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Canadian Lynx
(Lynx canadensis)

Interview with Tracy Wilson, Rose Urlacher, and Name Withheld

Positives of Canadian Lynx as pets?
TW: Fun, different, relationships with them can be very special and unique.
NW: My three-year old female lynx is affectionate, like a golden retriever, and about as large. She is intelligent and recognizes me as the "mother" who bottle-fed her every two hours from three weeks of age to seven weeks of age. She is amazingly athletic, exploiting nearly every angle of her five foot by five foot, six and a half feet tall cage. As a seven-month old kitten she could pin a thrown sock-ball onto the top of a door jam and put in her mouth before coming back down to the floor. She would then throw the sock back at me to keep the sock-ball fetch game going. She purrs loudly, rubs affectionately and licks my hair. She calls with her lynx-chirp (lynxes don't ever meow) and she growls when I try trimming one too many claws.

Negatives of Canadian Lynx as pets?
TW: They are a lot of responsibility. They can be messy, require a lot of care, vet care is expensive, and their needs can be very expensive. Housing for them can be very expensive. There is a risk of personal injury by them.
NW: She is big, strong and potentially dangerous, weighing thirty-two pounds and she stands twenty two inches at the shoulder. She does not like any other human being, growling and stomping her feet whenever she sees anyone who isn't me. And I would not trust her in the same room, alone, with any other person. Her claws are lightening quick and her teeth are big. She is terrible pet, except for having a good relationship with me.

Anecdotes/stories about your Canadian lynx pet?
TW: Too many to start telling.....But I do have a canadian lynx that likes to hold me down and suck my knees. Don't know why....but it is very strange, flattering, and funny!
NW: She likes to sit on top of the door and she used to jump from the bathroom counter to the shower curtain rod before she broke it. I slept with her until she was two and started spraying to mark her territory.

Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell?
TW: They can smell "musky" when inside the house. Usually don't notice it that much outside.
RU: No.
NW: Yes. Her urine, which she sprays, smells like urine.

What is their average life span?
TW: That is not really known, but it is a minimum 12 to 16 years.
RU: I had a male 18. He was very hard to keep weight on. He developed kidney disease and passed away.
NW: I don't know, but I would guess fifteen to twenty years.

Do they enjoy interaction?
TW: Mine were hand raised from birth. They LOVE interaction with us, obviously miss us when we have not been able spend a lot of time with them as they want from us, and love affection and play time to interact with us.
RU: They are very solitary, but hand raised are very playful.
NW: Yes, but only with me and my domestic cats. She is too big
and "enthusiastic" about new cats to be safe with them, so she only is allowed to interact with the domestic male she grew up with. He is about her age and they have known each other since she was three weeks of age and he was four months old. If they did get in a fight, she would likely kill him, and he weighs nineteen pounds.

What is their general personality, disposition, and attitude?
TW: They all have their individual personalities, just like people or other pets. My female lynx is very laid back, and doesn't get easily excited. My male is very hyper, and gets over stimulated very easily. They are both very lovable, and enjoy sitting in our laps, or being petted. If they get over stimulated, they tend to start wanting to play too rough. They are both very inquisitive, and fearless.
RU: They are much more laid back than the bobcats, less aggressive, more submissive.
NW: Shy, scared and threatening with strangers -- loving and fun with me.

Are they sweet and petable, or mischievous and playful?
TW: Both, depends on their moods, and their individual personalities. But they seem to be a little more sweet and lovable than other species. Like big puppy dogs at times. And they can be very mischievous a lot!
RU: Hand raised ones are very sweet and petable. They seem to stay that way if given proper socialization on an ongoing basis.
NW: Not petable or sweet except with me, in which case she is both of those, plus mischievous and playful too.

How destructive are they for an average household?
TW: VERY destructive inside an average household. They have very big feet, they are clumsy, and they get into everything, knock everything over, break things, etc. They chew on furniture like puppy dogs, except they can climb too!
RU: They are, like bobcats, too much for most households.
NW: She has to live in a cage (unless she has my FULL attention) or she would destroy most of the house. She would knock over the TV, tear down the drapes and knock all of the pictures off the wall. She can bite a two-inch hole in my carpet in the time it takes to leave the bedroom and get a cup of coffee. She has done it twice!

Do they climb or tear up furniture?
TW: YES. I lost two night stands to lynx kittens in one month, chewing holes in the wood. They climb like monkeys from a very young age, and nothing is safe from them! Mine used to climb to the top of a 6 foot tall entertainment center as tiny kittens, then leaped onto your head unexpectedly as you walked by.
RU: Yes. They need to be declawed.
NW: Yes, my lynx climbs everything climbable and would destroy all my furniture if I let her.

