Answers by Mokave Breeder Nora Scholin



1. Are these cats dangerous? Do I need a permit?

No. Mokave cats and kittens are bred for temperment above all else. They love people and bond strongly with their human families. These friendly animals are meant to be kept indoors as family pets. It's easy to harness train a Mokave kitten so it can go walking with you outdoors but you should not let it roam freely outside as it may "disappear" on you!

Permits are not required for these beautiful animals. However, it's a good idea to check with your local authorities about any possible restrictions they might have in your area regarding hybrids.


Mulan		 "I just wanted to let you know how Mulan is doing.
She is the best cat I have ever had and would ever
want and wish for. Her personality is just so loving
and playful; she loves to tackle my little dogs and to
follow anyone."

Adrian H.   Fresno, CA
"Sniffles has been a ball of thunder, zipping and zooming
around the house nonstop. She walks on a harness and
leash now everywhere I go, even to the grocery market.
You can't imagine how many times I got, 'OH MY GOD,
SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL!!!' She loves all the attention."

Margaret C.   Seattle, WA
Sniffles


2. Will my children be safe with my Mokave cat?

Mokave cats and kittens seem to enjoy children... they're usually very gentle and sweet towards younger children and playful with the older ones. And, of course, the kids love them!
"He is great with kids; I have a nephew that is 10 months now... [my kitten] will let him do anything
to him and he just takes it..."

"We are pleased with our Mokave kitten. She is now about 15 weeks old and she is full of energy
and mischief. Her favorite games are tag-with-the-kids and peek-a-boo."

3. Will a Mokave kitten get along with my other pets?

They should... as long as your other pets are friendly, too. I provide information on how to introduce your new Mokave cat to the rest of your family on the Kitten Care page.



Jackson & Mara		 "Zeus is such a warm and loving guy. He has become the adopted son of our other cat, Sasha. They groom each other and give love bites. Zeus is a very chatty cat and loves being talked to as if in a conversation. Thank you so much for our little baby."

Jennifer G.   Mayport, FL
Zeus

4. What's it like to live with a Mokave cat?

It's incredible! These cats are so much smarter and usually more loving than anything you can imagine. You really need to spend time with one to know what I'm talking about. Just read some of the emails I get from the people that have my beautiful babies:

Riddick		 "He is a good kitty and so loving. I am not a cat person but he
acts more like one of my dogs than a cat! I love his personality!
He is also a lot softer than a regular cat."

Mandi B.  St. Marys, GA

5. What breeds are offered by Mokave Cats?

Mokave Cats currently offers five breeds but my Desert Lynx and Highland Lynx lines will be phased out in 2008 to allow more time for the development of my two new breeds, the Mokave Jag Cat and Mokave Lynx Cat. For more information, please click:

6. How big will my Mokave cat get?

Most Mokave cats grow larger than domestic cats. With proper nutrition and exercise, Mokave adult females will weigh 12 to 18 lbs. Mokave adult males usually weigh 14 to 28 lbs. The chart below shows averages for typical housecats and Mokave cats.

TYPE     
Housecat     
Mokave Cat     		 SOCIALIZED    
  8-10 weeks    
12-14 weeks     		 MATURE     
 1 year     
 3 years     		  WEIGHT    
  6-12 lbs.    
12-28 lbs.     		 LENGTH w/TAIL     
  26-29 inches     
  27-37 inches      		 LIFE SPAN
  17 years
  20 years

To see photos of some big Mokave cats, please click:

NOTE:   It is genetically impossible to breed a domestic cat that weighs the same as a cougar or leopard as the smaller felines do not carry a gene for gigantism. People often tell me that their domestic kitty weighs 25, 30, or even 50 lbs.! Almost always, the cat has not been weighed accurately and is very overweight.


Liliana at 5 Months		 "She is sooo adorable!
I just love her!"

Diane D.   Jacksonville, FL
Liliana at 10 Months

7. Should I declaw my Mokave kitten?

No. Most people don't realize that the declawing procedure removes both claw and bone up to the first knuckle, which is a horrible thing to do to your new kitten! Mokave kittens come to you trained to climb cat trees. If you provide your kitten with a climbing tree (see ) and occasionaly trim kitty's nails (see ), you should not have any scratching problems.

Isis		 "This is how my daughter holds Isis so I can clip her nails. I have found that using a baby clipper works best (a tip from my vet) on these little guys. You are able to see the tips better and the whole process goes safer and faster."

Kim Z.   Brookfield, IL

8. Why must I alter my Mokave kitten?

When a hybrid matures, both males and females have a tendancy to spray. Altering your Mokave cat at an early age prevents this from happening. It also protects the cat from some cancers and other health problems such as pyometra. Mokave cats tend to grow larger after altering, especially if they are exercised regularly.


Riddick
 "Here are some pictures of Riddick for you... Ever since he had his surgery [neutering] he has become more of a love bug than before. He is getting so BIG! You can't even imagine how huge he has gotten. Anyway, we love the kitty and he is just as fiesty as ever!

