Wild Forest Cat: Photos, Species And Names, Nature And Lifestyle, Breeding Cats

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Wild forest cat: an ancient predator at home

Forest cats are considered to be the ancestors of modern domestic cats. And in some areas (for example, in Scotland) these predators even interbreed with purrs left without hosts. For lovers of exotic animals, the forest cat will become, although wayward, but, nevertheless, the safest and closest to tame animals.

Content

• 1 Appearance and types of forest cat

  1.1 Photo gallery: species of wild forest cats

• 2 The life of wild forest cats in nature

  • 2.1 Features of the behavior of forest cats
  • 2.2 Procreation issues
  • 2.3 Video: forest cat family

• 3 Wild forest cat as a pet

  • 3.1 Care and maintenance of forest cats in captivity
  • 3.2 Eating a forest cat at home
  • 3.3 Video: Far Eastern forest cat
  • 3.4 Reviews of owners of wild forest cats

Appearance and types of forest cat

Small forest predators of the feline family trace their history back to the Pleistocene, when it was necessary to learn to survive in the conditions of glaciation of most of the land. Probably because of this, wild purrs are distinguished by a strong skeleton and developed muscles.

Wild forest cats are energetic predators

At first glance, forest cats are almost indistinguishable from domesticated cattle. However, upon closer examination, it turns out that wild animals are larger than ordinary house cats. Males weigh an average of 9 kg, and females about 7 kg. Sometimes there are individuals weighing up to 12-15 kg.

Affects the body weight of small forest predators and the season - in the summer seals feed on subcutaneous fat, so as not to die from the cold in winter.

The body length of these purrs reaches 80 cm (in females) and 90 cm (in males), and the height at the withers varies from 40 to 45 cm

The coat of wild cats is distinguished by a high density and uniform distribution of the pile. Updated twice a year - in spring and autumn. In summer, animal hair is much less common, which helps forest cats cope with the heat.

In addition, the average coat is longer in the wild “forest animals” than in the common domestic cats. Due to this, in cold weather, sufficient thermoregulation of the body of animals is provided.

Other characteristic features of the appearance of forest cats are:

• long (up to 30 cm) thickened tail with a dense edge, rounded at the tip;
• small head with a pointed muzzle;
• long mustache converging at a moist pinkish nose;
• small strong paws with retractable claws;
• rounded, triangular ears, widely spaced from each other;
• lack of obvious tassels at the tips of the ears (however, several elongated black hairs may be present);
• two rows of small teeth in the jaw, with prominent large, strong canines;
• round greenish eyes with a blinking membrane that protects against dust and drying out of the cornea.

If you observe a forest cat for some time, you can notice the high mobility of the animal's ears. This feature testifies to the keen hearing of the wild animal. Excellent susceptibility to the quietest and most distant sounds helps predators to hunt and hide from enemies - foxes, wolves, jackals.

Forest cats are also distinguished by good eyesight. But their sense of smell is somewhat weaker, which is typical for other representatives of the feline family.

As for the color of wild purrs living in forests, the color depends on the place of residence and, accordingly, on the subspecies. The main palette includes gray, light brown and brown shades. And along the ridge there are black or dark brown stripes and spots.

Currently, 23 subspecies of wild forest cats have been discovered in the world. In our country, the most common of them are:

• European forest cat - distinguished by a gray coat with dark lines extending along the body from the spine;
• Caucasian wild cat - has a brownish color with dark blotches all over the body;
• Far Eastern leopard cat - bears gray spots on a reddish skin;
• the jungle cat, or marsh lynx - stands out against the background of its fellows with monochromatic red hair and dark pussies on the ears;
• Amur forest cat - has a thick ocher coat with reddish-brown spots.

The cats living in desert zones (African, Turkmen, Omani forest purrs) have a lighter color. And the animals that settled in the mountains are distinguished by a longer coat with a thick undercoat (Scottish, Norwegian, Cretan, Balearic subspecies).

