BOBBY BLUE ROSE

Female Bobcat

DOB: 5/1/92 DOD: 2/13/11

Arrived at Big Cat Rescue 5/27/93

Bobby Rose came to Big Cat Rescue with the original group of 56 kittens in 1992 who were rescued from a fur farm. Bobby Rose is a very shy bobcat and likes to keep to herself. She has a very light colored coat and her spots are faded. Bobby loves enrichment time and will quickly destroy a cardboard tube stuffed with little mice and chicks.

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

At 19 years old, after discovering that Bobby was suffering from an incurable disease, we helped her pass peacefully.  She was special to so many and, like so many, we will never forget her or her spirit.

Tributes to Bobby Blue Rose Bobcat

Bobby Blue, what a beautiful girl you were.
I have so many fond memories of you.
They started when we first met. I remember you on my first cleaning day. You were nestled off the tour path in an area of "Little Back." When I took the cleaning class, my instructor said "always watch the cats, have eyes in the back of your head, etc." Well, no class prepares you for cleaning quite like field experience.

Her enclosure was one of the first I cleaned, and as I walked up to it, she rushed the wall of her cage with such conviction that I jumped back and yelped. She only did it the one time, and cleaning after that she was as sweet as pie. Being as old as she was, Bobby Blue had seen many volunteers and interns on their first day, and I think that was her way of saying "Stay sharp, because there are other cats here way sneakier here than I"... or maybe it was "Hey Colleen, check this out, I'm going to scare the new girl!" :)
Either way, Bobby Blue definitely left an impression on me since the day we met.

Bobby Blue loved enrichment. What a joy it was to see her enjoying treats! When we hand out ditty bags, cats usually give standard responses: rubbing, batting around, urinating on, or ignoring. For cicles, they usually either lick/eat them or ignore them. Not Bobby Blue! Bobby loved to rub her face all over her cicles! I'm sure that made for delicious bath time later.

I remember the day we deployed Bobby's hammock. We chose a nice spot in the sun, and waited patiently. She slowly came over despite the crowd, and began to rub. She rubbed all over that hammock but not once did she hop in it... and to her last day, I'm not sure that stubborn Bobby once hopped in that Hammock. ;)

Bobby Blue, I will miss you. Enjoy the freedom you now have. May the other bobs who have passed before you welcome you home.
Although it is with sadness that I say goodbye, it is with pleasure that I thank you for the memories....Meredith, Volunteer Senior Keeper

Bobby Blue Rose,

I didn't know you for very long, but I am honored to have known you in such a short time span. You never gave me any trouble when I cleaned your cage, and you always made sure to pop out and say hi to me before going back to your den. Rest in peace, Sweetheart. Enjoy the sunshine, the soft grass, and most of all- unlimited freedom and space to run around!  Chrissy, Intern

The first time I cleaned her lockout, she waited for me to walk away and coil up the hose before she went into the lockout and pulled her nice clean bowls out into the dirt and then proceeded to kick dirt all over them. She then looked at me and walked off. Bobby, I will miss you. Sharon D, Volunteer Keeper