Bobcats for Pets?

Pet bobcats are certainly not for everybody.  In fact they are only right for a special few. But when the right person hand-raises a baby bobcat in the right environment, they will reap the benefits of a companion animal sure to give them many years of  joy.

Bobcats are predators armed with sharp teeth and claws.  This makes them unsuitable to be around small children who cannot be trusted to show good judgement reliably.   Couples with young family members, or contemplating starting a family, need to pass on purchasing a bobcat.
Additionally, many state Game and Fish or Natural Resource Depatments strictly regulate ownership of bobcats.  Keeping them as companion animals and experiencing their love would be counter to the mindset that they are wild animals to be harvested and not to be cherished. But fortunately, dedicated feline fanciers have pioneered the husbandry of bobcats so that their wonderful personality can be experienced.  Bobcat kittens are hand reared starting at about 14 days.  They will nurse a bottle until eight weeks to twelve weeks of age.   Bottle feeding is a psychologically important activity for these felines. The milk formula should be a quality product like KMR or Milk Matrix 33/40 with additional calcium and vitamins.  When the kitten reaches 5 to 6 weeks, begin adding  Iams Kitten formula canned meat diet to the milk mixture.   
Kittens raised with dogs or puppies or domestic cats develop friendships with them.
Bobcats generally do well in the house, aside from climbing on the kitchen cabinets, racing across the furniture or playing in the toilet.  Kittens will use a litter box naturally

and hardly ever miss until they reach sexual maturity, at which time their toilet habits change.  It is very  important to spay or neuter your pet before it reaches adulthood if you wish to continue to allow allow it access to your home. Adult bobcats  benefit from a large outside enclosure.  Feed weaned bobcats  canned Zupreem, Mazuri dry or a calcium/phosphorus balanced, raw meat diet with added vitamins  The calcium/phosphorus ratio must be at least 1.2 to 1.  Boneless meats are especially unbalanced without calcium supplimentation. Chicken necks provide a rich source of calcium and are a good item to feed in addition to boneless meat sources like chunk beef, or liver and kidney.