by Alexandra Pollard

Created on: April 04, 2009   Last Updated: April 07, 2009

First there were designer dogs, from the puggle to the cockapoo breeds were mixed to produce new hybrids with a unique look and desirable qualities from both breeds. Now a new group of pets is rising in the animal market, the hybrid cat. The most famous of these cats is the Bengal, a mixed breed of the Asian Leopard Cat and domestic. In recent years they have become popular with cat enthusiasts for their beautiful rosette fur that mimics that of the wild Asian Leopard Cat, while still retaining enough of the domestic traits to make a manageable companion animal. But with the popularity of the Bengal, it was only a matter of time before a competitor was found. Enter the Caracat.

The Caracat is a new hybrid cat bred from the Caracal lynx and the domestic breed, Abyssinian. Unlike the Bengal, Caracats do not have rosetted fur, but instead a beautiful short coat of solid brown. It most often retains the shape of the Abyssinian, but also has the ear tufts of the lynx. The result, a cat resembling a small cougar.

For a housecat though, the Caracat is a large animal. For a first generation cat, bred directly from the Abyssinian and Caracal lynx, the owner can expect to raise an animal twenty-five to thirty pounds in weight with a shoulder height of 12 to 14 inches. Second generation cats, bred from two Caracats are slightly smaller, weighing in at about twenty to twenty-five pounds with 10 to 12 inches in height.

But the difference between Caracats and your domestic housecat is more than just size. The Caracat, like all hybrid cats retains wild traits and can be a nightmare if the owner does not know what to expect from their cat. While most housecats are content to sleep lazily in the sun, first generation Caracats are rambunctious and mischievous and will take great pleasure and frightening anything that moves and knocking over whatever is within their reach. First generation cats will also not meow, but retain a screechy yowl. Some of these negative traits can be curbed by walking your Caracat on a leash, but this involves daily commitment from the owner and must be started as a kitten, otherwise they will not train to a leash and will instead take it out on your hand. Second generation Caracats are tamer, while they are still mischievous, their energy can usually be controlled by taking out time to play and leash training is easier to accomplish. More than anything, second generation Caracats are extremely large, energetic housecats.

Potential owners should also note that homes with children under the age of ten or twelve are not recommended, as Caracats can be aggressive.

But despite their troublemaking ways, the Caracat can be an amazing pet for the right person. They form stronger bonds with owners than most housecats, although they might not always show it, and are wonderfully playful not to mention beautiful animals. The most important thing to remember is that they are exotic pets, and you must treat them as such. But with dedication and knowledge you can have a wonderful companion animal for many years to come.

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