These caracal kittens took playing with their food to a whole new level, showing spectators that it isn’t just human children who play with their food!
Rare caracal sighting reveals kittens’ playful side
Caracals are always a treat to see and can be difficult to find. This is because they are predominantly nocturnal animals. They are also generally solitary, except during mating or when a mother is raising her young.
Caracal kittens are born after a gestation period of around 70 to 80 days. The female gives birth to a litter of 1 to 6 kittens, though two to three are most common. This mother had two little ones in her care.
Her babies were not just feeling hungry, they were also feeling just a little playful!
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The mother presented them with a bunny for food, and their playful instincts took over. What followed was some amusing viewing as the kittens romped about, fighting over who got to hold the bunny.
Kittens ‘play with food’ in memorable interaction
Caracal kittens are playful and curious, often wrestling and pouncing on each other to hone their hunting skills. These playful kittens showed their exuberant nature through the handling of their food.
The meal was passed between them, as they mock-hunted and -charged, and fought over who would get the first bite.
While all this looked like mere play, the playful antics of baby caracals actually serves to strengthen and train them for the duties and responsibilities they will have to carry out in adulthood. Through play, they learn essential skills, like hunting.
Apart from rodents, like this bunny, caracals also hunt birds, small mammals, and even insects.
Interestingly, caracals will prey on other predators such as mongooses, and will even cannibalise their kind. Kittens such as these are especially vulnerable to being preyed upon by adults.
These beautiful animals have an average lifespan of around 15 years in the wild.
Hunting will become an essential skill for them as they grow older, however, for now, these kittens were just play-hunting. ‘Mom’ possibly didn’t mind so much that they were playing with their food, knowing this would equip them with the skills they would need later in life.
Kittens learn valuable skills while play-hunting
Finally, when all the play-hunting was done, the kittens ate their meal. The nourishment is what will make them big and strong, as one of Africa’s most feared predators.
Caracals mothers are brilliant moms and will provide for their young as long as needed.
At birth, caracal kittens are blind and helpless and completely dependent on Mom. However, they grow quickly. Their eyes usually open within 10 days, and they begin to explore outside the den by four to six weeks.
The mother nurses and cares for them, teaching them to hunt through play and demonstration.
These kittens will stay with the mother for up to 10 months. However, this might vary, as with every other species, depending on factors such as area and circumstance.
