Unianimal
No Result
View All Result
  • BIRDS
  • DOG
  • CAT
  • HORSE
  • ELEPHANT
  • SNAKE
  • CONTACT US
  • BIRDS
  • DOG
  • CAT
  • HORSE
  • ELEPHANT
  • SNAKE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Unianimal
No Result
View All Result
Home Cat

Can Lynx Cats Be Pets?

IAN WARKENTIN by IAN WARKENTIN
May 19, 2023
Can Lynx Cats Be Pets?

Lynxes are medium-sized predatory cats that live in North America, Europe, and Asia. A young or juvenile lynx can resemble a domesticated cat. Yet, adult lynxes, especially the Eurasian lynx, grow far larger than any domestic cat while remaining smaller than many dogs. So, can lynx cats be pets? Take a closer look at the legal and practical factors that come into play when trying to keep one of these mammals as a pet.

How Big Do Lynx Get?

Canada lynx in deep snow
The largest lynxes can weigh over 60 pounds!©iStock.com/Lynn_Bystrom

Before we look into whether or not lynx cats can be pets, it’s necessary to understand how large they can get. That way, it’s possible to see why people may think they would make good pets.

Four species of lynx exist in the world. The largest of those species is the Eurasian lynx. These creatures can weigh about 66 pounds, grow over 4 feet long, and stand about 2.5 feet at the shoulder. Granted, these are the largest measures of the biggest species. However, this size is far greater than any domestic cat.

READ ALSO

Let The Cat Out Of The Bag: Meaning and Origin Revealed

Top 8 Heaviest and Fattest Cats

Meanwhile, a golden retriever can weigh between 55 and 75 pounds, stands up to 2 feet tall at the shoulder, and measures about 3.5 to 4 feet long including their tails.

Given the similarity in size between a domestic dog and a lynx cat, some people may feel that they could handle one of these medium-sized wild cats. The truth is a little murkier, though.

Can You Keep Lynx Cats as Pets?

baby lynx closeup
Young lynxes may be cute, but they grow up to become quite a dangerous animal.©mlorenz/Shutterstock.com

Yes, you can keep lynx cats as pets in certain states in the U.S. and other countries where they’re found. However, just because someone can do something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea.  

Generally speaking, two things prevent people from keeping an animal as a pet. One element is legality and the other is practicality. Some countries and states have placed limits on which animals people can keep as pets for safety and liability reasons. Some animals are also endangered and not allowed to be kept in the hands of the public to protect the population of those creatures.

The other element is the practicality of keeping a wild cat as a pet. That comes down to whether or not an individual can provide an enclosure for the pet, maintain its diet, and keep themselves and others safe from them.

The Legal Aspects of Keeping a Lynx as a Pet

baby lynx pouncing
Not every country or state will allow a person to keep an exotic pet.©Stanislav Duben/Shutterstock.com

Many places around the world will allow a person to keep a lynx as a pet. In that case, then yes, they can be pets. For example, several states either have provisions for people that want to keep these cats as pets or do not regulate the keeping of large animals.

Alabama, Delaware, Oklahoma, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin do not have any laws on the books to keep these large cats out of private hands. Meanwhile, 21 states in the United States ban all dangerous and exotic pets. The rest of the states have highly restrictive laws that allow for ownership in specific circumstances, and the animals may not be privately owned.

Thus, some people can legally own a lynx as a pet, but only in some circumstances. The laws in different places throughout the world are bound to vary. Considering that these mammals live throughout North America, Asia, and parts of Europe, millions of people could potentially own one.

However, the legal aspect of ownership is half of the issue. The other is the practicality of keeping a wild ambush predator as a pet.

The Practical Aspect of Owning a Wild Cat

bobcat - wild lynx
Although they’re not especially large, a lynx can still inflict serious wounds on people.©Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock.com

Having a lynx cat as a pet is nothing like having a domestic cat. These animals are not domesticated. Moreover, they lack the traits that will allow them to become calm, loving pets that enjoy or even tolerate the presence of a human being.

