of animals of this breed is their unusual voice: in a good mood, the cat purrs loudly, and when indignant, it makes a sound reminiscent of a quiet chirp. By nature, pets are self-sufficient, sociable and affectionate. They get along well with people and other animals. If you raise a cat correctly, it will become a loyal family friend.

Characteristics of the caracal

The character of a caracal cat is determined by its upbringing. Even a domestic one obtained from a nursery is still a predator. And the character of predators cannot be touching by nature.

Education allows you to smooth out the rough edges and make the home life of the caracal and people pleasant and interesting.

Cats do not have mood swings; they do not go from anger to excessive tenderness. They are characterized by curiosity and energy. The caracal kitten loves to play, so you will have to train it from the very beginning. If this is not done, then the natural power of the growing cat will become destructive for the house and its inhabitants.

The main thing to remember is that you cannot play with your hands with cats. Use various accessories for entertainment

The first couple of years of life, kittens are very emotional. This can cause problems if the owner lacks time and understanding. So and so, but you will have to show patience and understanding.

An adult, well-mannered caracal is even-tempered and devoted to its human family. In general, this is an ordinary large cat who is happy to sleep next to his beloved owner.

Raising and training a pet

If there are rodents and birds in the house, then it would be naive to think about friendship between a predator and these innocent creatures.

Raising a kitten begins from the first days of its stay in the apartment. You need to let your child know that he is part of the household order. You can't do it without patience and effort.

Also, small children and the caracal should not be together all the time. The breed has not been studied enough to accurately give an answer about the absolute safety of such a joint stay. Definitely, education comes first!

For the first two years, the kitten is taught to comply with subordination. If everything is done correctly, the cat quickly understands who is boss in the pack. Rough methods in education are not needed. You can decisively take away the thing that the cat took, but this should not have been done. The cat is quite capable of grasping the tone and shades of mood and correctly interpreting it.

Kittens get accustomed to the litter box very quickly, but they do not bury excrement, so the owner will be forced to always monitor the cleanliness of the litter box. The caracal is able to mark territory; it is its most zealous defender. This is also leveled out by proper upbringing.

How much does a caracal cost?

We mentioned that these exotics will cost a decent amount. In Russia, a caracal can be bought for approximately 400 thousand rubles. This price tag makes these animals perhaps the most expensive pets. Of course, the money question significantly narrows the circle of potential owners of this cute creature. They are mainly kept in private homes, where the animal has a large area for walking.

Caracals are purchased by exotic lovers or those who can handle any challenge. These cats are wild by nature, so sometimes they are difficult to train. To raise and accustom a caracal to the conditions of a home, you need to show a lot of strength, attention, care and patience with an extraordinary pet.

Care and what to feed at home

It is best to keep a domestic caracal cat in a spacious home. If there is already a cat and a dog in the house, adding a baby with ear tufts will go smoothly.

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Such a large predator is kept in approximately 15 m². So you will have to allocate a whole room for him in the apartment or a large enclosure next to the house.

A scratching post will definitely help, because often cutting the claws of a twenty-kilogram stubborn cat is a dubious pleasure.

It is better to have your nails trimmed by a veterinarian. Considering the cat's weight and mood, this will be the best solution.

The steppe lynx takes care of its coat and sometimes doesn’t even mind taking a bath. It is necessary to teach bathing from childhood. They lick their fur often; it is better to help the cat with this procedure once a week and use a furminator.

Ears and eyes are cleaned as needed with clean, damp cloths.

Feeding must necessarily include meat and fish. The domestic caracal is fed separately from other pets 1-2 times a day. The amount of food is calculated based on the age and size of the cat.

The diet must contain vitamins and minerals. The difficulty is that the kitty is indifferent to ready-made food, so let’s return to the predator’s menu: rodents, poultry, boiled meat. A cat should eat 300-800 g of food per day.

Pros and cons of caracals

Like any cat breed, the caracal has a considerable list of advantages and disadvantages, which, before bringing this exotic cat home, it is important for its future owner to become familiar with in great detail. Advantages:

Advantages:

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

Flaws:

1. Wild disposition and specific character;
2. Very high price;
3. Very expensive maintenance;
4. Procurement is problematic due to the large number of poachers and illegal nurseries who lower the price and do not provide documents;
5. Due to the love of freedom and character, the animal is not suitable for apartment housing (only a private house with a yard or enclosure);
6. It is strictly not recommended for families with children under five years of age;
7. It is practically impossible to train, which is why some owners have difficulty teaching their pet to the tray.

Despite the very high price, the caracal is becoming increasingly popular among lovers of exotic animals. According to statistics kept in the largest nurseries, more and more caracal kittens are purchased from year to year. At the same time, the share of private owners is steadily growing.

Animal health

The health of domestic lynx is usually excellent. Vaccination helps protect your cat from a number of possible cat diseases. The first vaccination is given at 10-12 weeks, and all others strictly according to the schedule suggested by the veterinarian.

