Wild nature always attracted people. And no wonder, because once we were all part of it. But any, even the most understandable aspiration, having passed through the crucible of the human mind, acquires several strange features. So, for the sake of interest in nature, zoos were created where the animals created for free life are imprisoned. There were museums where taxidermists, circuses and many other things, as alien to naturalness, found their talents.
Explanation of all this is given completely inaccessible to classical logic: they say imprisonment of animals in captivity is necessary for ... preserving their numbers in nature. And if a person resides at home a cat that resembles a wild cat, then it ostensibly does not happen to wear a fur coat from natural fur.
"Children of a free tribe": wild relatives of a Bengal cat
Bengal catAt least, those were the motives that led the American Gene Mill, born Sugden, who started work on the breeding of a new breed of cats.
It was based on a hybrid of domestic and wild Asian leopard, or Bengal cat - the story began in 1961, when Gene took out the first wild kitten from Malaysia, then the experiment continued after a long break in 1980.
After 11 years, the Bengal breed was accepted by almost all felinological organizations, and soon "many cat" Mowgli settled in many houses.
Bengali breed of cats The historical birthplace of Bengal cat breed
The owners of domestic Bengalis have ceased to wear fur coats from natural fur or not, it is not known, but the future of wild Bengal living on forests in southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent is still cloudless.
For the first time Europeans saw an Asian leopard cat in Bengal, the historical region of the north-eastern part of South Asia, hence the origin of its Latin name Prionailurus bengalensis.
Now this area - in the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra - is divided between India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh (East Bengal). Nevertheless, the region has retained its identity, it is inhabited by Bengalis, for whom Bengali is native.
A frame from the cartoon "Mowgli" directed by Roman Davydov, Soyuzmultfilm, 1967. The idea of the fauna of India can easily be compiled from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. There are elephants, rhinoceroses, deer, leopards, bison, wolves and, of course, the king of the jungle, the eternal enemy of Mowgli is the Bengali, or Indian tiger.
Remember the book? Ancient, like the Earth itself, dense, impenetrable tropical forests. Small felling, which in the eternal struggle with the advancing jungle huddle human settlements. The withering wail of wolves and the terrifying roar of tigers at night.
Now it's the other way around: huge fields, tea plantations and densely populated cities have reduced the habitat of wild animals to the limit and put them on the brink of survival.
Tea plantations of Darjeeling, high-altitude tea (West Bengal, India)
The victory of Mowgli over Sherkhan in the final of Kipling's history turned out to be prophetic - now the king of the jungle is included in the Red List of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as an endangered species.
Bengal tiger reaches three meters in length and weighs up to 300 kg. It has the longest (up to 10 cm!) Fangs from all the felines, including the lion. The animal perfectly climbs trees, jumps up to 9 m and is able to reach speeds of up to 90 km / h. The roar of a predator is heard at a distance of more than 2 km.
The whole trouble with the tiger is that all of it, from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, from the point of view of human ignorance, is of great value. Mystic force is attributed to the skin from the forehead of the beast, where the pattern of strips resembles a Chinese character, meaning power, power.
Extremely valued canines, claws, vibrissae (mustache), internal organs and products of glands of internal secretion of this large tabby cat. Unlike Mowgli, who came into contact with Sherkhan with only one "iron tooth", modern people are armed much better, their appetites are much greater, and the goals are immensely far from the noble indignation of a man from a wolf pack.
As for the "habits" of the predators themselves, at present there are almost no cannibals among the Bengal tigers. Although in India, where measures are being taken to protect these cats, attacks on residents occur quite often.
The leopard cat (Felis (Prionailurus) bengalensis) is a small animal, the size of a domestic cat, a typical night predator, which feels great in savannas, jungles and mountains. The area of its distribution stretches from Priamurye, Korea and China to India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
Being an excellent swimmer and fisherman, a leopard cat tries to stay close to the water, and on land catches rodents and generally any small prey.
Leopard cat is called because of the characteristic spots on the skin. These same spots make it very attractive for fur traders. In China, the production of hides is still being carried out on an industrial scale, exporting them to Europe is prohibited, but brisk trade is being conducted with Japan.
