Meet “Lakota” – Cat of the Week

We would like to introduce you to “Lakota”. She’s our Cat of the Week sponsored by Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

Rescue story: In early 2023, the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) agreed to remove 33 feral cats from a Florida sanctuary accredited by the World Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). The Florida Sanctuary was founded in 1992 to safeguard the world’s exotic wild cat species. For 30 years, the Florida facility has been a leader alongside TCWR in the defense of captive wildlife and helped champion the fight on Capital Hill, helping pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) in December 2022. With the enactment of stricter laws and increased protection of wild cats in captivity, their mission has shifted to focus on the conservation of wild cats in their respective ecosystems. To house all of Florida’s cats, TCWR broke ground on its Freedom Field habitat expansion in March 2023, where Lakota and other Florida animals will reside.

Original rescue story: Lakota and another bobcat, Sioux, were rescued from the mobile zoo in Alabama. The establishment’s previous owner was arrested on 28 counts of animal cruelty, and Mobile County Animal Control seized the neglected animals in his care in 2017. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. first time the zoo was cited for negligent conditions and was known as a repeat offender by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). At the top of the Mobile Zoo, it housed more than 75 animals, including lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and birds.

Upon arrival at the Florida facility, Lakota was severely underweight and fearful of his new environment; however, this did not last long. Mealtime quickly became his favorite time, as well as various elements of enrichment. Once rescued, Lakota underwent a complete veterinary exam, including preventative vaccinations, and neutered him. After the procedure, he was reunited with Sioux shortly afterward.

Learn more about Lakota: Lakota has warmed up to his new home at TCWR but still enjoys watching everything from a distance. The Lakota habitat offers various opportunities to stay hidden with natural rocks, man-made corners and vegetation. Often it can be difficult to spot it with its brown coat spotted with black, which camouflages it from larger predators in the wild. By nature, bobcats are elusive animals known for their crepuscular behavior, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Additionally, bobcats are particularly solitary animals; however, you can spot Lakota lounging near her companion, Sioux. Since Lakota was rescued with the Sioux, they were kept in captivity together to cultivate a sense of familiarity and “home” for each other. Lakota

Lakota are fed a specialized diet of raw deboned meat, supplemented with calcium and essential amino acids like taurine. In the wild, bobcats have excellent hunting skills and prey on small mammals like rabbits, mice, moles and squirrels. In addition to a specialized diet, Lakota will continue to receive preventative veterinary care, including health exams and vaccinations, ensuring optimal care throughout her life.