PEGGY SUE - Female Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
Born 4/13/96. Weight: 60 lbs (28 kg)

It takes a very special kind of cat to be a companion cuddle cat. Peggy Sue the Eurasian Lynx, is just such a cat. Raised with love and compassion from the day she was born, she's grown up to be respectful and considerate of humans and other animals, including her sorely-missed playmate, Streaker the serval.

The Eurasian Lynx, also sometimes known as the Siberian lynx, is the largest of the lynx subspecies and occupies a range that spans much of Northern Europe, Russia, and central Asia. In the wild, the Eurasian lynx feeds on deer and wild hares, but Peggy Sue has developed a more civilized palette: a bit of coffee in the morning, cantaloupe, tuna, and ZuPreem with an algae supplement throughout the day.

Peggy Sue lives with her companion humans inside the house and is an excellent ambassador cat. Her story is a particular example of how humans and cats can not only coexist, but become true companions for the benefit of both species.

DETONATOR - Male Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris bengalensis)
Born 2/23/93. Weight: 600 lbs (273 kg)

He's strong, handsome, smart, and he has a gorgeous tail. In short, he's any girl's dream. Maybe that's why Detonator's cousins in the wild are so endangered. Detonator is a Bengal tiger, and he's one of the original cats at Tiger Touch.

Bengal tigers are the most populous of the tiger subspecies, but they are still critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. While there were once hundreds of thousands of Bengals throughout an area which covered much of Asia, today the tiger's future is uncertain at best.

The Bengal tiger is the second largest tiger, averaging about 8 ft from nose to tail, and tipping the scales around 500 pounds (for males). Every tiger has a distinct stripe pattern that helps to camouflage them in the tall jungle grasses. They also have an individual pugmark, or footprint, that researchers can use to identify individuals even when they can't see them.

At Tiger Touch, Det is easy to spot -- his massive frame stretches over 9 feet long, tip to tail. Det spends most of his days lounging in the shade of his box or playing with the companion humans who come to visit.

NIKI - Female Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)
Born 9/93. Weight: 425 lbs (193 kg)

Niki is a 17 year old Siberian tigress that came to Tiger Touch from Montana. Siberian tigers are the largest of all cats, with males ranging up to 13 feet (4 meters) in length and weighing up to 700 pounds (317 kg). They are also among the most critically endangered. Once prevalent throughout most of northeast Asia, only 150-200 are estimated to remain in the wild; fewer than 500 are managed in zoos and in private sanctuaries such as Tiger Touch.

At Tiger Touch, Niki enjoys a 14' X 12' bedroom den with day bench and elevated walkway. She has a 45' X 12' tile floor play room opening on to a 24' X 16' all weather deck.

Her amenities include air conditioning, music, an 8' diameter X 2.5' deep pool, breakfast and snack service, many exciting visitors and sleep over friends, and the almost constant presence and interaction of her office staff a few feet away where she can summon them at the slightest whim.

Teddy - Male Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
Born 1999. Weight: 45 lbs (20 kg)

Teddy, like his companion Sunshine, is a bit shy. His den box is not just a place to get in out of the weather, it's a haven from nosy photographers. "What, are you still here?" Too bad - as you can see he has a rather handsome face with dramatically marked cheek ruffs, large piercing eyes and tufted ears. He also has huge paws which, far from being a hindrance, make it possible for him to run quickly over the surface of deep snow in his native habitat.

The two lynx are staying Tiger Touch at least until their human mother finds out if they can accompany her to her new home. All we can do is make sure they are comfortable, safe, and have a nice hiding place.

Canadian Lynx are much smaller than their Eurasian cousins. At 60 pounds, Peggy Sue far outclasses him. Perhaps that's why he and his companion choose to stay in an enclosure by themselves!

Sunshine - Female Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
Born 2002. Weight: 35 lbs (14 kg)

Sunshine is an ironic name for her--like all lynx she is mainly active at night--but she does radiate sunshine for her small circle of friends. Naturally shy, she will be hiding from you long after Niki Tigress has danced for you. It isn't that Sunshine is unfriendly--it's a survival strategy that has worked for ages.

Lions, who can hunt large prey cooperatively in groups tend to hang out together. Lynx usually eat snowshoe hares, a big meal for a lone lynx and a reasonable feast for a mother and her kittens. When two adults try to share an carcass that small, things start to get out of hand quickly. Besides, more than one lynx trying to sneak up on the same hare are not that effective. Anyone that has seen a moping lynx will know how deep their emotional needs really are. Just don't be upset if you don't "make the cut" with Sunshine. She always chooses quality over quantity in her social life.

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