Once a year, they are vaccinated against feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calcevirosis, and antiparasitic treatment is carried out.

There is a separate issue of castration. If the owner is not a professional breeder, he will be advised to neuter the caracal at 9 months. This will protect the family from aggressive splashes and unpleasant odors.

Breeding can be done all year round. During this time, the female can have three offspring with the birth of 1-6 babies at a time. The female and male get used to each other within 2 weeks. Pregnancy is long - 78-81 days.

The breed may develop Aujesz's disease, pseudorabies. To prevent such a disease, pork is not added to the diet.

How long do domestic caracals live?

When purchasing such an exotic pet, you want it to please you with its presence for as long as possible. The question of how long Caracal cats live is relevant for owners.

The lifespan of a caracal is 15-20 years.

, if the owner takes care of them as expected.

How much do caracal kittens sell for?

This animal is exotic and wild, and breeding in Russia is not yet popular. Caring for an individual is quite difficult. That is why the price of a kitten is so high: from 10,000 to 50,000 dollars (in Russian currency - from 700,000 to 3,000,000 rubles) .

Standard price starts at $8,000 . If the individual is rare and valuable, the price increases. Females are more expensive than males. Age also affects the price: the younger the cub is, the more expensive it is.

Price and where to buy a caracal kitten

The demand for domestic caracal is very high. There are many people who are willing to part with a large sum of money for the sake of a coveted extravagant pet in their home. Including the upcoming costs of transportation and maintenance, the amount turns out to be quite substantial.

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First, a nursery is selected: you need to inquire about official documents. Nursery owners always issue all documents for the animal, and also provide various consultations on the care and training of the caracal.

Due to the natural characteristics of the breed, a cat should be purchased at the age of 4-5 months. Before purchasing, visit the nursery and study the conditions of keeping the animals, the nuances of feeding and walking. If the nursery is home, then this is an advantage: the kitten is kept next to a person from childhood, it will be easier for him to survive relocation to a new home.

The kittens are examined, examining the fur, the cleanliness of the eyes and ears. There should be no discharge. You can watch the cat spend its time and find out its reaction to people.

The price of a caracal kitten is 400,000-450,000 rubles

, Kotofeya is bought abroad for
6,000-8,000 dollars
. Cats are more expensive in price than cats. This cost is due to the fact that the animals are not so easy to raise and breed.

How to name kittens

Naming a young caracal is not easy. You certainly can’t call him Vasya. You can ask about the names of the area where the cat’s ancestors come from. Maybe this will give the new owner an original idea. The name of an animal cannot be very complex and dissonant. This is a representative of the feline species, which means that hissing names will still be welcome.

The domestic caracal should be named exotically, but in a way that emphasizes its nature and beauty.
We offer a list of names for boys and girls; you can choose a ready-made nickname. Nickname table

What does the price depend on?

In Russia, caracals are offered for purchase for varying amounts of money. The cost is formed under the influence of such factors:

1. Purebred.
2. Age.
3. Place of purchase.
4. Seller reputation.
5. Availability of a veterinary passport.
6. Health status.

Purebred individuals are more expensive than a cross between a caracal and an ordinary cat. The presence of a veterinary passport and card also increases the price. The younger the kitten, the higher its cost.

Conclusions about the breed

Grace, strength, beauty. Wild ancestors passed on to the domestic caracal cat all the best that nature gave them. Good health, powerful strong paws, beautiful fur the color of ocher and reddish sand. One can say different things about the animal, whose ancestors came from the steppes, savannah and semi-desert. But we will emphasize the main thing:

• Excellent immunity;
• The ability to build relationships with a person on their terms thanks to upbringing;
• Demanding requirements for a “carnivorous” diet;
• Playfulness, energy - spending time with such a pet is very interesting;
• To keep it, you need to fulfill a number of conditions; if a person is not ready for this, you should not get a cat yet;
• Difficulties in relationships with children and small rodents and birds. If everything is settled with children by upbringing, then it is very difficult for a cat not to eat a bird.

Is it worth buying a pet caracal? This is a very serious responsibility, if you are ready for it, then somewhere a small cat with tufts on his ears is waiting!

Savannah

This breed was the result of crossing a cat and an African serval. It remains one of the most expensive in the world, because only a professional breeder can get offspring from a predator and a pet. Breeders have been working on creating savannas for more than ten years. As a result, the first kittens were born at the end of 1980. In 2001, the breed was officially recognized and registered by the International Cat Association. These pets are quite large; their height at the withers can reach 60 cm. Since childhood, kittens have the claws on their front paws removed with a laser, this is done so that they do not accidentally scratch their owner. The cost of a kitten varies from 15 to 20 thousand dollars. However, if you think that for such a price an animal will live in your house, over which you will need to shake like a crystal vase, you are mistaken. Savannahs are not picky about their care.

Savannah cat. Photo: wikipedia.org