O.L.S.S. WILDLIFE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTER
OUR NATIVE CATS
Family Felidae
Cats are native to most parts of the world except Australia and New Zealand. There are 18 genera and 36 species of cats worldwide. Counting the domesic cat, eight species are found in North America, although only the Mountain Lion, Lynx, Bobcat, and domestic cat are present in significant numbers. The short-tailed cats, the Bobcat and Lynx, are in the genus Lyns, while the rest have long tails and are included in the genera Felis and Panthera.North American species generally mate in winter or spring. Copulation usually stimulates ovulation in the female. Gestation is 50 - 110 days; most cats have one annual litter of one to six young. The kittens, born blind and helpless, receive extended parental training in the ways of the wild.
MOUNTAIN LION Felis concolor
Also known as a Cougar, Puma, Panther, and Catamount this cat is large, unspotted with a relatively small head and a long, dark-tipped tail. Pale brown to tawny above, white overlaid with buff below. Dark spot at base of whiskers. Ears short and rounded with dark backs. Legs long and heavy, feet large. Juvenile buff with black spots. This cat usually weighs around 75 to 275 pounds. This cat has no fixed mating season; 1-6 young usually born in midsummer every other year. Gestation 82-98 days. Newborn weighs about 14 ounces.
OCELOT Felis pardalis
A medium sized slim cat. Grayish to tawny or gold,heavily marked with black-bordered brown spots that tend to form lines. Spots include rosettes, rings, speckles, slashes, and bars. Tail fairly long, but shorter than hindleg. This cat usually weighs between 20 and 40 pounds.One litter of 2-4 young born after gestation of 70 days; births are during fall-winter in Texas.
BOBCAT Lynx rufus
Tawny (grayer in winter), with indistinct dark spotting. Short, stubby tail with 2 or 3 black bars and black tip above, pale or white below. Upper legs have dark or black horizontal bars. Face has thin, often broken black lines radiating onto broad cheek ruff. Ears slightly tufted. Male larger than female weighing 14 - 30 pounds. Mates between February and March, with 1-7 cubs born in April or early May.
The O.L.S.S. Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
is in the process of acquiring a new 26 acre facility with the newest housing and latest equipment.
Be sure to check out "WE NEED YOUR HELP".
O.L.S.S. Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
P.O. Box 520
Church Rock, NM 87311
(505) 488-6632
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