The Wildcat Sanctuary rescues 4 exotic cats

after USDA shut down exotic animal dealer

Last week, our caretakers drove to Michigan to help rescue 4 exotic cats from Even Keel Exotics, a facility with a long list of violations of the Animal Welfare Act and Endangered Species Act.

They include 2 caracals, a fishing cat, and a young serval.

Even Keel Exotics was an exotic animal dealer who bought, sold, traded and exploited animals through paid animal encounters.

Sadly, he offered encounters with young animals that had been removed from their mothers at just days and weeks old.

His social media pages boasted Baby Animal Encounter Days, Nocturnal Animal Encounter Days, Deluxe Animal Encounter Days, and more....all for a price.

Photo source: https://www.instagram.com/evenkeelexotics/

In all, 142 animals were seized and sent to reputable facilities where they will receive the compassionate care they deserve.

Thankfully, this facility has now been permanently closed down by authorities.

EVEN KEEL EXOTICS HISTORY

Since 2014, USDA inspection reports cite an astonishing 74 violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including animals being deprived of water and denied veterinary care.

Inspectors found animals living in cramped, filthy cages that didn’t even provide adequate shelter from inclement weather.

Our staff were one of the first teams onsite and safely removed the cats housed there. They saw cages that were barren and dirty.

Listen to caretaker Elyse's impression of the facility when they arrived: 

You can read more about the facility and the shutdown HERE.

MEET THE CARACALS

Our four new residents will remain in quarantine for the next 30 days, but they’re already enjoying habitats with grass, logs, platforms and so many amenities they didn’t have in their barren cages.

Each cat will need an intake exam, deworming, vaccines and eventually be spayed and neutered.

Your donation or sponsorship today will help them begin their new life - a wild at heart life they certainly deserve.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to the caracals and share what we know about them.

Sadly, these caracals were imported recently from Prague to the U.S. to be used as a breeding pair. 

(Stay tuned on Thursday when I’ll introduce you to the fishing cat and serval, too.)         

MALE CARACAL

At approximately three years old, he and his mate have already been through so much in their young lives. 

He reminds us so much of our caracal Sampson when he was young. He’s sociable and easy going.

FEMALE CARACAL

The female is approximately 2.5 years old. She’s a bit more nervous but participates in husbandry well.

Their first day at the sanctuary, the two were cuddled up together in the safety of their den box. What a whole new wonderful world this is for them!

By the evening, though, they were curiously checking out their new bobcat neighbor Bella. It was so heartwarming to see them playing and willing to come to the fence line to take food we offered them.

It looks like they're smiling already!

WILL YOU HELP ME NAME THE CARACALS?

Neither of these cats was ever named. Their owner saw them simply as breeders for profit.

But we love them already and want them to have special names. That’s where I could use your help.

• First, as with all our other residents, these two would love to have sponsor parents.

It costs $300/year or $25/month to become a sponsor parent and I’ll send you new photos and updates of them whenever you ask.

• Second, if you sign up to sponsor one of these caracals by September 4^th at midnight, you’ll be entered in a drawing to help me choose their name!

This is something we rarely offer, so I hope you’ll think about taking advantage of this amazing opportunity.

I can’t wait to share more and more about them as they settle in for a whole new life here at the sanctuary.

And Thursday, I’ll have even more to share about the other two new residents!

Thank you for opening up a whole new world for these 4 cats through your support ❤️

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