Leopard cats are found in our country, in the Primorsky Territory, but before the receipt of hybrids exclusively for the sake of wild appearance, Russian people did not think of it. Another thing is some practical goal.
Crossing of wolves: wolf cubs
At the Department of Cynology of the Perm Institute of Internal Troops since the early 2000s, a successful experiment has been conducted to obtain a population of wolf-dog hybrids, the so-called wolf-dogs.
Wolves and dogs were closer genetically than felids, so when crossing German shepherds and wolves, cynologists faced less difficulties than felinologists.
Advantages of wolf cubes
The purpose of the experiment - to obtain animals with much better performance than dogs - was achieved. If you need 20 minutes to find a person by the smell of a dog, then a wolf cub does not take more than 20 seconds.
Many descendants of wolves and dogs, even with 50 percent or more of wild blood, are able to become attached to a person. They also have much better health. When the nursery had an epidemic of enteritis, and many dog puppies died, only one hybrid became ill. And this despite the fact that the wolf cubs were vaccinated solely from rabies.
Disadvantages of Wolves
The experiment showed that the genes of the domestication type of behavior (responsible for the animal's inclination for domestication) are found in natural populations of wolves. Essential disadvantages of hybrids are only natural caution, humanly speaking, cowardice of many of them, as well as a powerful hunting instinct that makes many customary methods of training inapplicable.
But with the appropriate skillful approach, these problems are successfully overcome. However Permian cynologists do not sell hybrids to the side of puppies and without talking they are evacuating wishing to have a real wolf at home. They, like no one else, know that wolffish can serve a person only with a very competent work with him.
An uneasy story of a Bengal cat: difficulty in breeding
When creating the Bengal breed, the main emphasis was on preserving the appearance of a wild animal. Nature, as she could, resisted experiments alien to her.
Bengali breed of cats The first and second generations of male hybrids are sterile, offspring can only be obtained from females. In the third generation only a part of males are capable of reproduction, and only in the fourth all cats can become producers. Thus, Bengal has 7 to 15% of wild blood.
With this ratio, no matter how good the ancestor - a wild Bengal cat - the history of the breed of domestic Bengal could not do without the infusion of "foreign" blood. The wild appearance of kittens breeders "brought to mind" skillful use in breeding other breeds of cats.
Bengali breed of cats "This my student will glorify the name of Baloo in all the jungle": the exterior of Bengal
Obtained muscular cats with strong bones, strong paws and tenacious claws. Body slightly elongated, hind legs slightly higher than front. A small head on a long neck and oval, very expressive eyes.
Breeders claim that when Bengals track down prey, then their gaze appears cold shine, like a wild predator. Some see it as a longing for the jungles and fields of the distant homeland.
Bengali breed of cats The tail of the bengal is always kept lowered, their jaws are well adapted to rough food, round small ears are set wide and slightly inclined forward, as if the cat is always alert.
But the main decoration of Bengal is a luxurious, soft to the touch coat, decorated with contrasting patches on warm, from sand to reddish-brown color, background.
According to breeders, Bengals are distinguished by excellent health and longevity - at 14-15 years they remain as active as in their youth. However, they are still far from the oldest resident of the Calcutta zoo - the turtle of Advaita, who died in 2006 at the age of 255!
Advaita is considered the oldest animal on Earth. In the middle of the XVIII century it was donated to the British General Robert Clive, who by his victory under Plessis opened the way to British rule in India.
As the attendants of the zoo tell, the turtle led a very measured way of life, ate salad, bread and carrots and only shortly before death felt ill. Doctors suspected her of liver disease. Advaita was cremated, but its shell is preserved for memory and for edification to people: eat moderately, do not fuss about and will live long!
"A brave heart and a polite language - you must go far in the jungle": the character of Bengal
The nature of Bengal is only very conditionally determined by their hybrid origin: they are not aggressive, but they require constant contact with the person - they should be used to their hands from childhood.
They are mobile active cats with a perfectly developed hunting instinct, so they need to provide enough space for running, jumping, climbing, etc. From the wild ancestors of the Bengals, the love of water has remained, so they not only easily tolerate water procedures, but also love games in the water.