Photo gallery: species of wild forest cats

Jungle lynxes are an unusual subspecies of forest cats

European forest cats are the most numerous subspecies of forest purrs

The Amur forest seals have a very thick and dense coat.

Far Eastern forest cats - large animals

Caucasian forest cat - endangered species

The life of wild forest cats in nature

Forest cats have a wide distribution area and are found in Europe, Africa, along the shores of the Sea of Japan, in the jungles of India, the steppes of Turkestan, the mountains of Scotland and the Caucasus.

Many wild cats can still be found in the highlands of Scotland.

These animals prefer to settle in deep forests, where people rarely visit. Therefore, it is not often possible to find the wild ancestors of domestic purrs. Mountain clefts and deserted shores of reservoirs become the favorite places of residence of forest cats.

As a refuge, these small predators can choose abandoned fox or badger minks, empty tree hollows and even uninhabited nests of large wading birds

The territory occupied by one animal is about 2 hectares in size. The boundaries are marked with the help of an odorous anal secretion, with which the males thoroughly irrigate trees and shrubs. An implacable war is being waged for each site, especially during the period of mating games.

It is also interesting that wild cats do not like areas where there is a lot of snow. Indeed, under the abundant snow veil, it is difficult for small animals to get food. Therefore, in especially snowy winters, purring walking by themselves can be found next to a person's dwelling. This is how forest cats are trying to survive, because people always have food.

Features of the behavior of forest cats

Since these representatives of the feline family belong to wild predators, the cat's disposition is appropriate. Animals love freedom and fiercely defend their independence.

Forest cats are skilled and agile hunters

Wild forest cats are loners with a secretive lifestyle. The animals easily and quickly leave the pursuit, hiding in the gorges or in the treetops. They are nocturnal, but do not shy away from hunting in the daytime.

Any small animal that can be caught can come off as prey for forest purrs. These can be rats and nutria, as well as hares or squirrels. A wild cat will not refuse to catch waterfowl, fish, and even crayfish. And in arid regions, insects, snakes and lizards become victims of tailed beasts.

The method of attack in forest cats is similar to the methods of hunting of other representatives of the species - predators catch prey in a jump, sometimes reaching a length of up to three to five meters

To hear at least a "word" from a wild forest hunter, you need to greatly anger the animal. And then the beast will emit hissing, howling or even whistling sounds. And the meowing typical for cats can be heard only at the time of mating dances and searching for a partner.

Procreation issues

For most of the year, wild cats prefer to avoid society, even their own kind. However, with the onset of January cold weather, males begin to gather in small groups and look for females for mating until the end of March.

Wild forest cats have up to five kittens in one litter

If two cats have sympathy for one cat, fights with characteristic fights and warlike cries arise between the fluffy "knights".

It also happens that forest males choose domestic females as partners, and then the latter give birth to wild and wayward kittens.

Pregnancy in wild forest cats lasts for 62–67 days, after which blind kittens are born. The eyes open only 9-12 days after childbirth. One litter usually gives birth to five cubs, but there may be one kitten. Or, on the contrary, the brood turns out to be numerous - up to seven heads.

Shortly before giving birth, the female finds herself a secluded place, from which she makes a reliable den. Kittens will grow in this shelter up to four months of age. For the same time, the mother cat feeds her cubs with breast milk.

The safety level decreases when the grown offspring begins to independently leave the den - one and a half to two months old. And then martens and foxes will pose a threat to the life of the young.

At two months, young forest seals begin to hunt, accompanied by a cat, and at five, they go out into adulthood. Males begin to develop new lands, and females remain on the mother site.

Forest purrs live for a long time - up to 15 years. However, young animals often die before they reach 10 years of age.

And if threats in the form of large predators are not expected, then life expectancy increases up to 30 years of age. Such situations arise, including when animals enter the human house.

Video: forest cat family

Wild forest cat as a pet

Today, the fashion for the establishment of wild animals - caracals, servals, lynxes - is becoming popular. The wild forest cat also did not stand aside.

