Hybrid cat

Lithuanian Liberation – International Rescue Update #3

Lithuanian Liberation – International Rescue Update #3

New Arrivals: Lithuanian Savannah Cats Find Sanctuary in Oregon

A Journey Across Continents

Yesterday evening WildCat Ridge Sanctuary welcomed three very special new residents. Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira – our Lithuanian savannah cats – finally touched down on American soil after a long and tiring journey.

Avataras, F1 Male

Meet Our New Feline Friends

  1. Avataras: This handsome boy is an F2 savannah, meaning he’s a first-generation hybrid between a serval and a domestic cat. With his striking spotted coat and tall, elegant frame, Avataras is sure to turn heads

    Bondas, F4 Male

  2. Bondas: An F4 male, Bondas is a fourth-generation savannah. While he may have a bit more domestic cat in his lineage, don’t let that fool you – he’s every bit as wild at heart as his F1 counterparts.
  3. Bagira: Another F2 savannah, this little female appears to be the most outgoing of our new trio.

The Journey Home

As their transport boxes were carefully unloaded, we could sense the cats’ eagerness to stretch their legs after their transcontinental trip. The soft mews and occasional chirps (a unique vocalization of savannah cats) told us they were more than ready to explore their new surroundings.

Settling In: The Quarantine Period

For the next 30 days, Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira will reside in our quarantine facilities. This crucial period allows us to:

  • Closely monitor their health
  • Ensure they’re eating well and adjusting to their new diet
  • Give them time to acclimate to the sights, sounds, and smells of the sanctuary
  • Conduct any necessary medical check-ups or treatments

    Bagira, F1 Female

We’re happy to report that all three cats have already shown healthy appetites, which is an excellent sign of their adjustment. Their curious nature is also evident as they cautiously but eagerly investigate every corner of their temporary homes.

Looking Ahead: New Friends and Forever Home

Once their quarantine period is complete, our Lithuanian trio will transition to a specially designed enclosure within the sanctuary. Here, they’ll have the opportunity to meet some of our other resident cats. Savannah cats are known for their social nature, so we’re excited to see the friendships that may develop.

The Importance of Sanctuary

The arrival of Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira highlights the ongoing need for sanctuaries like ours. While savannah cats are legal pets in many areas, their wild instincts and specific care requirements often lead to them being surrendered or abandoned. At WildCat Ridge Sanctuary, we’re committed to providing these magnificent creatures with the specialized care and enrichment they need to thrive.

How You Can Help

We’re thrilled to provide a forever home for Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira, but we can’t do it without your support. Here’s how you can help:

  • Consider being the first to sponsor one of our new arrivals
  • Donate to help cover the costs of their care
  • Share this story to raise awareness about the challenges faced by hybrid wild cats

Stay tuned for more updates on our Lithuanian savannah cats as they settle into their new lives here at WildCat Ridge Sanctuary. We can’t wait to share their journey with you!

WildCat Ridge Sanctuary is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe haven for abandoned, abused, and retired exotic cats. We believe that education is key to ending the exotic pet trade and are committed to sharing the stories of our residents to promote conservation and responsible animal care.

Posted by Natasha Nemyre in Blog, Hybrids
Lithuanian Liberation – International Rescue Update #2

Lithuanian Liberation – International Rescue Update #2

Healthy, Happy, and Ready for a New Home

All three rescued savannah cats have passed their health exams! They are all in excellent health, good body condition, and up to date on vaccines. All three are ten years old. The group consists of two males, an F2 and F4, and one female, an F2.

For those unfamiliar, hybrid cats are defined by their generation. For example, an F1 is a first-generation hybrid, with one wild serval parent and one domestic cat parent. An F2 is the result of breeding an F1 with a domestic cat. The higher the number following the “F”, the further the hybrid is from its wild ancestor. In Lithuania, F1-F4 hybrids are still considered wild cats and it is illegal to keep them in captivity unless for scientific purposes.

Initially WildCat Ridge was set to take the F2 male and female. However, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Wildlife Rescue Centre (LUHSWRC) reached out again, asking if we could also take the F4 male since he and the F2 male are a bonded pair. Of course, we did not hesitate to say yes. We know how important companionship is for cats who have endured traumatic experiences, and we are happy to be able to keep this bonded pair together.