Leopard and Bengal cat: common - only spots
Bengalov is often called "small leopards", but comparing domestic cats with these representatives of the cat family is quite reckless. In addition to the similar color, they have nothing in common with each other.
The leopard is a very serious and aggressive predator, widespread on almost all continents. According to the number of attacks on people, it lags far behind tigers and lions, but India still tells a chilling story about the "Rudraprayag ludode," which accounted for 125 cases of people's murders in the 1920s.
But if earlier only weak people attacked the person, because of the traumas the animals unable to hunt the habitual prey, now the leopards are on the "warpath" due to the sharp narrowing of the habitat.
In January 2012, in the Indian city of Guwahati, four people were the victim of a leopard attack. The beast went out on a crowded shopping street and attacked those who tried to drive it away. In the end, the leopard climbed into the apartment building. The owner, armed with an iron rod, tried to send an uninvited guest, but with a paw of the paw, a predator literally scalped a man.
Accidentally caught on the scene of the photographer recorded the attack, and horrific frames bypassed the Internet. Fortunately, the man remained alive, and the specialists arrived in time and fired a syringe with sleeping pills into the leopard and taken to the zoo.
Scientists note that with the increase in the population of India, more and more animals, especially wild cats and elephants, are forced to leave their habitual habitat and go out to the homes of people where violent conflicts are taking place, the victims of which are representatives of both sides.
Bengal cat: behavior in the team
Bengal cat Adult cats very zealously defend their territory and are not averse to fighting for their place in the sun - this must be taken into account if you take Bengal to the company to other cats. But with dogs, they get along very well, because they do not see them as rivals, but, on the contrary, they find excellent partners for games.
Larisa Solodovnikova
Coming from America, the Bengal cat is the result of crossing an ordinary domestic cat with a domestic temper and a wild Asian cat, which is characterized by a beautiful leopard color, but at the same time an untrained character. As a result, the light saw a beautiful, kind, adoring breed of cats. Bengals very quickly become attached to their master, but considering that this is a relatively recent breed, and wild genes still cling to them in the subconscious, the cat can not be ignored, otherwise you will turn it into an embittered, feral animal from a soft purring kitten.
Beauty Bengal cat
Acquisition of an animal does not begin with its purchase, but with the preparation of an apartment. Bengal cat has a playful character, it is a strong energetic cat, and any knickknack on the shelf in your house for her will be a toy. To a kitten had something to play, buy him personal toys, preferably more and more diverse, so they do not get bored with him.
- Tray. Bengal cat very quickly realizes that the tray is her toilet, and you just need to go there. No problems with unexpected puddles on the carpet with this breed you will not have. A distinctive feature of the breed is to carefully prepare for the process, your beauty will dig for a long time and diligently, so watch out for the amount of filler;
- Scratch. Because of the very strong wild hunting instincts, the cat has a lot of scratching claws, bengal will destroy all your furniture if there is no scratching. For this breed it is an obligatory attribute in the apartment;
- A harness. A cat is very desirable sometimes, at least once a week, to walk out into the street, they are very inquisitive, and spending all the time in four walls for them is not comfortable. Have leashes, and we have a harness. Just do not let the cat walk by itself! Only with you and on the harness!
Sawclaw Needless to say - a bowl for eating and drinking water.
Bengal cat at home
Armed with knowledge and all necessary, you need to decide on a nursery for the purchase of a kitten. This is a very important stage! Please note that:
- The price for a kitten is quite high, depending on the color and class ranges from 50,000 to 150,000 rubles;
- The age of the kitten in a serious breeder should be at least 3 months;
- Bengal should be completely manual, he should not be afraid of you at the first meeting. If the kitten breaks out, it means that he was deprived of attention and, most likely, already wild. It is unacceptable;
- He should be given all the vaccinations, full veterinary control;
- Must be a pedigree. It is advisable to inquire about the "grandmothers" and "grandfathers" of the kitten, so that at least 4 generations are separated from the wild leopard cat, otherwise the grown-up kitten may have an irascible character.
