Caracal cats, also called desert or steppe lynxes, except the Sahara desert, live in Africa, as well as in southwestern Asia. Despite the name, this predator has nothing to do with lynxes, there is only some similarity in appearance. There are so many animals in some areas that the locals exterminate them, as pests attack domestic animals, but caracals are quite rare in Asia and northern Africa.
Cats used to get along in the same area with cheetahs, but now they prefer to stay closer to the serval. They live in thickets of shrubs, forests, rocky areas, plains. The edge of the forest, turning into a plain, is ideal for their habitat. The habitat also affects the color of the animal’s coat, so caracal cats are brown, yellowish, and red. The abdomen is lighter than the back, numerous spots are located on it. The muzzle is notable for the dark marks around the eyes, the ears are large and end in black long tassels. The older the feline, the longer they are.
Females weigh up to 13 kg, males - about 20 kg, body length - from 60 cm to 90 cm, tail about 30 cm. These sizes speak for themselves and give an idea of how huge the caracal cat is. The photo of the animal differs significantly from the image of an ordinary domestic cat, this is a typical representative of predators. Its powerful hind legs allow you to jump up to 5 m in length, as well as push off the ground and fly upward, thanks to which the beast is able to catch an already flying bird.
Steppe lynx prefer to live alone, the only exception is the mating period. If the paths of males can still intersect, then females on their territory will not tolerate anyone, their possessions occupy from 4 to 60 km in Africa, and Asian representatives generally occupy up to 300 km of area. Caracal cats prefer to mate when they are not threatened by hunger. Females make themselves felt with the help of urine with pheromones and a kind of cough that signals a mating call. Kittens appear in the period from October to February, but it all depends on the characteristics of the habitat.
The cat protects its offspring up to 4 months, feeds the babies, drags them from place to place. Kittens become completely independent at six months. Animals are mostly nocturnal, but sometimes they can be seen during the day. Caracal cats have a perfect ear that helps them track down victims; their eyesight is used to accurately target the target. Predators feed only on food of animal origin: birds, small monkeys, rodents, antelopes, hares, damans, reptiles. They can not only kill an animal superior in mass, but also drive away other hunters from their prey.
Sometimes a caracal cat may be kept as a pet. The price for it is rather high, and far from everyone can feed a predator, therefore the steppe lynx can be seen only among wealthy people. The animal is endowed with a developed intellect, so it can be taught and tamed in many ways, but nevertheless one should not forget about its origin and natural instincts. An untrained pet can be dangerous even for the owner.