Presumably, some of these cats could accept being kept by humans in the same way that a lion does in the zoo. Yet, it would be dangerous and irresponsible to catch a wild lynx and try to make it into a pet. They could turn on humans and cause them serious harm.

Consider some of the practical reasons why owning a wild cat is not feasible.

Danger to the Owner

Practically speaking, a human can never be completely certain that they are safe around a pet lynx. While the same can be said for some dangerous dog breeds, these animals are not the least bit domesticated. They can attack humans that turn their back on them and inflict some serious wounds.

They would see other pets as prey, and they would certainly pose a significant threat to old people or children. In those cases, the lynxes could cause fatal injuries.

Lynx attacks on humans are rare. Part of the reason they are rare is that lynxes are stealthy hunters that avoid humans. In close proximity, these animals could act on their instincts and attack a person. That’s especially true if a person is not trained to be around these animals.

Meeting the Animal’s Dietary Needs

Lynxes are wild animals that require a special diet to continue living. It’s not as though a person can go to a pet food store and find a dry food mix that contains all the vitamins and nutrients needed to keep them healthy.

When they are kept in a zoo, lynxes are fed ground-meat, rib bones, rat, rabbit, and more to keep them nutritionally balanced. Aside from being costly, the meals are difficult to concoct for average people.

Can lynx cats be pets? Certainly, but it’s probably not a good idea for the vast majority of people. They are dangerous, wild animals that possibly can be tamed to an extent but never domesticated. The legality of owning these cats, the costs and efforts associated with their diets, and threats to human safety should all be considered before trying to obtain a lynx.

IAN WARKENTIN

I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.

Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.

Next Post
Bombay Cat vs Black Cat: What’s the Difference?

Bombay Cat vs Black Cat: What’s the Difference?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

POPULAR NEWS

Prepare to be Amazed: The 10 Most Gorgeous Birds You’ve Never Seen Before

Prepare to be Amazed: The 10 Most Gorgeous Birds You’ve Never Seen Before

March 13, 2023
12 Teacup Dogs That Don’t Shed

12 Teacup Dogs That Don’t Shed

March 5, 2023
10 Prettiest Horses in the World

10 Prettiest Horses in the World

May 19, 2023
Unbelievable Velocity: These 9 Horses Hold the Title for Fastest Land Animals

Unbelievable Velocity: These 9 Horses Hold the Title for Fastest Land Animals

March 14, 2023

Deacon Frey Eagles Departure: Here’s Why He’s Leaving After Almost Five Years

November 22, 2022

EDITOR'S PICK

Where Do Bald Eagles Live? (Habitat + Distribution)

November 13, 2022
What Do Pheasants Eat?

What Do Pheasants Eat?

February 21, 2023

Swan Plants & Toxicity | The Butterfly Musketeers

November 19, 2022

15 Parrots that can Sing? | Pet Birds – Exotic Pets World

December 14, 2022

About Us

Unianimal is a site specializing in knowledge of terrestrial animals, helping you better understand the plant and animal worlds through the most realistic images and videos from our explorers.

Follow us

Category

  • Birds
  • Butterfly
  • Cat
  • Dog
  • Eagle
  • Elephant
  • Horse
  • leopard
  • lion
  • Pig
  • Pitbull
  • tiger
  • Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • Owl Predators: What Eats Owls?
  • Meet The 7 Types Of Chihuahua Dogs
  • Chihuahua Lifespan: How Long Do Chihuahuas Live?
  • Discover 10 Beautiful Butterflies That Live in Arizona

DMCA

DMCA.com Protection Status
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use

© 2022 designed by Unianimal

No Result
View All Result
  • BIRDS
  • DOG
  • CAT
  • HORSE
  • ELEPHANT
  • SNAKE
  • CONTACT US

© 2022 designed by Unianimal