Kitten - Birth and development

A feline litter usually consists of two to five kittens. The kits are born after a gestation that lasts between 64 and 67 days, with an average length of 66 days. Kittens emerge in a sac called the amnion which is bitten off and eaten by the mother cat.

For the first several weeks, kittens are unable to urinate or defecate without being stimulated by their mother.  They are also unable to regulate their body temperature for the first three weeks, so kittens born in temperatures less than 27°C (80 °F) can die from exposure if they are not kept warm by their mother.

The mother's milk is very important for the kittens' nutrition and proper growth. This milk transfers antibodies to the kittens, which helps protect them against infectious disease. Newborn kittens are also unable to produce concentrated urine, and so have a very high requirement for fluids.

Kittens open their eyes about seven to ten days after birth. At first, the retina is poorly developed and vision is poor. Kittens are not able to see as well as adult cats until about ten weeks after birth.

Taking Care of Bobcat

Bobcats need dedicated vets who have experience with wildlife and exotic animals. They also must be fed raw food diet that requires to be explored to assure proper nutrition from organ meats, muscle meat, bones, and any other supplementary forms of nutrition besides whole prey items. 

Housing: Preferably, bobcat owners must have indoor and outdoor housing for their animals. Some bobcat owners have doggie doors that led to decently-sized enclosures outside. Such cages must be tested and robust. 

While kind family members, bobcats are still untamed and may be aggressive at times or have bad bathroom habits, in which they would need a safe place to move away to that is not confining like a small dog run. It is just a general idea to have a designated space for any exotic cat.

If the bobcat is anticipated to spend a lot of time in a cage or be a fully caged pet, large sizes and enrichment are particularly necessary.

Escape prevention is also a main concern with exotic feline ownership. Non-domesticated animals frequently don't return like most domesticated cats, and more significantly, in spite of the lack of statistical evidence, the public will see an escaped bobcat as a safety threat and your animal, if spotted, may be executed on sight.

Generally after such events happen, even if the animal is safely returned and no one is injured, there will be an attack of animal rights activists and uninformed public that will campaign for exotic pet bans as a result.

Exotic cat owners should also robustly consider modifying their homes to put up double door entrances. 

These structures are similar to what is employed in public live butterfly homes; such doors lead to a small room in which you can carefully lock the animal into the house before you go out. These are very important to prevent escapes.

For most homes this is a pricey undertaking or a lot of work to tailor you, but for committed pet owners, as bobcat owners should be, it is worth it in the long run.

Care for a Bobcat

Every year, young bobcats find themselves in need of a helping hand in southern California. Occasionally they are healthy cats who just found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time; more often they are ill, malnourished, orphaned, or suffering from injuries caused by proximity to human populations.

There is only one rescue group in San Diego County licensed to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native apex predators in need of medical attention:  The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center.  Their small staff and cadre of dedicated volunteers rescue hundreds of animals each year, including bobcats, eagles, coyotes, skunks, and the occasional mountain lion.

The Wildlife Center can house over 100 animals at one time, providing food, antibiotics, and wound care. Rescue and stabilization is just the beginning — then comes rehabilitation and release back into the wild. Appropriate areas for release are scouted in advance, to give rehabilitated animals the best chances of survival and ensure the patient won't be coming back in anytime soon.

You can help feed a rescued bobcat! This Gift That Gives More™ provides food for one day, helping a bobcat regain its strength for eventual release back into the wild.