Jan 2 2017

Keeper Log

The shade tile over Kricket Serval’s water bowl needs checked.  The cats have multiple sections their enclosures and each section as water.  We pick shady places for their water bowls but also add a tile on top of the water bowl enclosure to make sure it is always fully shaded.

Frosty:  left some mush

Ariel: coughed like she was going to throw up but did not

Priya: suspect she is peeing in there

Mickey:  only found 2 small pieces of poop – one in each bubble.  Seemed odd

Hoover & Cameron: Refused breakfast, so the keepers have their work cut out for them trying to find something these picky boys will choose to eat today

Joseph: Ate only one piece of red meat and one piece of chicken, so the keepers will be running back and forth today

Gabrielle:  left her mush

Nikita: left her mush

Seth: Seems to be drinking extra water

King Tut: did not eat all his breakfast

Zeus: Ate 9 lbs yesterday

Running Bear was sedated for an exam because he was reported as drooling. He had 5 bad teeth removed.  Watch the procedure video below.  We want to THANK the diligent keepers who noticed him not behaving normally and added him to the observation chart so the vets would know to observe him and check him out.   If YOU want to learn more about our daily Animal Observation Procedures go to ZooCollege.com (our own keeper training website) and click on the menu item “Free Lessons” to watch our Animal Observation training video.  These training lessons are open to everyone.

Keeper Fun Note:  Here is a great photo of Sheena Serval. She is so sassy!  ~Keeper Stephanie W

Keeper Fun Note:  Cambu Cuddles, they are so cute together. ~Keeper Kathryn

Keeper Fun Note:  I hadn’t been assigned to clean the cougar section in quite a while. I had kind of forgotten how much they love to cover their poop. This pretty girl, Sassy cougar, left a really big pile to dig through to find it. Took me several minutes but I was finally able to distinguish three nuggets of poop from all of the pieces of mulch, twigs, rocks and leaves in the dirt. ~Keeper Lynda

 Note To Viewers

This page is created FOR YOU!  It is to keep you updated on what goes on here at the sanctuary as well to get to know each of you.  If you scroll almost to the bottom there is a comments section, YOU are invited to ask questions, share your thoughts, start a conversation, join a conversation, etc.  We promise to read all comments you post there today and will reply to as many as possible.  Working together, to end the abuse and exploitation of big cats, begins with something as simple as hello.  So hop on the comments and say hello.  ALSO: Be sure to let us know which Updates Sections are your favorite so we will know what direction to go with the updates in the future.

 Karma’s Foster Kitten News

These are foster kittens that our explore audience have never met. They were diagnosed with ringworm shortly after arriving, so have never been able to go to the Cabana. Mel, their foster care giver, got them this tent so they have more room to run and play.

Meet Brandon, Lena, Mariana & Nick!

You can help support Big Cat Rescue’s Domestic Cat & Kitten Fostering Program at BigCatRescue.org/donate/ Your donations help provide formula for the little ones, food, litter, towels, beds, toys, and whatever else the kittens need.

 Announcing Jan 1st’s Facebook Winner

Each day that Carole does a Facebook Live video she asks a question and someone who answers it correctly wins a prize.  So, go to Facebook and Like our Facebook Page and choose to get notifications of our live videos.  Then participate in the contests, join in conversations in the comments area, too.

The question was: Name all three species we rescued in the Gilligan Island’s crew.

Dec 30th’s winner is: Patrice Rhoades

Answer:  

• African Serval:  Ginger
• Bobcats:  Thurston Howell, Lovey & MaryAnn
• Canadian Lynx:  Skipper & Gilligan

 Facebook Live Videos

VIDEO ONE:  Running Bear Goes To Hospital

Running Bear (who lives with Little White Dove) Bobcat was on the observation charts for foaming at the mouth, acting aggressive toward Keepers and chewing funny. Dr Justin came in today to do a full work up on this 19 year old (that’s like being over 100 if he were a human). He found 5 bad teeth, that looked fine from the outside, but Xrays showed them to be broken and rotting. After removing those Running Bear should be just fine and return to his Cat-a-Tat later today. http://bigcatrescue.org/running-bear/

This goes to show that having such amazing keepers who are diligent about noting anything at all about a cat that is not normal for that cat on the daily observation sheets is so important.  Had they not noticed him doing small things out of the norm and jotted it down for the vets we may not have found out he needed medical attention until he was much worse.  Cats are experts at hiding symptoms which is why we stress putting absolutely everything in those daily Animal Observation Sheets.

VIDEO TWO:  Beginning the Day at Big Cat Rescue

VIDEO THREE:  Happy New Year’s Eve Walkabout

Evening walkabout with Mrs Claws, Nabisco, Anasazi, King Tut, Nala, Gilligan, Ginger, Zimba, Reise, Gabrielle, Seth, Keisha, Zeus, Cameron, Zabu, Andre and Arthur.

