Content
- wild cat: origin
- wild cat: physical characteristics
- wild cat: personality
- wild cat: feeding
- wild cat: health
At PeritoAnimal you will find out details about a very unknown breed and that certain precautions should be taken if you intend to adopt and include in your family a specimen of this breed of cat. Although there are people who have them as a domestic animal, these are wild cats and are cataloged as a wild species in danger of extinction. Therefore, you must be careful with legal issues, in addition to ethical and moral issues, which change depending on the region in which you live. Keep reading this race sheet and find out all the details about the mountain cat or wild cat, a surprising and exotic feline.
Source- Africa
- America
- Asia
- Europe
- thick tail
- Big ears
- Strong
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- 3-5
- 5-6
- 6-8
- 8-10
- 10-14
- 8-10
- 10-15
- 15-18
- 18-20
- Active
- Intelligent
- Lonely
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
wild cat: origin
the wild cat is predecessor of today's domestic cats. It is a wild feline, a carnivorous mammal that can be found in forests in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. In some places, habitat destruction and other factors have caused this species to be a threat, being included in the endangered species list.
Within the wild cat category, you can find several species around the world being Felis Silvestris or wild cat Europe the name for the species found in Eurasia. This cat is very similar to a domestic cat, but larger in size and with a lynx look. The North American species names lynx rufus and found in territories ranging from southern Canada to southern Mexico. The South American relative is the Leopardus geoffroyi geoffroy and also in South America is the Leopardus colocolo or Haystack Cat.
The origin of the mountain cat can be said to be from an ancestor of the mountain cat Mastelli (felis lunensis), which lived in Europe during the Pliocene, expanding first to the Middle East and later to Asia and Africa, over 10,000 years ago.
wild cat: physical characteristics
When we talk about the characteristics of the wild cat, it is noteworthy that the aspect is practically the same as that of an Iberian Lynx, being very difficult to distinguish them, except for the smaller size of the cats. The existence of hybrid felines between these two species was even recorded. The wild cat has a coat between brown and gray, with a mottled or spotted pattern. The fur is thick, dense, medium and shiny in appearance. The tail is elongated with a round tip and the ears are large and pointed and usually reddish. The bodies of wild cats are muscular, robust, stylish and flexible. Due to its size, the Wild cat is considered a giant cat, weighing up to 8 kilos and measuring between 5 to 120 centimeters in height. Life expectancy is usually between 6 to 12 years, and specimens that reach 14 years can be found.
wild cat: personality
As it is a wild animal, it is a solitary and calm feline, but it can be very aggressive if it feels its life is threatened or when it is hunting, as it is in a game of subsistence. The mountain cat is a territorial animal, which does not hesitate to defend the habitat, especially males, who will also mark the territory with scratches and urine, and will only share with females and never with other males.
Except in the winter season, the mountain cat is a nocturnal animal who hunts and is very active during the hours after sunset. However, when the cold season arrives, it adapts to the prey's activity hours, becoming diurnal animals for a few months. This personality detail demonstrates that it is an animal that easily adapts to new ways and means of life, so there are examples that have become domestic animals around the world. It is worth remembering that the wild cat's personality is not like a domestic cat, so it has a natural aggressive temperament and can attack whenever it feels threatened.
wild cat: feeding
In the wild, these animals feed on prey that they hunt. Usually, the wild cat's food is based on rabbits, hares and other rodents, the prey is quite varied and even deer can be among them. If food is scarce, Wild cats can become scavengers, feeding on the remains of other animals. Remember that they are animals with great adaptability.
The reproductive cycle of the Montes cat has several phases. The estrus period is usually from February to March, taking into account the gestation that lasts between 60 and 70 days. Thus, cats usually give birth in April or May and usually have a litter of three puppies. The females are in charge of taking care of the offspring until around 9 months of age.
As they are not domestic animals, to have a wild cat as a pet, you need to be up-to-date on the current legislation in your region. Still, in cases where you can have it, you must have the licenses and documentation described in the rule because, in addition to being wild cats, they are found in endangered. Like other big cats, hunting this animal is prohibited and it is necessary to respect their natural habitat, avoiding killing prey as they are vital for the survival of this species. In the past, the main predators were animals such as wolf and puma, but nowadays, the greatest danger to the wildcat's livelihood is humans, as they destroy the natural habitat and hunting these animals has caused its population to drastically decrease. Therefore, since we are the ones to blame, it is necessary to take responsibility and take action on it.
wild cat: health
Usually wild cats are very resistant animals, but as can happen with domestic felines, they can be affected by feline coronavirus, parvovirus, feline leukemia, distemper and diseases caused by parasites, which are usually infected by rodents they feed on, or by the kind of live. As it is a wild animal, deaths from natural causes or from fights between wild cats are common, as they can cause infections or serious bleeding.
It is important to emphasize the importance of calling a professional if you find an injured or sick mountain cat. In these cases, it is advisable to notify the competent authorities and let them take care of the animal's health.