Bobcat ‘Mom’ and the Tale of Two Kittens

After first preparing a delicious and healthy meal of small
rodents to bring to her kitten, the bobcat
”
mommy
”
(who may be a Mr. Mom or a Mrs. Mom) de-odorizes herself by
rubbing sage and rosemary herbs all over her clothes and hair, gets
into a full-body costume that has been scented with bobcat urine,
puts on heavy gloves, and places a big, furry bobcat mask on her
head.
After first preparing a delicious and healthy meal of small rodents to bring to her kitten, the bobcat “mommy” (who may be a Mr. Mom or a Mrs. Mom) de-odorizes herself by rubbing sage and rosemary herbs all over her clothes and hair, gets into a full-body costume that has been scented with bobcat urine, puts on heavy gloves, and places a big, furry bobcat mask on her head.

Never uttering any sounds (no talking or coughing, and no cat-like purring or growling), she gets down on her hands and knees to enter the bobcat enclosure.

Walking on all fours, she cleans up and freshens the water bowl, and then spends quality time playing “chase-the-mouse,” “attack the twig” and other favorite bobcat games.

In 1994, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center developed its ground-breaking, world-renowned bobcat kitten program, based on bird-of-prey anti-imprinting techniques, to ensure that single bobcat orphans do not become habituated (identify with their human caretakers) during their time in care, which can sometimes last as long as seven months.

The program helps socialize the orphan and reinforces bobcat behavior, such as hunting and stalking techniques, while ensuring that when the bobcat is released back to its native habitat, it will steer clear of humans. 

Two bobcats now being nurtured at WERC are the most recent beneficiaries of this program.

In July, rangers at Rancho San Antonio Preserve discovered a 5-week-old kitten trembling in a restroom building.

He was barely weaned and still needed his mother to feed him. Antonio, as he was named, was brought to WERC and immediately tended to by a surrogate mother in full-body costume, who played with him as his own mother might and fed him rodents.

Within a week, he joined three juvenile bobcats in the enclosure and no longer needed the surrogate mom, as the four young cats played together and slept together and all remained wary of any human entering the enclosure to feed and clean. 

Three months later, Gabby (named for the Gabilan Mountains) was found in Gilroy, shivering and mewing in the bushes.

The rescuer first thought it was a sick and hungry pet kitten, but after bringing it home, she grew suspicious about its bobbed tail and intimidating claws and called WERC.

Because the 4-week-old kitten was in severe respiratory distress, he was not able to nurse from a bottle or could not swallow the solid food offered by his surrogate mother.

Dr. Laura Bellinghausen inserted a feeding tube so that nourishment and medications could be quickly administered.

Within a week, Gabby grew stronger, the tube was removed and “mom” was back on the job.

But “mom” is getting on in years now and needs a little bit of “plastic surgery” to update her natural feline look.

The bobcat mask first used in 1994 covered the face only, leaving the back of the head and hair exposed.

The current mask was created soon after to completely cover the head and shoulders, with cutouts for the eyes, nose and mouth.

Now WERC is looking to redesign the costume with emphasis on eye safety, breathe-ability, comfort and realism.  On WERC’s wish list is to have a life-like bobcat head, a la Star Wars’ Ewok or Wookie.

Anyone personally know George Lucas? He could really give us a “head” start on our extreme makeover.

WERC, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, provides the community with rehabilitation services for orphaned, injured and sick native wildlife. Through its educational programs, WERC encourages a peaceful coexistence between civilization and our native wildlife. WERC does not receive operating funds from any government agency to care for wildlife and is not allowed to charge a fee for this service. It is supported solely by donations from businesses and the public. To contact WERC, call (408) 779-9372 or visit www.werc-ca.org.