Caracals are some of the most striking cats, with a slim, sleek physique, a short, auburn-brown coat, and stunning facial patterns. In order to thrive, all cats need to consume meat. Caracals are nocturnal hunters who will chase after whatever game they can catch. This includes monkeys, birds, rats, and mongooses.
Caracals are known to slaughter domestic livestock as well as large mammals like impalas and juvenile kudus. These quick cats are capable of jumping up to 10 feet in the air and attacking a bird in flight.
A wildlife account on TikTok shows this happening in action. It’s incredible to see how swiftly the feline can leap into the air. As for the bird, it instantly becomes the caracal’s lunch. Many of the comments on the video reference how great a cat like this would be on a sports team, particularly a soccer goalie.
How Do Caracal Cats Hunt?
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Caracals follow their victim like the majority of cats do before they pounce. These cats occasionally consume poultry in regions where people live. Caracals will occasionally hide their dead prey in the branches of trees or tangles of plants before returning to feast.
A caracal’s physique is designed for covert attacks. Caracals can run extremely quickly and make almost no noise when they dash at their prey because their footpads are padded by stiff fur. A caracal’s ears may have fur tufts on the ends that may improve hearing, thereby rendering it simpler for the cat to detect the sounds of prey.
Usually seen with their offspring in dense undergrowth, caracals can be discovered building their maternal nests in deserted porcupine tunnels and crevices in rocks. Despite being primarily terrestrial, they have great jumping and climbing abilities.
Can You Own a Caracal Cat as a Pet?
At the beginning of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, many people binged the Netflix series, “Tiger King.” This quickly brought up the conversation of owning wild cats as pets. Residents of several states are permitted to own small wildcats, such as caracals as pets.
With proper licensing, you can legally own a caracal cat in the following states:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Indiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- South Dakota
A caracal is not like any other kitten when kept as a pet. For starters, all exotic pets typically cost a lot more than typical four-legged friends. Based on the breeder, caracal cats can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $20,000 each. Yet, some can potentially cost $30,000 or more. Demand, reputation, and locality all affect price fluctuations.
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