Windstar

Male Bobcat

5/11/98 – 8/19/16

Windstar was an unexpected surprise to Windsong and Alexander. Because Alex was a Hybrid we assumed he was infertile after four years of watching him breed with no success. We had neutered all of our male Bobcats except for the hybrids as we were so sure they could not reproduce. Windstar was proof to the contrary and his birth resulted in his father and uncle, Des-Purr-ado being immediately neutered. Windstar is affectionately called “Bobcat” and has a wonderful purrsonality. Windstar loves the water. Every year for his birthday he gets a kiddie pool for a week to play in. In 2004 for his birthday he got a rock pool with waterfall like the tigers have.

Windstar wants you to know that there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.  There was a time, in our recent history when we believed in slavery and we believed that women should not be allowed to vote. Anyone who thought otherwise was ridiculed and cast out of society.  Now we look back and wonder how we ever could have believed that all men were not created equal. You are witnessing a shift in the way people perceive animals because science has taught us that they experience fear, joy, shame, love and they dream just like we do.  As we become better informed we cannot turn a blind eye to the abuses they suffer and some brave souls are speaking out.  Accepting that all life is precious is an idea whose time has come and nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.

8/18/16 Windstar Bobcat was netted to see vet after being found “down” in his den. He seemed fine the day before, but when he didn’t come out to eat, Jamie knew something was wrong. We netted him to take him in the hospital and called the vet. We found vomited mushrooms, but both varieties turned out to be non toxic.

We found a mass near his kidney and a biopsy was sent out.

Watching over him through the night on a Nest cam, Jamie reported that he was awake and looking around at 5 am, so she felt he was out of the woods. About a half hour later though he passed peacefully in his sleep.

The necropsy determined adrenal cancer to be the cause of death.

Please help us end the trade in all wild cats as pets, props and parts by sending this easy email and making a call to your US Senators and Representatives at BigCatAct.com  Windstar would tell you, “the time has come.”

Most of our bobcats were rescued from fur farms where they were being raised to slaughter for their fur.  Some were being sold at auction where taxidermists would buy them and club them to death in the parking lot, but a few were born here in the early days when we were ignorant of the truth and were being told by the breeders and dealers that these cats should be bred for “conservation.” Once we learned that there are NO captive breeding programs that actually contribute to conservation in the wild we began neutering and spaying our cats in the mid 1990’s.  Knowing what we do about the intelligence and magnificence of these creatures we do not believe that exotic cats should be bred for lives in cages. Read more about our Evolution of Thought HERE

More About Windstar Bobcat

** See photos of Windstar getting a new room addition on his enclosure.   (also photos of tigers and more) Today At Big Cat Rescue November 22  http://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-nov-22/

** When a swelling was noticed on the ear of one of our bobcats, we decided to sedate Windstar in order to drain the fluid from his ear. We then stitched the incisions open so no further problems would occur. See more here:  http://bigcatrescue.org/bobcat-surgeryhome-makeover-big-cat-tv/

** Another photos of Windstar and other cats, too. Today At Big Cat Rescue February 23rd http://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-feb-23/

** Today At Big Cat Rescue on December 29th see another photo of  Windstar the bobcat being playful on a crisp winter day ad other photos, too. http://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-dec-29/

** Today at Big Cat Rescue February 21st – more photos: http://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-feb-21/

** Video –  Today at Big Cat Rescue Oct 21 2012 Watch lions in love, Max and Windstar bobcats pouncing and meet a lovely volunteer named Phyl http://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-oct-21-2012/

** Walkabout Video – Today at Big Cat Rescue Aug 29 2013 – In this hour long walk about you will see Flavio Tiger in the Vacation Rotation cage and being loaded into a wagon for diagnostics.  You will see Bella Tiger making the long walk to the Vacation Rotation cage and enjoying it.  You will see the new Kitten Cabana construction, Tommie Girl Bobcat, Tobi Cougar, Gilligan Canada Lynx, Lovey, Thurston, Mary Ann, Moses, Bailey, Anazasie, Windstar,Max and Levi the bobcats.  Also rare glimpses at Genie Sandcat, Nico Geoffroy Cat, Pharaoh and Tonga the white servals, Mr E the Leopard cat, Jade and Armani the leopards, Joseph and Sasha the lions and Cameron and Zabu the white tiger.  Lots of cats, lots of rain, lots of interesting behavior. http://bigcatrescue.org/today-big-cat-rescue-aug-29-2013/

** December 2011 Advocat Newsletter – A few of the most recent projects included an enclosure addition for Purr-sistance the ocelot and Windstar the bobcat.  Not only do they have lots of extra space, but we are now able to shift them easily from one side of their enclosure to the other making maintenance a breeze. http://bigcatrescue.org/advocat-news-2011-12-2/

** One of the early Keeper Walkabouts: http://bigcatrescue.org/keeper-walkabout/ It is a fun read.

** Bobcat Facts – http://bigcatrescue.org/bobcat-facts/

** Advocat Newsletter August 2012 – Vide of the cats cooling off in a fun way. http://bigcatrescue.org/advocat-2012-08

Tributes to Windstar (Bobcat)

Sharon Dower 4:59 PM Oct 14
I LOVED HOW HIS RUFF WOULD VIBRATE WHEN HE PURRED. SUCH A SWEET BOY. ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE VISITORS.

BethAnn Bluder 8:52 PM Aug 20
I’ll never look out the gift shop window without thinking of you precious WindstarBob??

Sharon Henry 5:31 PM Aug 19
One of the sweetest Bobcats I ever had the pleasure of knowing, you were truly a joy to be around. My early mornings will seem so empty now without your friendly greeting. You always made me laugh out loud as you ran thru your enclosure trying to follow me as I walked by closing lockouts. I always had to stop and take a few moments to talk with you because, well, because you were just so irresistible. I hope you find the others and you all have one heck of a reunion. Love you sweet boy…run free now.

Regina Rinaldi 1:55 PM Aug 19
Oh Bubby, the cutest boy Bob ever!!! You taught me how to do my first operant conditioning training with your mommy Jamie. I love you Bob. Run free with your sister Lil Feather. I hope you’re there to greet me when I cross the bridge. “It’s a cute leetle bobcat”. I will miss you Bubby.

Marie Schoubert 9:48 AM Aug 19
I hope you were dreaming of us and our love for you when you went for your forever peaceful sleep sweet Windstar. We will never stop loving you. R.I.P. Angel

More Memorials at http://bigcatrescue.org/category/memorials/