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It has always been thought that a pet is a friend of the whole family, gentle and affectionate. Most people because of these characteristics and give birth to pets. But times change as well as mores - in some families, in an effort to show their status, wild animals are born. Dune cat can be safely attributed to this category of animals - she has preserved all the instincts possessed by wild animals. Consider what are the features of these pets, and whether to buy such an animal.
general information
The Arab sand cat made friends with a man recently, however, you can meet families that raise this animal. Immediately it should be noted that it is necessary to take into account 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 such countries as Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan.
Cats have a peculiar character - do not expect that the pet will lazily lie on your knees all evening. They are used to hunting, running for many kilometers, therefore, when buying a cat, you need to take into account that the animal will need enough free space, as well as opportunities to catch 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 rather large compared to the head, but at the same time they cannot be called huge - everything looks proportionate.
- On the sides there are whiskers - it is noteworthy that they are inherent only in this breed.
- Paws - massive and not long.
- The pads that are on the paws are covered with a thick layer of wool - this is necessary so that the cat can move along the hot sands.
- Wool is thick, soft - nature has taken care that the cat does not freeze in the cold nights, because the temperature in the Arab countries tends to change dramatically, and thick wool during the day protects the animal from overheating.
- The color of the fur is sandy - since cats are hunters, they must blend in 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 in the mating season. So, in barchan cats, the situation is a little different. You will not hear the howls - on the contrary, the males make barking sounds in order to attract the attention of the females.
Arabian sandy - very careful animal. Before leaving his burrow to go hunting, the cat freezes for about 15 minutes in the waiting pose. And just making sure that the cat is completely safe, she goes hunting. The animal also returns very carefully from hunting - such measures are necessary in order not to become prey for larger predators. During the hunt, the cats move with jerks, while pressing the body very tightly against the sand - to be less noticeable.If they feel threatened - in such cases, cats even close their eyes - so that they do not shine. It seems to you that this method of movement is strange? Dune cats can travel more than 10 thousand kilometers in one raid.
Animals have a natural acting talent - however, they also need it in order to survive. In case of emergency, the animal can pretend to be dead. You can pick up the animal, iron - while the cat will remain motionless.
An interesting fact is that creatures without much suffering can for a long time do without fresh water. Again, nature has foreseen everything - they get moisture when 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. In cats, powerful, short paws, and while digging a hole, a cat may well obtain food, for example, the same lizard.
Above it was said that the cats have rather large ears. They need it in order to hunt - because it is through the ears that the animal catches even very quiet sounds that can make mice.Mustaches are developed - in these cats they are designed 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 power to finish it - the animal will never leave it just lying on the sand. Well buried, the cat will return for 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 to multiply?
Animals breed only in favorable conditions, so the habitat can play a significant role. If cats are kept in zoos, they can bring kittens even more than once a year. In wild specimens, the situation is different; it all depends on the season and the area of residence.
Before the birth, the task of the female is to find a spacious and cozy hole for himself to be there with the kittens. Sometimes it happensthat the search does not end in success - in this case, the animal has to work hard to dig a hole for itself.
Pregnant cat walks about 2 months. They bring in 5 or even 8 kittens at a time. Newborn kittens weigh very little - about 30 grams. Already after 5 weeks after birth, the seals are ready to learn to hunt. Therefore, the mother takes them in order to teach all the skills. After 8 months, the kittens are completely independent and can already live by themselves. And six months later, the cats reach puberty and can reproduce new offspring into the world. Sad is the fact that young individuals have a rather high mortality rate - around 40 percent.
Interesting! It is unknown what the average duration of wild cats is. But according to statistics, if the animal is in good conditions, in captivity - then the dune cat may well live to 30 years.
Domestication
From all of the above, we can say for sure: cats are truly amazing, they are not only beautiful, but also wonderful hunters, neat and thrifty.How will behave at home? Immediately it should be said that such animals may belong to very wealthy people - they need special conditions, and the cost of one individual can be more than $ 6,000.
Care must be taken to ensure that the cat has the possibility of free movement in the territory, as well as active games. You also can not forget that the pet requires privacy, so it is important to pre-equip a place where the cat will rest.
Vaccination also needs to be paid attention - animals are prone to viral infections that can lead to death. Therefore, immediately after the purchase of an animal, you must go to the vet and consult about vaccinations.
How to feed?
We must not forget about instincts. Occasionally you have to give the cat poultry - for example, a mouse - in order for it to satisfy its needs for hunting. Dry feed this type of breed can not be fed!
The gastrointestinal tract of the barkhan cat does not digest cereals, fiber - therefore, it does not need all this (and all feed contains additives). If you start this kitty, you'll have to make sure that you always have raw, fresh meat in the fridge.
It is noteworthy that breeders have repeatedly tried to bring home breed, mixing different types - and this did not give any results. Breeding leads to the fact that the brightest features of animals are oppressed, therefore, the breed simply depreciates.
Video: barchan cat
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