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It was always believed that a pet is a friend of the whole family, gentle and affectionate. Most people have pets because of these characteristics. But times are changing as well as morals - in some families, trying to show their status, they give birth to wild animals. A dune cat can be safely attributed to this category of animals - it has preserved all the instincts that wild animals possess. Consider what the features of these pets are, and whether it is worth acquiring such an animal.
general information
The Arabian sand cat made friends with a person recently, however, you can meet families that raise this animal. Immediately it is worth noting that it is necessary to consider a huge number of factors when buying - habitat, habits and character.
In general, dune cats live in the desert regions of Central Asia, as well as North Africa. These unusual, very beautiful and wild creatures feel great in the harsh conditions of hot deserts. You can meet an animal in countries such as Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan.
Cats have a peculiar character - you should not expect your pet to lazily lie on your knees all evening. They are used to hunting, running many kilometers, therefore, when buying a cat, you need to consider that the animal will need enough free space, as well as the ability to catch its prey on its own.
What does it look like?
The appearance of the animal is rather unusual, but pretty. Consider the description of cats in detail:
- The head is flattened, while quite massive.
- The ears look quite large compared to the head, but they cannot be called huge - everything looks proportionate.
- Sideburns are present on the sides - it is noteworthy that they are inherent only to this breed.
- Paws are massive and short.
- The pads that are on the paws are covered with a thick layer of wool - this is necessary so that the cat can move around the hot sands.
- The coat is thick, soft - nature took care that the cat did not freeze on cold nights, as the temperature in Arab countries tends to change sharply, and dense coat protects the animal from overheating during the day.
- The color of the fur is sandy - as cats are hunters, they must merge with the environment.
- Cats are small, their length is about 90 cm, and the weight of the largest individuals reaches 3.5 kg.
It is interesting! We all know how cats behave during the mating season. So, with dune cats, the situation is a little different. You will not hear howls - on the contrary, males make barking sounds in order to attract the attention of females.
Arabian gritty is a very cautious animal. Before leaving its mink in order to go hunting, the cat freezes for about 15 minutes in a waiting pose. And only after making sure that the cat is completely safe, she goes hunting. From hunting, the animal also returns very carefully - such measures are needed in order not to become prey for larger predators. During the hunt, cats move in jerks, while very tightly press their torso to the sand - to be less noticeable. If they feel they are in danger - in such cases, cats even close their eyes - so that they do not shine. It seems to you that this method of transportation is strange? Dune cats in one trip can overcome more than 10 thousand kilometers.
Animals have a natural acting talent - however, they also need it in order to survive. In emergency cases, the animal may pretend to be dead.You can pick up an animal, stroke it - while the cat will remain motionless.
An interesting fact is that creatures without special torment can for a long time do without fresh water. Again, everything was provided for by nature - they get moisture while they eat their prey. Cats can easily dig a huge hole if there is an urgent need to hide from the scorching rays of the sun. Cats have powerful, short paws, and while digging a hole, a cat may well get its own food, for example, the same lizard.
It was said above that kittens have rather large ears. They need this in order to hunt - because it is at the expense of the ears that the animal catches even very quiet sounds that mice can make. The mustache is developed - in these cats they are provided in order to respond to vibrations, this will also be relevant if you need to find prey.
In addition to all of the above, it is impossible not to mention the factor that cats are very thrifty. If there is too much prey, there is no strength to eat it - the animal will never leave it just lying in the sand. Having buried it well, the cat will return after it later in order to pacify the newly played appetite. It is noteworthy that in some cases there is so much prey that the animal may not hunt for two days in a row, eating up the remains of a successful hunt. Dune cats live in pairs.
How do they breed?
Animals breed exclusively in favorable conditions, so the habitat can play a significant role. If cats are kept in zoos - kittens can bring even more than once a year. In wild individuals, the situation is different, it all depends on the season and territory of residence.
Before giving birth, the female’s task is to find a spacious and comfortable hole in order to be there with kittens. Sometimes it happens that the search does not end in success - in this case, the animal has to work hard to dig its own mink.
A pregnant cat walks for about 2 months. Bring 5 or even 8 kittens at a time. Newborn kittens weigh very little - about 30 grams. Already 5 weeks after birth, cats are ready to learn to hunt. Therefore, mom takes them with her in order to teach all the skills. After 8 months, the kittens become completely independent and can already live on their own. And after six months, cats reach puberty and can reproduce new offspring into the world. The sad fact is that young individuals have a rather high mortality rate - around 40 percent.
Interesting! It is not known what the average duration of feral cats is. But according to statistics, if the animal is in good conditions, in captivity, then the dune cat may well live up to 30 years.
Domestication
From all of the above, one can say for sure: cats are really amazing, they are not only beautiful, but also wonderful hunters, neat and thrifty. How will she behave at home? It’s worth mentioning right away that such animals can belong to very wealthy people - they need special conditions, and the cost of one individual can be more than 6,000 dollars.
It is necessary to ensure that the cat has the opportunity of free movement around the territory, as well as active games. Also, we must not forget that the pet needs privacy, so it is important to equip the place in advance where the cat will rest.
Vaccinations also need to be given attention - animals are susceptible to viral infections, which can lead to death. Therefore, immediately after buying an animal, you must go to the veterinarian and consult about vaccinations.
How to feed?
We must not forget about instincts. Occasionally, a cat will have to give livestock - for example, a mouse - in order to satisfy its hunting needs. This type of breed cannot be fed with dry feeds!
The digestive tract of a dune cat does not digest cereals, fiber - therefore, it does not need all this (and all feed contains additives). If you get this kitty, you will have to make sure that you always have raw, fresh meat in the refrigerator.
It is noteworthy that breeders have repeatedly tried to breed domestic breed, mixing different species - and this did not give any results. Breeding leads to the fact that the most striking features of animals are oppressed, therefore, the breed is simply depreciated.
Video: Dune Cat
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