Wild Desert Cat

The Mojave Desert Cat originated in the dry arid regions of southern California.  During times when food was scarce, local people would ocasionally find abandoned babies, but attempts to domesticate them proved to be futile.  As the Mojave Cat population began to dwindle, attempts to breed them with common domestic cats were sometimes successful, but it seemed to change the look of the cat too much.  Later, various exotic and hybrid cats were introduced into the bloodlines, and the results are delightful for the exotic cat enthusiast desiring an indoor house pet with a wild look and an exhuberant personality.

Because our Mojave Spotted Cats are a combination of hybrid bloodlines, the young kittens cannot always be expected to behave like common domestics.  At times, they may act more like little cubs.  They are very vocal from the moment that they are born, and sometimes make growling noises while eating or using the litter box.  Like the Bengal breed, they are initially shy and fearful of people, animals, and surroundings that are unfamiliar to them.  It is a normal part of their nature to vocalize their distress which may include a few hisses and spits during the first week or so.  The Mojave Spotted is not an agressive cat, and will cohabitate with other household pets very well once they are fully acquainted and no longer fearful of them.  It is also not an overly large cat, and will generally not be much larger than a good sized domestic tom cat.

Rearing Mojave kittens requires some understanding of their nature and the willingness to provide a littel extra time and attention.  They may tend to single out and bond with one person in the household more than others.  It is very important to frequently hold and cuddle new Mojave kittens even if they sometimes express a preference to the contrary.  Once they settle into their new surroundings and bond with at least one memeber of the household, this behavior disappears.   Another note of caution:  They can also be a wee bit jealous and possessive, and it is important not to allow this behavior while they are kittens.

In my decision to create this page, believe me when I say that it is not my intention to scare away potential buyers, nor do I want to portray that they are a wild cat.  The majority of their bloodline is domestic, but as we have learned from cats such as the 4th generation and beyond Bengal or Savannah, a little "wild" blood can go a long way.  They do require more attention than a typical domestic cat, but the rewards are tremendous.  Properly raised, they are not only intensely loving and loyal, but very playful and amusing as well.