Two Toes

TWO TOES Female Bobcat

DOB 4/24/95

Arrived at Big Cat Rescue 6/6/95

Two Toes was rescued from a fur farm and came to live at Big Cat Rescue along with Levi, Two Toes, and eight other Bobcats in June 1995. She got her name because two of her toes are white. She along with her roommates actively participate in operant conditioning sessions with our Big Cat Interns. Operant Conditioning is the act of rewarding a desired behaviour with treats or praise. The first goal in the operant conditioning program is to get the cat to come over to the side of their enclosure when called upon by a Keeper. Two Toes has learned quickly that when she comes over to her operant trainer she is quickly rewarded with a special treat. Since Two Toes live with several other bobcats, operant training must be done by several keepers at one time, so that two bobcats are not competing for the same reward.

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Most of our bobcats were rescues from fur farms.  The deal Our Co-Founder made with the three fur farms we discovered in the U.S. was that he would pay top dollar for every cat and kitten they had as long as the fur farmer would agree to never buy and breed cats again for slaughter.  It came at a time that the public outcry was against the fur industry.  Many of these animals were purchased at auctions where the uncaring owners were dumping the cats with no concern about their welfare.  There is much controversy over whether we did the right thing by paying the ransom for these cats.  We still accept many unwanted cats each year, but do not pay for them and typically require that their owner surrender their license, in an attempt to keep people from just trading in their cats each year for a newer, cuter model.  We have to turn away more than 100 cats each year due to a lack of space and funds and the lack of regulation of the exotic pet trade. Read more about our Evolution of Thought HERE