Hand-held kitten Give up private ads (if there are no recommendations from other buyers), bird markets and similar sources. This is an expensive, elite breed.
Diet
Depending on the age of the pet, the diet is somewhat different:
- Quite young kittens - 4 times a day;
- Adolescents - 3 times;
- Adult cat - 2 times (morning and evening).
It is necessary to carefully monitor the diet, in any case not to feed from your table, tk. Bengals have a weak stomach, problems with the stool are provided.
Ready-made food - Meat. Beef, rabbit - in raw form, occasionally boiled by-products;
- Once a week boiled sea fish. You can simply scald with boiling water so that the cat does not catch the infection;
- Dairy products - kefir, low-fat cottage cheese or cream;
- Vegetables. Bengal breed likes carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers. The volume of vegetables should be about one quarter, the remaining three quarters - meat.
Bengal kitten lounges after a meal All food should be at room temperature, the water is fresh and in plenty. After the meal, let the kitten lie down from the floor for an hour so that it does not belch, then you can play with it and frolic.
Care for a Bengal cat
Here we can please you - care is required just a minimum. All that will be required from the owner, is to periodically comb the cat with a special mackerel, at least every other day, and a few times a month to cut the claws 2-3 mm. Teeth, if the cat eats industrial feed, will be okay.
Sports corner for cats Bengals differ excellent immunity and high endurance, the only weak point is the stomach. But feed the beauty correctly, and this problem will not affect you.
Water procedures
Like Bengals, they are absolutely not afraid of water either. To bathe them it is necessary as necessary - after a walk, before the exhibition, if you have a homebody, then once a month will be more than enough.
You can simply open the warm water from the tap, and the cat will be amusing to break the jet with the paw.
Please note that the Bengali will seek to take a bathroom with you - this is the norm for them. If this is unacceptable for you, then close the door to the bathroom.
Coloring
The color of the fur can be divided into two types: standard:
- Rosette on gold;
- Marble.
And rare:
- Links;
- Mink;
- Sepia;
- Coal shades;
- Recently recognized blue color.
Cat of rare color From the coloring directly depends on the price of the animal.
The nature of the pet
Bengal cat is absolutely not afraid of other domestic animals, even larger than herself. It is interesting, but they are not dogs that are not afraid, but even by behavior it is clear that they consider them their friends! Bengals will play with the dog, jump, scratch and bite it, apparently, the gene of fear of dogs still managed to eradicate. Or it's just their innate courage - we can only guess.
Bengal and monkey The cat has a very interesting voice, unlike the standard meow. In its sound, both menacing, predatory notes, and soothing tenderness, even a slight chirping, like that of birds, can be traced. And screaming Bengals loudly, persistently, be ready for concerts during puberty.
Like dogs, the Bengal breed is capable of training and memorizing teams. He will look at you with intelligent eyes, listening carefully to every word. For example, Bengal is easy to teach to carry things with front paws, moving on the rear. Do not be surprised if one day a purr opens the door or cabinet, turns on the light at night, or releases water in the toilet.
Bengal cat on hind legs Once again, we emphasize their endless playfulness. A cat, having sensed a bad mood of the owner (they have a very developed intuition), or if a person is unwell or depressed, he will certainly bring him a toy and invite him to play to distract from bad thoughts.
Play, and only play If the cat lies on the sore spot of the master, giving healing heat, then the Bengal will call to play, that's such a cheerful character.
And remember - we are responsible for those who have tamed!
Bengal cat, care and content from professionals
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Wild color, harmoniously combined with grace and elegance has attracted the attention of many cat lovers. But until now not everyone knows the name of this beauty. And the cat breed with the leopard color is called Bengal.
The history of mini leopards began in 1961, when an American Gene Mill, traveling to Bangkok, bought a kitten of a wild Asian cat in the local market with insanely beautiful color. A baby named Malaysia grew up and took courtship of a normal pet cat. In 1963 a kitten appeared, who inherited from her mother a beautiful fur coat, and from the pope a gentle disposition. Unfortunately, soon Malaysia had to be sent to the zoo, and her only daughter was killed because of illness, the work stopped.