Paul & Mandi B.   St. Marys, GA
Riddick

9. Do Mokave cats like water?

Most Mokave cats enjoy splashing around in water be it a pool, shower, or water fountain. Because Mokave kittens have no fear of water, it is difficult to keep them from playing in their water bowls, which is why you should wash their bowls and provide fresh water every day. Water feeders are not a good idea for the younger kittens as they will just knock them over and then have a blast watching you clean up the mess!

"X"		 "X is doing great! He actually went swimming in the pool a couple of weeks ago... I heard a splash and I saw him in the water swimming around and then he got out and shook off."

Jennifer K.   Lake Mary, FL
Exotica in a "Kitty" Pool

10. Can I really "walk" my Mokave cat?

Absolutely! Most Mokave kittens easily train to harness and leash and actually enjoy walking with their owners. I recommend starting your kitten out on a Comfort Harness (found in the Rabbit section of Petsmart). You can move to soft, padded dog harness as the kitten matures. Of course everywhere you go, people will want to see your exotic leash-trained cat!

Lil Critter		 "Lil Critter is learning to walk on the harness, the hard part was getting it on him, the rest was easy. He has a scheduled appearance in Gilford Middle High School once we get all settled in. My Biology professor from high school has asked that I come in and present him to her classes."

Sarah W.   Norfolk, VA
Sage & German Shepherd

11. I want a cat that is more like a dog. Do Mokave cats play fetch?

Yes, fetch is one of their favorite games. Mokave cats will teach YOU how to play with them (see comment below).

Zorro Playing Fetch		 "[My kitten] has also learned to play fetch; his favorite play toy is a pink poodle. I took him camping; he woke me up at 4:30am. He was standing there staring at me... with his poodle in his mouth. I asked him what he wanted and he sat down and dropped the poodle on the floor and looked at me. I told him he was nuts and his foot came out and batted at the poodle. 4:30am and he wanted to play poodle! So I threw it for him..."

Sarah W.   Norfolk, VA
Dawn Fetching A Ball

12. Are Mokave cats litter trained?

Yes. All Mokave kittens are trained to use a litter box. I recommend a large litter box as many Mokave cats outgrow the smaller boxes. In a really big or 2-story house, it's a good idea to use two litter boxes until your new kitty learns the layout of your home. I use Arm & Hammer Clumping Litter but any litter will do as long as it doesn't have too much dust, which is bad for kitty to inhale. Mokave cats are very clean but they will not use a litter box if the box is too small or full of dirty litter. Be sure to keep your kitten's water dish as far away from it's litter box as possible to avoid the kitten contaminating it's water supply, which can cause diarrhea.


Anubis		 "We met them at the airport; it actually went very smooth...
They already knew what a kitty litter box was for; that was nice."

Neill L.  San Diego, CA
Azreal

13. What do I feed my Mokave kitten?

Mokave kittens require more nutrients than adult cats so you must keep your kitty on kitten food for at least the first year - preferably the first two years. I use Purina One for Healthy Kittens. Don't buy common grocery store brands as they do not have enough quality protein, taurine, and fat for hybrid kittens. As your kitten grows, it will need the additional nutrients found in my special Kitty Cocktail recipe so, before your new kitten arrives, please read:


14. I want one now! How do I buy a Mokave cat?

There are many ways you can pay for your new pet but you must talk to me in person or on the phone before I will sell you one of my beautiful cats. This is so we both know that the cat or kitten you want is right for your circumstances.

If you are not quite ready to purchase your Mokave cat, a reservation deposit will hold it for you so it won't be sold to anyone else. You can also use a Floating Deposit to reserve a Mokave kitten of your choice out of a future litter. For information on how this is done, please click:

"I have sent the deposit. My wife, Kim, is looking for a male Bengal
with the chocolate rosette pattern of Akasha. We will wait for that.
No matter how long it takes."

Frank Z.   Brookfield, IL
Queen Akasha

Gwenivere		 "Gwenivere's latest idea is to jump on everyone and use them as a stepping stool to get where she wants to go. She particularly likes to perch at the top of open doors and the top of my bed. I included a picture for you. Thank you so much. She goes above and beyond what I imagined her to be."

Amanda H.   Orange Park, FL

15. When can I get my Mokave kitten? Can you ship my new kitten to me?

Most people are used to getting a kitten at about 8-10 weeks but Mokave kittens do not mature that quickly and can get very stressed when placed in a new home too early. It takes 12 weeks to fully socialize, litter-train, and prepare your Mokave kitten for altering.

Mokave cats can be safely shipped anywhere in the U.S. and to some major cities in Canada. For information on how this is done, please click:


Isis		 "You are an awesome breeder. You
have definitely socialized her well. [Isis]
is full of love and mischief. She has won
the hearts of everyone in our house. She
was definitely worth the wait."

Frank Z.   Brookfield, IL
"Just a quick note to let you know my baby arrived
Wednesday evening. The plane was delayed an hour
but he is just fine and is learning his new home.
[Adonis] sure has personality. He loves to play fetch."

Officer Jeffery S.   Elkins, AR
Adonis

16. What if I have more questions after I get my kitten?

You or your vet can e-mail or call me with any questions you have and I'll be happy to answer them personally.

"You are so pleasant to talk to and I just feel so fortunate to have a breeder who knows her cats
and can answer all my needy questions. And you've answered all my hundred and one questions!
Thank you!!!"
Meg C.