Taming forest cats is a very popular activity among cat lovers.

Those wishing to tackle the domestication of these independent and aggressive predators should remember the following. It is better to choose animals for such purposes among the subspecies closest to humans - Norwegian, Scottish, European. After all, for a long time such animals interbred with street cats and acquired an accommodating disposition suitable for life in captivity.

At the same time, it is worth making a pet out of a purebred “savage” at the age of no more than 2-4 months. Then the cat will adapt faster, become affectionate and tame. But it is not recommended to forget about hunting genes.

Care and maintenance of forest cats in captivity

You need to buy wild cats in specialized catteries, making sure that there are no diseases, the availability of the necessary vaccinations and a veterinary passport. Otherwise, there is a high probability of getting an animal suffering from diseases dangerous to humans. Thus, forest predators are carriers of the formidable disease - rabies. The cost of an exotic animal starts from 10 thousand rubles.

Keeping a forest cat requires little effort

It is better to keep a domesticated forest cat in a private home, since these pets love space. And if a decision is made to have a wild cat in the apartment, you will have to take care of the purr's daily walking.

Caring for a forest cat does not require much effort. You just need to regularly - once a week - comb the animal's fur and bathe as the coat gets dirty (no more than once a month).

Since these wild purrs are accustomed to living in forest thickets, climbing trees remains the main entertainment for domesticated animals. Therefore, the owner should take care of creating suitable conditions for the pet. You can even set up an aviary with logs and other themed toys.

It is also important to remember that wild cats do not like a change of scenery. And even a change in the usual arrangement of things in the house is perceived with caution. Therefore, it is worth deciding in advance on the permanent location of the bed and toilet for the pet, as well as bowls of food and water.

Wild cats are distinguished by good health, but for the prevention of diseases - polycystic kidney disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, retinal dysplasia - you need to visit a veterinarian regularly (at least once every six months).

As for the castration and sterilization of wild cats, here it is necessary to bear in mind the poor tolerance of anesthesia by free animals. Therefore, in preparation for the operation, you need to be especially careful and monitor the dosage of medications.

Eating a forest cat at home

Since wild forest purrs are almost omnivorous, there are no difficulties in feeding domesticated animals. It is important to monitor the balance of feed, bringing their composition closer to the usual diet for the animal.

Wild forest cats are not picky about food

Preference should be given to natural food, which would include:

• sea fish, cleaned of small bones;
• dietary meat (veal, beef, turkey);
• boiled offal (liver, tongue);
• boiled chicken eggs;
• fermented milk products (fermented baked milk, sour cream).

It is imperative in this case to add to the menu vitamin and mineral complexes based on calcium and phosphorus. Since the large skeleton of forest cats needs constant calcium support.

And when choosing in favor of ready-made feed, you need to monitor the availability of clean drinking water for the animal

It is forbidden to feed a wild cat with baked goods, pasta, culinary products, milk and fried food. Smoked purrs with pickles, as well as legumes and chocolate are harmful to health.

Video: Far Eastern forest cat

Reviews of owners of wild forest cats

Lovers of exotic pets speak positively of their wild pets. After all, with careful care, purrs do not cause trouble and fully adapt to the conditions of private houses. The European forest cat stands on the heap of a wooden house

According to the author, when choosing a wild forest cat as a pet, precautions must be taken. And avoid trying to tame adults when there are small children in the house. Despite their good adaptability, many subspecies of forest purrs keep the habits of predators in the subconscious. Which may not manifest themselves in the best way at any time, especially with non-castrated favorites in spring or autumn. And if the animal lacks freedom or becomes uncomfortable for other reasons, aggressive inclinations will only worsen.

The wild forest cat is a rare animal, some subspecies of which are listed in the Red Book. Therefore, to get such a pet, it is better to contact specialized nurseries. If luck smiles on the suffering, then the owner of the animal will not be disappointed in the choice. After all, caring for a forest cat does not require special skills and costs, and the pet itself is distinguished, although independent, but balanced in nature.