Only after 15 years, Jean received a second chance. At the institute, where she worked as a biologist-geneticist, carried out research on the inheritance of immunity to the feline leukemia virus. For this, wild cats were knitted with domestic cats. Jin became the head of the project and concurrently decided to implement the old dream. Already in 1991, the first leopard cat took part in the TICA Championship under the name.
In the process of breeding Bengal, wild Asian cats and various breeds of domestic animals took part, among them were Burma, Egyptian Mau, Abyssinian, Bombay and many others.Cats similar to leopards, Bengal breed (video):
Appearance of leopard cats
Bengal cat-leopard athletically built, agile and curious. She has strength and agility, which is surprisingly combined with balance, grace and irrepressible energy. The sizes range from medium to large. The muzzle is beautifully filled, and its expressiveness is attached to a broad nose and almost round eyes.
The wool of the Bengal cats is short, very thick and close to the body. The touch is soft and silky. Separately it is necessary to say about glitter - an unusual shine of wool, which was inherited from the wild brothers. In the sun, every hair is shimmering and sparkling.
Peculiarities of color
The classical version of the color, the one that many call a leopard, in felinology is called a brown rosette tabby or simply "rosette on gold."
Sockets, by the way, can also be different:
- "Darts" - the spot has the shape of an arrow with a sharp transition from light to dark;
- An open socket is a semicircle or a half-oval with an open contour;
- "Bagel" - a classic, clearly delineated outline with a brightened middle.
Leopard colors are only Bengals, this is the uniqueness of the breed. But it is worth noting that it is not the only possible one. The standard allows several other colors (brown, silver, coal, "snow") and drawings (rosette, spot, marble).
Two absolutely identical leopard colors do not exist. Each cat's drawing is individual, like fingerprints.
How much does a leopard kitten cost?
When the future owners finally decided on the choice and decided that it was a leopard cat; breed, price are the next important issues.
The price range is very wide, some kittens are sold for 10,000 rubles, others cost 50,000 rubles. and more. The cost depends on the merits of the parents, the geography of the nursery and the class of the baby. After birth, litters are evaluated in accordance with the standard and conditionally distribute the classes to the children:
- Pet class - kittens "for the soul" for further castration or sterilization cost 15-30 000 rubles.
- Bride-class - for breeding, will cost already 35-70 000 rubles.
- Show class - kids with good prospects from elite lines or with an ideal color can cost more than 80 000 rubles.
This pricing policy applies to kittens from kennels that were born as a result of a planned mating, have documentary evidence of origin and health. In addition, it is worth considering that the breeder sets prices, based on his own considerations. Sometimes very good kittens can be sold as a pet and cost relatively inexpensive. And sometimes, on the contrary, the cat does not look like a leopard at all, the breed is visible only on the pedigree, and its cost is above average.
A lot of proposals on the animal market come from the owners of Bengal cats, who decided to tie their animals just for money or "for health", and then sell beautiful kittens who naturally can not have a pedigree, but often have good external data. If a leopard cat grows out of such a kid, the price may reach 20,000 rubles. Other colors are not estimated so high, usually do not exceed 10,000 rubles.
Photo
Photo of Bengal cats with leopard color.
Which admires its attractive, mottled color. These predators belong to the genus Panther and are divided into subspecies. The largest representative of this species is the Asiatic leopard, which at this time is under special attention of wildlife defenders.
Appearance
Like most leopards, this subspecies has characteristic contrast spots scattered all over the trunk, on the back they have a larger diameter. The main color is grayish-buffy, by winter these cats change their shade, acquiring a paler color. The spots always remain black-brown. The coat is quite soft and short regardless of the season. The Anterior Asian leopard has a slender, slightly elongated body. At withers, it can grow to 76 cm. The length of the cat's body is on average 170, although there are individuals measuring just 126 cm or, on the contrary, 183 cm. The females are usually smaller. The tail of the animal is slightly shorter than the body - from 94 to 116 cm. The ears of the predator are round, small in shape. The weight of the cat varies about 60 kilos.
