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Renana: Rare sand cat born in captivity
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There's hope for the Israeli sand cat species as one named Rotem gave birth to a girl kitten, Renana (meaning "joy" or "song"), three weeks ago at the Ramata Gan Safari outside of Tel Aviv.Solitary felines that once freely roamed the sand dunes of Israel, the sand cats are now largely thought to be extinct outside of captivity in that area of the world.
Sand cats are typically only capable of having one or two litters a year, with litters usually numbering under three kittens each. Except for the few days marking a typical mating cycle, the cats tend to keep to themselves.
Zookeepers are hoping to enter Renana into Israel's Sand Cat Breeding Program, whose mission is to reintroduce sand cats back to their native, natural habitat.
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Where and how can I purchase one of these kittys?
Leelee you cannot purchase these cats, they are not domestic, they are wild. If you want to learn more about them do some research, but I can assure you these cats are not sold anywhere.
she's adorable
No one can purchase a wild animal legally. These are not domestic cats, so they would be dangerous in a house and it's unnatural for a wild animal to be confined like a domestic cat. Thinking like this is probably why these cats are almost extinct
I think LeeLee was being silly. GEEZ...btw I would love to own one too...they are so adorable!
Do these cats have a particular eye color and what is the general fur length? How long have they been extinct? The kitten shown is beautiful!
Domestication is a quick way to save them. It looks like we have quite a few takers here already. They could not be in a house with other pets, children or the elderly. If you were to own one you should expect to be bitten and scratched on a fairly regular basis. I raised a feral kitten to 22lb adulthood and a natural passing at age 12 and I still have scars. God rest him.
But God are they CUTE!!!
I seen one of these pretty kittys at the zoo the other day, They are adorable!
I believe that this cat is more probably adorable because of its appearance and you cannot believe it that it is a wild animal. I hope they can prolong its existence in israel.
Awww!!! Cute as the dickins!!!
But if there's any question about domestication, just reach in there and try to pick up that Mama kitty! Even your pet Cattus Ordinarius, introduced to a frisky, well meaning dog, will climb your face and leave you a bunch of scars, and think nothing of it. Of all lab animals (sadly, some are necessary) cats are the most dangerous.