As the cats prepare to make their journey to their forever home in Oregon, we’re planning some upgrades to the enclosure they’ll move into after their initial quarantine. You can help make their new space extra special by visiting our Amazon Wishlist! Whether it’s tools for building play structures, supplements to keep them healthy, or scents for enrichment, every contribution makes a difference. Thank you for your support!

Stay tuned for more updates!

If you missed our first update, you can find it here.

 

Posted by Natasha Nemyre in Blog, Hybrids

What is a Hybrid Cat?

What is a Hybrid Cat?

The Keeper Journal

Taji

Here at WildCat Ridge, we take in a number of wildcats that used to be owned as pets, including bobcats, servals and the occasional lynx. Sadly, many pet owners believe that since they're "smaller" wildcats, they make the perfect exotic house pet. This is just not true, as they come to find out, and they're quick to try and re-home these animals in places like animal sanctuaries.

In addition to servals and bobcats, we also receive a number of inquiries asking to take in hybrid cats. Hybrids are the result of breeding a wildcat with a domestic house cat; these animals are then advertised as domesticated house pets. But no matter how hard you try, you simply can't take the wild out of a wildcat, even if it's been bred with a tabby.

So what's a hybrid?

Sadly, there are a variety of hybrid cats on the pet market today, tempting owners to invest in a more exotic, larger and unique looking pet. These cats may be anywhere from a first generation (F1) hybrid where one parent was a wildcat, one a domestic cat, to an F3, where the momma cat was an F2 and the father a domestic.

The belief is that the lower the number after the F, the less wild the animal...but we all know that while you might take the cat out of the wild, there's no removing the wild out of the cat. Right, Tut?

Savannahs, bengals and chausies

We currently have three different breeds of hybrids at our animal sanctuary – savannahs, bengals and one chausie.

  • Savannah – A savannah cat is the result of breeding a domestic cat with an African serval. While the resulting animal may look as unique as Taji or more like a large house cat, such as Violet or Maxi, their behaviors will likely remain as food aggressive and potentially territorial as a wild serval's. Of course, we do have some savannahs that love some keeper attention, but they remain a force to be reckoned with during breakfast.
Zuzu and Jersey

Zuzu and Jersey, savannah cats

  • Bengals – Bengal cats are the offspring of a domestic cat and Asian Leopard cat. And while they catch the eye of many want-to-be-exotic-pet owners because of their uniquely spotted coat, bengals have an irreversible instinct to mark their territory by spraying everywhere. While there is plenty of room for all our bengals to mark their territory to their hearts content out here at WCR, it's a good reason why bengals don't belong in a home.
    Morpheus

    Morpheus, bengal cat

  • Chausie – Chausies are a mix of domestic cat and jungle cat (Felis chaus). Only one chausie calls WildCat Ridge home: our beloved Tut. Even though this boy loves cuddles from the keepers, he also loves anything that smells. We frequently find him waist deep in the poop bucket when we're trying to clean litter boxes, and his reputation for spraying on everything (keepers included!) is just one reason why chausies make highly challenging pets.
Tut

Tut, chausie cat

But no matter their quirks, we adore each of our hybrid cats and find it an important part of our mission to provide them with a comfortable forever home.

Thinking about adopting a hybrid cat?

Trust us when we say, "Think again."

Don't get us wrong, we love each and every one of our hybrids, but we also love each and every one of our tigers and we certainly aren't suggesting they make good pets. Just because an animal is beautiful, exotic or has a great personality, it does not mean that animal belongs in a house. Far from it, in fact.

In addition, many hybrid cats, because they are the product of human experimentation and do not occur naturally in the wild, are born with a number of health complications or genetic defects. This can make life uncomfortable, even painful, for the cats; scary diagnoses and large vet bills are yet another reason why many owners give up on owning hybrids, resulting in an abundance of these animals at sanctuaries like ours.

Support our hybrids, not the exotic pet market

We won't disagree, hybrids are beautiful animals (like, we're all obsessed with Morpheus). However, as long as there is a demand, breeders will continue to supply hybrids, even when a majority of these cats will likely be re-homed or need extensive medical care at some point in their lives.

You can help put a stop to this demand and provide for the wellbeing of all exotic animals by raising your voice against the exotic pet trade, adopting a sweet domestic kitty from your local human society instead or virtually adopting one of our hybrids!

And we thank you for standing with us against the private ownership and breeding of exotic wildcats.

 

 

Posted by Rebecca Siemens in Blog