Are there any problems associated with their claws?
TW: Their claws are very large. I have been able to train mine not to use them, and they are now outdoor cats. However, I have considerable experience on this, and it is still difficult to do. For a beginner, especially if they want the lynx to live in the house, they probably need to declaw. Also, in an emergency, it is hard to handle a clawed lynx. An adult lynx can do considerable damage to a person with their claws, even accidentally.
RU: Lynx are very powerful and fast, smart and very strong. Anything you can do to even the odds is recommended. So declaw them.
NW: They are extremely dangerous, unless trimmed, and even then they are still very dangerous.

How messy are their droppings?
TW: Same as any other animals. Stinky.
RU: They tend to always go in the same spot. Their stool is softer than bobcats and a little messier.
NW: She always deposits her droppings in the litter box by standing on the edge of the 30 gallon plastic Wal Mart rectangular container.

Can they be litter box trained?
TW: Yes, mine even use their litter box outside.
RU: Yes, but it needs to be a large, covered box or they need to have access to an outside box.
NW: Yes, no problem.

Can they be trained?
TW: Yes, mine are leash trained. They have been trained to not use their claws. They have been successfully behavior trained on various issues: to not play too rough with humans, and they are trained to know things they are allowed to do, and things they are not allowed to do.
RU: Yes, basic commands. They seemed to respect humans more than the bobcats.
NW: Yes. She fetches and runs around the house playing hide and seek and she can jump and catch soft items like a sock-ball.

How are they with other pets, larger and smaller?
TW: If they are raised with other animals, they should be fine. I would be careful letting smaller animals around them unsupervised, just because the lynx are bigger and stronger.
RU: They are more submissive. They also love dogs.
NW: Dangerous, unless they were raised together as kittens. She could and would likely kill or maim any domestic cat or dog if they had a dispute.

What size cage do they need?
TW: As big as you can provide! They need plenty of room to run and romp around, and climb around in. They like things to climb on, we have very large tree limbs and trunks propped up around in their cages, and they constantly climb them. If they live in the house, they need a room of their own to have privacy, and be put in when they are not being supervised.
RU: They lounge around a lot, but that is not really an indicator of the size they need. I found that a small cage encourages pacing. They had a similar setup to the bobcats. I sold one to a guest ranch once. He had full access to the house and outdoors. They lived up in the mountains. He would occasionally take "day trips" but to my knowledge still considers the house his "den". He is about 6 now, and loves everyone. So socialization and freedom are key. This emphasizes my belief that they are not for everyone, because not everyone can allow the freedom they need. If they are raised around strangers coming and going, new smells, dogs, etc. they do fine. In other words, if you are home with them all the time, people coming and going, they seem to become desensitized to goings on around them. They have to be raised that way to be comfortable with it,though.
NW: At least five feet by five feet, six feet tall.

What do you feed them?
TW: Mine eat chicken leg quarters with supplements as their main food. they also eat chicken gizzards and hearts for treats.
RU: Same as the bobcats. Some people feed straight chicken. But they do not get the large amount of calcium required for both bobcats and lynx, nor do they get vitamins and fiber.
NW: She eats ground whole chickens with added cooked rice, cooked corn and cat vitamins, including taurine. She eats about a pound and a quarter, fed once each day.

What vaccinations/vet care do they require?
TW: KILLED vaccines only. I recommend FeloVax IV. Annual checkup, along the same lines as you would do for a domestic cat. They do need to be seen by an experienced exotic vet, as the exotics are sometimes more sensitive or resistant to traditional domestic felines medications, and could be more sensitive to other diseases. An exotic vet will often be more expensive than a normal vet, but it is a necessary expense for the best health care for your lynx. You also should have a back up vet, in case of an emergency, if the primary vet is unavailable. Your vet should also be willing to make house calls, in the event that there is some sort of emergency and you are unable to transport the cat to the vet clinic.
RU: Same as bobcats
NW: Four-way killed virus.

At what age would it be best to get one?
TW: 6 to 8 weeks (to raise one for a pet) is the average age for a kitten to go to its new home. You can still successfully bond with a kitten, even if it is a little older than 8 weeks though.
RU: Very young. Hand raised babies, and if you can get it by 3 weeks, great.
NW: Three weeks old, with bottle-training already done by someone who knows how to do that with KMR formula.

Other Consideration for owners of canadian lynxes?
TW: I highly recommend that you either visit with someone that already owns exotic cats, so that you can meet some cats in person, and talk with the owners. You should also try to volunteer at a exotic cat facility, to learn about the day to day care of the cats, and how hard it can be sometimes.