Lifestyle
In general, this predator lives in one locality, not roaming from place to place. He can make small transitions after the booty. Usually the Asiatic leopard inhabits ungulate habitats. He also wants to avoid snow-covered areas. Active life begins late in the evening and lasts until the morning. If the weather is cool, a predator may appear in the daytime. The hunting style of this beast is "stalking", occasionally it can chase after prey. These felines are not at all squeamish and eat their prey together with guts. They can also eat half-decomposed corpses of animals, and the remains are hidden in bushes or other suitable shelters. The main diet includes wild ungulates. But the beast will not refuse even the porcupine, fox, birds, rabbits, small predators or from rodents. On domestic livestock practically does not attack, only only on extreme necessity in too much snowy, prolonged winters. The nature of the animal is quite cautious. He tries to hide, but if he is wounded to protect himself, he can attack a person. 
Where does the leopard inhabit the Asiatic? Photo of the animal shows that it is close to stones and rocky areas. Of course, for life this beast needs a shelter, so it can be found more often in the gorges, within which flow rivers. But also it is found in deciduous forests and can rest on trees.
Kittens
In three years the leopard is ready for reproduction. The gon usually falls in December-January, and in about April there are kittens. The female can bring up to 4 kids, but more often in the litter 2 or 3 cubs. Within three months, young animals feed on milk, then the mother begins to feed them with game. Kittens stay with the female for about a year and a half, after which they leave for "their bread".
Disappearing species
Unfortunately, attractive color became a bait for poachers, who with special greed hunted leopards. Also, the reduction of the species is due to the activity of a person who took away from the animal its habitat, because of which the number of ungulates decreased, which fed the leopard. The third factor of the instantaneous reduction of individuals is intentional destruction, as it has been categorized as an animal that harms the domestic livestock. In most Transcaucasian republics, the Asiatic leopard was subject to extermination year-round, like the wolf. As a result, according to modern estimates, there are only 870 - 1300 animals of this subspecies in the world. Most of all these felines live on freedom in Iran there there are about 550 - 850 heads. They are also found in Afghanistan, but there are not more than 300 of them. A little less lives in Turkmenistan, about a hundred. In Armenia and Azerbaijan, these spotted ones are only ten. In Georgia, Turkey and 3 to 5 individuals. 
Today, all actions that lead to the extermination of a spotted predator are prohibited not only in Russia, but also in all places of its habitat. The authorities are trying to restore the population of the animal, which is already listed in the Red Book. It is planned that in the territory of Russia in 15 years the population of the animal will be restored, and so the Asiatic leopard will be saved. In Krasnodar Krai, two males caught free in Turkmenistan and two females from Iran were settled in the national park. Virtually all hopes are placed on the offspring of these couples. It is planned to restore the population of this animal in the Caucasus, because before the 20th century this species of leopard inhabited all the mountain areas of this region.
On coins
Russian Sberbank has minted seven new coins from the series "Let's save our world". The money collection depicting the rare animals of the country this time was replenished by the Asiatic leopard. The coin of this series was shown to the world in 2011. In total seven "leopards" of various denominations were minted, three of them are made of silver and four of gold.
Description of coins
On the obverse of each denomination there is a traditional image whose wings "look" down, under it there is an inscription "Bank of Russia". Around the frame of the points is recorded the denomination of the coin, the test with the designation of metal, the year of coinage and the sign. The reverse shows the leopard in various poses and actions. The background is outlined by the outlines of nature. From the bottom, every coin "front Asian leopard" - 11 has an inscription "Let's save our world" along the edge.
Leopard cat Asian - a breed of wild cats, which are very common around the globe. This kind of animal is wild and poorly tamed. Its name speaks for itself.
Appearance of this wild beast resembles the appearance of a leopard, and the character in many ways is similar. It is severe, but sometimes such cats are found near human settlements. Even there is information about cases of domestication of the animal by man, but there are very few of them. What is the difference between leopard cats and their relatives?
Features of appearance
The leopard cat that flashed in the thickets of bushes is really easy to confuse with a leopard. She has the same skin with characteristic spots. There are several varieties of cats of this breed (up to 10 subspecies). They differ mainly in color and size of the spots.
