In last night's post I told you that my wife and I went for a nice afternoon walk down at Capitol Lake. It's trail that goes around the lake is a popular spot for people who either like to walk or walk their dogs. (NOTE: we knew right away this was not a dog!) We were about half way around the lake when I stopped dead in my tracks and told my wife "Honey....LOOK." Yep, there is a local woman that happens to (legally) own a somewhat tame Bobcat. I wish I had backed off and taken a shot of her, the Bobcat and her two dogs. The dogs weren't even on leashes. Evidently they've grown up around the cat and are completely comfortable around it. They acted like it was no big deal. There were other dogs that came by that the cat appeared to eye very closely licking it's chops. The owner kept a pretty tight grip on the leash, but I was surprised how long of a leash she used. It was probably fifteen feet long which seems like a lot of lead for an animal that could do the damage this one could. We stopped and talked to the lady for a while. A group of teenagers stopped and took a ton of cell phone pics. A couple of them actually did get to pet it, but she wouldn't let any small kids close. Definitely a beautiful animal, but it sure caught us off guard.
Too beautiful to pet it...
I'm not too sure about this. Shouldn't it just be in the wild?
I must be more than a real treat for the bobcat to get out and walk about without being attacked by something. It seems to know it is in safe hands. I don't like zoos and water parks and places that cage animals for love or money but I have respect for lone individuals who are enough about an animal to bring it out of a cruel environment into one safe place. I wish you knew the history of this animal. That is the main story. How it ended up on a leash.
That is CRAZY!!!! You don't see that every day! What a treat that you got to see this beautiful animal up close and personal!
A pleasure to see a bobcat. Not too sure about the leash and collar, seems a bit small and chewable. ;)
Holy crap! These are very dangerous felines...can't imagine getting to the point where you'd take one out in public, even on a leash!
Love your photos!
Must be getting close, right? And you're not excited at all, right?
Thanks all, it was quite a treat....and a surprise.
Abraham Lincoln: Good point Abe, and I should have put that in the post. She rescued this animal from a "fur farm."
Rob: You know I thought the same thing. That cat could go through that nylon like nothing if it wanted to.
Jacob: You're right, it is getting close. About two weeks till the actual due date. Here we go! :-)
Cute little pussy!
Beautiful animal. I love the wild type cats. This one is gorgeous and thank goodness the lady rescued it.
I had a bobcat once too. My Brother's girlfriend at the time--well her father worked up on Diablo Dam in the North Cascades and the workers came upon a nest of kits and the Mother had been killed so I got one of the babies. It didn't do well in captivity and being so young the poor thing ...died. But I loved it while I had it. I was about in the 7th grade then. MB
Wow. It really is a gorgeous cat, and I'm glad the lady saved it from the fur farm!
I love your shots and the quad mosaic. Well done! I still don't know if I'd be able to trust that beast!
Wow! Nice post, and the 'cat' is beautiful!
You just never know what you're going to find to photography, do you? Wow!
yes, a beautiful animal, but what's wild needs to stay wild! i hate the fact that i've locked my cats up in the house, but a bobcat is totally different! WoW look at that face, it's gorgeous!!!
hmmm, i am surprised it would be so calm to be a pet. maybe it was injured and she rescued it and raised it. I am glad you are enjoying the Sedona photos on my website. I hope all is well.
Such a mixed bag of thoughts here. It really is a beautiful animal, and I'm glad it was rescued from the fur farm. On the other hand, I expect it is an "accident waiting to happen," which would make it not so much an accident as a crime when someone gets hurt. On the other-other hand, what a treat to get to see one of these cats up close.
Encountering a "semi-tame" feline in a public space does indeed give one pause ... I suspect you can take the cat out of the wild, but really can't take "all of the wild" out of the feline. Cool animal!
Well?? Has Krise given birth yet? I hope both mother and baby are fine!
Just thinking of you guys…
You sure got some beautiful, beautiful shots of that gorgeous critter. I saw one run right into the side of a house wall next door to my mom's place in the desert. It was chasing a cotton tail into a rabbit hole at the foundation. Bunny got away only because of the shelter. Those little cats are are swift and lithe, powerful and determined. Poor thing picked itself up stunned like Whiley Coyote and walked slowly away looking a little dazed. He really slammed into the siding he was running so hard when he leaped for the bunny.
Been thinking of you guys and know you might still be waiting a few more days or perhaps baby has already arrived and joined your other kids in the pea pod. Hope you'll post a family shot of them all when your newest is feeling photogenic :-). Blessings!
-Kim
Just thinking about you...hope that all is well!
Where are you guys hiding? Did your wife have the baby yet? We're missing your posts!