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LEOPARD CAT CARE PROPER DIET:
Unfortunately, many people who own Leopard Cats are under the impression that feeding two chicken drumsticks daily to each Leopard Cat is all they require and is why most do not live long healthy lives in captivity.To assure LCF's Leopard Cats have the most natural, well balanced diets that are disease, insecticide, medication, and hormone free, LCF raises much of their own organically grown food for them. This in it self has become a great undertaking and expense, but we feel LCF's success is directly related to the high standards in everything they do.
At LCF, the Leopard Cats' main diet is organically grown Asian Quail, the same species of Quail that Leopard Cats would hunt and eat throughout most of their native lands. The Asian Quail are raised under quarantine conditions, so they cannot contract diseases like bird flu, which is expected to spread through North American in 2006. The whole bird; body, innards, feathers, head, feet and ALL are fed fresh daily.
Pair of Asian Quail
Hen on left, cock on rightTo maintain enough fresh, organically grown Asian Quail, for LCF's Leopard Cats, LCF currently must hatch and raise over 7,500 Asian Quail annually and this number must be increased as LCF becomes home to more and more Leopard Cats each year.
To maintain a well balanced diet, LCF also maintains a Rabbitry for a continual supply of fresh organically grown and quarantine-raised rabbit meat. They are also fed day-old chicken chicks and young domestic mice and rats when available.
In an effort to provide LCF's Leopard Cats with the most naturally balanced diets possible, LCF will also start raising organically grown Chinese Ring-neck Pheasants and Chukar Partridge in 2006. These species are also native to much of the Leopard Cats' natural range and would be part of their natural diet.
LCF also adds Wildtrax feline and Lixotinic vitamin supplements to their Leopard Cat diets.
JUVENILE CARE AND DIETS:
When possible, LCF pulls all their LC cubs at 10 days and bottle raises them. LCF feels that bottle raised animals live a happier less stressful life in captivity and actually breed and raise their young better, then those left unsocialized.
As soon as cubs are pulled, they are put on Goat Milk Esblac (GME) formular and then young whole Asian Quail, day-old chicken chicks, young domestic rabbits, domestic mice, as well as Wildtrax feline, Lixotinic vitamin supplements, with raw ground Turkey and Science Diet AD.
LC cubs that are being raised for release into the wild in their native lands will be raised without human contact and left with their parents to feed raise under wild simulation.
WATERING:
Though Leopard Cats get most of their hydration through their food intake, clean fresh water is essential for proper hydration. LCF has engineered a state-of-the-art, temperature controlled, enclosed automatic watering system that supplies fresh clean water to them all year long.MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS:
Though LCF's pens are considerably larger, it is generally recommended that Leopard Cats of the smaller subspecies have a minimum of 261 cubic feet (6'x6'x6') per cat, while larger subspecies should have a minimum of 288 cubic feet (6'x 8'x6') per cat, these should be doubled for a pair. It is very important to provides trees and lofts or shelves for the cats to climb and play on. This assures adequate exercise, contentment, and full use of the height of their pen. It has been found that Leopard Cats feel more secure in pens with three solid sides and a roof over part or all of the pen. Solid petitions should be used between pens to prevent males from fighting and/or spaying into other pens.CLEANING:
All LCF's Leopard Cat pens are specially designed for easy daily cleaning, frequent power washing, and complete disinfecting. For more information on LCF's Leopard Cat pens, see LCF's Facilities.VETERINARIAN VISITS:
Regularly scheduled visits by the attending veterinarian occur annually or more frequently when needed.VACCINATIONS AND PARASITE CONTROL:
All Leopard Cats and other felines on LCF's premises are vaccinated with killed vaccines against feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calici virus, and rabies. Fort Dodge Fel-O-Vax IV and LVK vaccinations are usually used. Vaccinations are given annually for 2 years after the initial series as a juvenile and every three years after that.
Daily inspections are done for external parasites and treatment as needed. Ivomec pour-on is used on a monthly basis for prevention of fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal parasites, and heart worm preventative on all felines and canines on the premises.QUARANTINE:
If any new animals are brought on site, they are quarantined in a special building separated from the main populations for 90 days or more. During this time they are vaccinated and inspected and treated for internal/external parasites if needed. Close observation of the animal is done during this time for signs of any possible illness, past injuries, mental health, and treated if needed.IDENTIFICATION:
All LCF's Leopard Cats are photographed and permanently identified with registered AVID® microchips. As well as swabbed for DNA identification. In some cases, colored and numbered eartags and/or tattoos are also useful visual identification.RECORD KEEPING:
Each Leopard Cat has their own folder kept on all observations, health records, photos, individual personalities/behaviors, breeding records, etc. are extensively documented in each folder. LCF has extensive pedigrees on some of their Leopard Cats going back as many as 7 certified generations.All Leopard Cats at LCF are registered with the International Progressive Exotic Breeders' Alliance, 'IPEBA' Feline Division, who record individual color photos, microchip numbers, tattoo, eartag ID, as well as all pedigree information available, and record sub-species information on each Leopard Cat registered. IPEBA also records DNA parenting information on their papers for no extra cost.
To our knowledge, IPEBA Exotic animal registry currently has the largest and most thorough data base on the Leopard Cat species and subspecies in the world!
There are no extraordinary annual membership fees to register your exotic animals with IPEBA like in the International Species Information System 'ISIS' or other exotic animal stud book registries.
Please be advised that most Leopard Cats in captivity, including those at LCF are not accounted for in ISIS data base. ISIS data is mainly data sent in from Zoo's who are ISIS members. Most exotic animal breeding programs and advancements, especially small felines, are done in private facilities not in Zoo's. An example of this is how dyer the need was for a facility like LCF in the world and how fast it has become the most advanced Leopard Cat breeding and research facility in the world.
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