All training must be consistent. They do not understand if you let them get away with something on one day, and not the next. Being consistent is harder on the human, as sometime you are tired or don't have the time, but you have to dedicate yourself, to have a properly behaved adult cat. You should remember that anything you allow the kitten to do when it is little, it will still do as an adult. You should not allow the kitten to do anything you would not want an adult cat to do, no matter how cute it is as a kitten. For instance, do you want a 50lb lynx jumping on your head? Probably not. So do not allow your 8 week old 4 lb kitten to jump on your head. Do not allow kittens to chew on you or your hands as kittens, as this could result in a serious bite when it is older. They have to have rules set as kittens, to also follow as adults. we teach ours as kittens that humans are not toys, humans are to be loved on and affectionate with only. We do not allow rough play with humans at all as kittens, and it is very helpful to handle them as adults, and keeps them from getting too rough with us when they are bigger. Rough play is any jumping on us, any chewing/biting, stalking, etc. Each cat has its own personality. Some like to be held, some can't stand it. Your cat may not turn out to be a lovable lap pet, and you should be of aware that before you get it. You should be committed for the next 15 or more years, to care for the cat, even if it is not the lovable pet you wished for.

They do have the occasional need for privacy, and you should give them the space to do so. You cannot take them out in public can show them off. there is a risk for escape, the risk that someone could get bitten or scratched, and it could be stressful to the cat.

They require a lot of time being handled, and you should be willing to give them plenty. You should also consider other people's feelings that live in the household, about having an exotic cat live there. Anyone living in the house has to participate in rules for the cat. They need to be willing to follow the rules or it will be a very unhappy household for everyone to live in, including the cat.

Also, you should have a back up person trained in handling the cat, in case you ever need someone to "baby sit" the cat if you have to go out of town, or are unable to care for the cat for whatever reason. This should be someone who will come around often, that the cat has a relationship with. The cat may not react well to a stranger caring for it.

You should always check all your local laws and make sure you can legally keep the cat where you live. This includes your subdivision rules, your city, county, and state. Also check your county health department, and Game & Fish for your state, and your homeowners insurance, or check with your landlord if you do not own your home. Some areas have minimum housing requirement and permit requirements, and you should be willing to abide by these. If you do not apply for the proper permits and provide required housing, or you keep an exotic cat in an area that is it illegal, you should be aware that the cat can be confiscated by authorities and very likely it will be put to sleep. Please always abide by your local ordinances and laws, to avoid this from happening.

RU: Lynx are very sensitive, shyer than bobcats. Disruptions by strangers can and does cause them to go out of heat, abort or eat their young. They need peace and quiet.
NW: I wouldn't do it unless you are as crazy about the species as I am. I will eventually breed her, and I wouldn't have gotten her unless I was going to use her in a breeding program. She is not a good pet for all the safety reasons mentioned above. However, she is wonderful creature, and is one of my best friends, human or animal. I love her and she loves me. We still sleep together some nights, like we did when I raised her as a kitten, and she likes to lay on the couch next to me when I let her out and can be there in the room to control her enthusiastic, athletic and destructive activities. She NEVER goes outside. It is highly likely that someone would shoot her on sight, by someone who perceived her as a threat to their family.

What kind of person should own these animals?
TW: Someone that is willing to provide a home for the rest of the cats life, at any expense personally, financially, professionally. Someone who is willing and open to learn from others, and provide what is best for the cats health, and happiness. Someone who is responsible and dedicated to caring for the all aspects of the cat.
RU: Someone home a lot, with a quiet life out in the country. Again, no small children. I quit raising them because I felt very few people really understand them and will become frustrated owning one. A lot of people want them for a conversation piece. That just isn't right. They are much too independent and intelligent to be happy in the situations most owners keep them in. I still miss my cats, and wonder how they are doing. I know they are in an even better environment, but thinking of them makes me sad sometimes.
NW: Patience, non-violence, understanding and living alone are key requirements for owning a lynx. If you live with anyone else (not children) they would have to accept the dangers, and maintain isolation from the cat unless bonding was done early with that person. Children should never be near a lynx without an experienced handler, bonded with that lynx, with one hand on the cat's harness and the other hand between the lynx and the child, ready to intervene to stop teeth or claws. It is best to assume a lynx could launch an attack if startled at any time.

What about bonding and the living situation with a lynx?
NW: Not all lynxes are ONLY bonded to one person as mine is. Females tend to be pickier about who they bond with. Males are more likely to generalize affection for multiple humans. And I have heard of female lynxes who like multiple humans, but I wouldn't count on it. Plus, spraying precludes full-time living, male or female, in a household environment with humans, except in a cage or secure, hoseable room, like a basement room with concrete walls.