Cats living in different climates also have their own characteristics. For example, those who live in a warmer climatic zone, have spots much darker than those who live closer to the northern hemisphere. The last spots have a reddish shade, located on a gray background. The spots of all the representatives of this breed are stretched horizontally.
These cats are different from their usual size. They are quite large (sometimes their length reaches 1 m), males weigh up to 10 kg.
These Chinese leopard cats were christened with a coin cat, because the stains on their bodies are very similar to coins made in ancient China. In the whole history of the existence of human knowledge of these animals, several of their names are known.
The color of the fur of cats may have a greyish or more yellow tinge, but the lower jaw and stomach are invariably light.
The head of these animals is of small size, the muzzle is rather narrow. The tail is large and rather thick. On the ears from behind there are bright spots - this is a distinctive feature of many wild cats.
Lifestyle
Their habitats are:
- tropical or pine forests;
- semi-desert;
- the territory near the rivers;
- territories located at an altitude of 3000 m above the ground.
Wild Asians build their homes in:
- tree hollows;
- caves;
- lairs.
In their natural dwellings asian cats basically fall asleep in the afternoon, because they lead a nocturnal life, hunting for other animals, because they are predators. To do this, they easily climb to the tops of trees, hoping to find there food, which for them are:
- small birds;
- proteins;
- wood shrews.
These cats often live near water bodies, so their diet can include various representatives of the family of amphibians. They feed on insects, mammals, and lizards.
Leopard cats living in northern regions like to eat fish, eggs, catch hares, sometimes eat grass.
If desired and if necessary, they can swim in the rivers, climb mountains, even climb the rocks. These predators are usually alone. They are rarely seen near human habitation. Spend time in pairs, they prefer only in the mating season, after which the light appears 2 or 3 kittens.
A pair of cats who have acquired offspring usually raise their children together for 8 months. Evidence that kittens are predators is the presence of their fangs within a month after birth. By this age they are already ready for a tasting of solid food.
Life among people
Are these predators capable of domestication? Of course, such an animal, accustomed to free life, will not easily adapt to other living conditions. But an Asian leopard cat can still be taught to live with a man, for this it is better to take a kitten until he is 3 months old. If there is a possibility, then for these cats it is possible to build an enclosure where they will live in conditions more habitual for this breed.
The owners of such animals must take into account that when the kitten reaches puberty, his character can change. They usually show their wild temper at this age. If the owners do not plan to breed these animals, it is better to castrate cats before this period. Usually after such procedure the Asian leopard cat becomes more compliant and complaisant.
It is not very difficult to accustom such a cat to the tray, you just need to buy a large tray, because the animal is large, and like its relatives, it likes to row.
Kittens get used to their master (although not without difficulty), but they will ignore all others. Since these animals are naturally accustomed to an active lifestyle, for them movement plays an important role, so the best place for them is aviary. Their activity is reflected in health and production of offspring, therefore, they should not be left alone in a confined space (apartment).
These predators, like the whole family of felines, like to play. They need to be provided with different toys. Torn grass, for example, snyt or wheat grass, attracts cats with its odor, because for predators, the sense of smell plays an important role in survival in nature. They will be happy to ride on the ground or floor, showing this their pleasure from the smell.
Only sometimes you can give the animal frozen beef and fish. Fish need very little, because it is able to deprive the body of a cat of calcium, and this can provoke the development of rickets.
Some experts believe that such cats should be left once a week without food, for them it is useful. The opinion of others - on a fasting day, give only half the daily feed. Such a day should be 1 time a week. What is it for? Do not think that this is a mockery of the animal.
Just when a leopard cat lives in captivity, it does not spend as much energy as in nature, chasing prey. Therefore, a more "sedentary" way of life can lead them to obesity and other feline diseases. Only there are certain limitations. You can not give fasting:
- pregnant females;
- cats during the feeding of kittens.
Despite the formidable appearance, the cat can play, purr, be affectionate and give many joyful minutes of communication. It is listed in the Red Book as a vanishing animal, as its beautiful skin attracts the attention of numerous poachers. Therefore, the leopard cat needs protection very much.
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