 Letter To Management

Dear Sir/Madam:

We have what could possibly be the greatest idea EVER!  With the popularity of The Bachelor TV show, we suggest doing The Big Cat-chelor TV Show!  Imagine the viewership we could get!

As evidenced by the way the female tigers react to us when they are on vacation across the street, we are obviously the two most sought-after tigers at BCR and so would naturally be the Cat-chelors.  The Vacation Rotation would be our bachelor pad.  We would be housed there with two female tigers at a time, and we would eliminate them two by two until we find our perfect matches!  The first would of course be Zabu, because you know our affinity for blondes.

We think this would be a win/win for all of us.  Amanda would probably be ticked off, but she’s always ticked off about something anyway.  She may be our sister, but she just needs to learn to chill out.

If the Big Cat-chelor TV Show doesn’t meet with your approval, then at the very least we would like our enclosure to be renamed the “Playcat Mansion.”  We’re pretty sure Hugh Hefner would be proud of that.

Sincerely,

Arthur and Andre Tigers

(Sent via Lori D., Secretary to the Cats)

  Viewer Videos From Explore.org/bigcatrescue

VIDEO ONE:   Andy’s Breakfast Jan 2nd

By Susann

VIDEO TWO:  Hoover Swimming & Going Potty

By Susann

  Snapshots From Explore.org/bigcatrescue

Snapshots submitted by Scotti Cohn

Spirit Feather is a bobcat in a Bobcat Rehab Program.  She will soon be released back into the wild to live wild and free.

 Meet Running Bear Bobcat

Male Bobcat
19 1/2 years old

Running Bear and Little White Dove are the exception to the rule when it comes to wildcats living solitary lives.

One of our senior volunteers watched as these two young bobcats bonded and chose to live together.  They now share a cat-a-tat that features high limbs for them to climb and sleep upon.

The higher the perch, the better they seem to like it.  These two always prefer a room with a view!

VIDEO ONE:  Bobcats Running Bear & Little White Dove 2013

VIDEO TWO:  Andi, Little White Dove, and Running Bear

Running Bear & Little White Dove

by J.P. Richardson

On the banks of the river, stood Running Bear, young Indian brave.

On the other side of the river stood a lovely Indian maid.

Little White Dove was her name, such a lovely sight to see.

But their tribes fought with each other, so their love could never be.

Chorus:

Running Bear loved Little White Dove with a love big as the sky.

Running Bear loved Little White Dove with a love that couldn’t die.

He couldn’t swim the raging river, because the river was too wide.

He couldn’t reach his Little White Dove waiting on the other side.

In the moonlight he could see her blowing kisses cross the waves.

Her little heart was beating faster waiting there for her brave.

Chorus:

Running Bear loved Little White Dove with a love big as the sky.

Running Bear loved Little White Dove with a love that couldn’t die.

Running Bear dove in the water, Little White Dove did the same.

As they swam up to each other through the swirling stream they came.

As their hands touched and their lips met, the raging river pulled them down.

Now they’ll always be together in that happy hunting ground.

Chorus:

Running Bear loved Little White Dove with a love big as the sky.

Running Bear loved Little White Dove with a love that couldn’t die.

Hear some great vocalizations by Running Bear and Little White Dove in this Wildcat Walkabout Video on May 1, 2014 – http://bigcatrescue.org/now-big-cat-rescue-may-2-2014/

 Yesterday’s Big Cat Challenge Surprise

Yesterday, we challenged you to find all of the cats that live at Big Cat Rescue who had birthdays yesterday and to post your answers in the comments of yesterday’s update page.  EVERYONE, who purr-ticipated yesterday gets a purr-prise today.  Will the following people, please email lawanna.mitchell@bigcatrescue.org to claim your downloadable high-resolution 8×10 big cat photo to print.

• Robert-Yvonne Brown
• Ashley Borger
• Kathy Robarts

Also, Denise Ayer for helping me correct a typo.

 Cole & Marmalade

This video is good for all cat owners to watch and keep their fur kids safe in 2017

 Thank You, Cole & Marmalade

 Global Cat News

We are sharing these articles found in the global big cat news today.

ONE:  India lost 97 wild tigers in 2016: Conservation authority

TWO:  Extinct:  Which animals could we lose forever in 2017?

THREE:  16 Cameras installed for tiger census stolen

FOUR:  Researching tracking elusive Bitterroot mountain lions

 Cats On Vacation

Cheetaro Leopard is now on FunCation

Andy Tiger is now on Vacation

You can watch Andy’s vacation streaming live every day at http://explore.org/live-cams/player/big-cat-rescue-vacation-rotation