Later we shall have a lynx on every web page, but for now.....  lets here some stories.....

By: Sherry Blanchette

ABOUT THE ARTIST

My name is Bob. I am a Northern Bobcat. I was born at an awful fur farm. My family at MEADOW SWEET FARMS rescued me and my Canadian Lynx buddy from becoming someone's coat or a stuffed mount on someone's hearth. Phew! I love art! I love to paint! I love to create! My human mom, first noticed my budding talent the time I painted the kitchen in leftover chili, when she wasn't looking. Chili is a nice medium to work in. It smells so good, I can't resist rolling in it.

ABOUT THE PAINTINGS: The paintings are done in non toxic acrylic and water. Some of the paintings have flecks of basil, oregano and curry added. I knocked the spices off the counter (when mom wasn't looking) onto the wet paint, for texture. I use a special bobcat technique, called jump, drop and roll. Mom lays out the white paper and puts plates with the non toxic acrylic paint at different places so I can chose my own colors. I have a tin of water so I can wash off my paws or thin the paint. I love to play in water and paint! The Bobcat technique is very specialized. I jump in the paint, jump around on the paper then drop and roll, in variations. Each type of roll produces its own affect. Just as human artist use different brushes for different affects I use different rolls or combination of rolls. Because I'm lucky enough to have escaped the fur farm, I wear my own fur, this allows me to be one big paint brush! all the proceeds from my art work directly to help my animal friends at:

MEADOW SWEET FARMS CENTER FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF WILD/ EXOTIC FELINES INC.

PO BOX 251 LOVINGSTON, VA. 22949 (804) 263-6652

EMAIL: [email protected]

None of the money goes to humans.

MSF-CCPW/EF Inc. is a private non profit 501-c-3 no kill, rescue shelter for captive raised wild animals that have been displaced or abused.see bobcat pics - get the file - lynx pic

My Life With Bob by: Sherry Blanchette of Meadow Sweet Farms

If anyone is thinking of a Bobcat as a house cat heres a slice from my life, maybe it will be helpful: I live with bobcats in the house now. We like high strung cats, our domestics are siamese. We have the time it takes to have these cats in the house. *(They take a lot of time!) Bobcats are action packed and always looking for adventure. WARNING: Your life will never be the same!

*(They are messy)You can't keep the house streight with a bob. Our house is decorated for bobcats etc.. very little regular furniture and what has to remain standing is screwed into wood like lamps and nic nacs. The wall clock is even screwed in.

*(Bob is a computer nerd) Bob is forever adding footnotes to my emails or sending them off before I finish them. Who knows what he types and sends off when I'm not looking. Bob has developed a weird late night taste for unplugged modem lines. I have to keep a supply on hand ( hidden.)

*(Bob is smell activated!) Garlic, cloves, cinnamon, curry, smelly socks and armpits are among his favorites. Cow pies, sheep, goat and llama poo are the ultimate perfume. If this is on your shoes, watch out, Bob is super glued as soon as you walk in the door to your feet. It is very difficult to remove a boot that is surrounded by bobcat.

*(Can be embarrassing with company) Bob is very *social* with guests (he is a professional deoderant tester) he shows no qualms either, about check out if the guest is male or female. This is unnerving to folks who aren't familar with bobcat protocol.

*(Loves to roll in the dirty laundry and dishes) Bob takes possession and hides it for future undaunted rolls.

Just found a paper plate with reminnents of left over, rolled in chili, under the sofa. I wondered why Bob had *red mud looking stuff* stuck to him.

*(Ariel) He likes to be up off the ground so he adores shelves. Our house has a lot of them, built just for cats like him. Sometimes he pretends he is Mary Poppins without the umbrella. Guess who is usually there to break his plummit to earth? I hate it when he plays this game! !!!!

*(Suicidal) He is miserable if he can't see what is going on. He will stop short of breaking his neck to see what is happening.

His passion and joy is to rip and snort at high death defying speeds through the house. Bobcats can move faster than the speed of light if something imaginary is chasing them.

*(Takes on other animal persona) Out in his run, he scales the fence like a squirrel and climbs upside down clinging like a bat from the top.

*(Has watched too many old gangster movies) There isn't a door he hasn't learned to open. (He hasn't figuared out the latching hook & eye yet) but he is working on it. He is an escape artist extroidnair (everything is fence in so he can't get far, I hope) and he is a theif. He is happiest when stealing the cougars food out of the sink while it is being prepared. You can offer him some, but to him if it isn't stolen, it isn't worth it.

*(Has x-ray vision). Bob knows what is in the shopping bags, refridgerator, and pantry. He isn't shy about helping himself, when you are not looking.

*(Knows how to suck up) He loves to give hugs and kisses especially after he has been really bad all day!

*(Fearless) There isn't anything that he is afraid of or will not challenge including the big cats and dogs.

*(Feirce) He can be pretty feirce when he wants! Bob will use his teeth before he uses his claws. This is very seldom, but I don't want anyone to think it won't happen. If I had the choice between handleing a mad bobcat and a mad cougar, I would take the cougar.

*(Psyco) Bob is a normal bobcat with *psyco kitty* tendencys (like most cats). When in *psyco mode* multiply what I have told you by 100%.

*(Suffers from selective hearing and delusions) Bob is well mannered for a bobcat. Poor dear, does suffers from selective hearing and delusions. This comes on him suddenly when he is caught engaging in a misadventure. He will give you his most innocent big eyed look *WHO ME?* *I DIDN'T HEAR YOU*!

*BUT WAIT! I DIDN'T DO IT! IT WAS REALLY THE OTHER BOBCAT. HE WAS HERE JUST A MINUTE AGO.....* *I WAS BEING GOOD, REALLY...!*

Living with a bobcat is like living with a perpetual two year old that has jet packs and roller skates. We adore Bob, he fits into our lifestyle and family.

Bobcats as homies aren't for everyone, especially if you value the calm, quite, peaceful, life. Those words just aren't in a bobcats vocabulary .

Sherry :).see bobcat pics - lynx pic

A Message from our onelist Moderator

Hi Lynx folks,

Because this list, though it is small (about 35), has some availability to anyone who wants to sign up, I wanted to suggest a couple of ideas for each member's security, and a rule as well. First of all, this list is restricted so I approve each member who applies to sign up. Secondly, only members have access to the archives.  Secondly, there are people in the world, certain folks from the animal rights  community, who think it is okay to "free" captive animals like lynxes or minks from their imprisonment at the hands of certain evil humans. They accord animals, such as lynxes, the rights of freedom of movement, that most of us believe humans should have.

I believe, in contrast, that a well-treated pet or member of an animal-breeding program that provides pets as companion animals, is not being denied rights and in many ways has a life that isn't too bad in that they are protected from leg traps and human poachers, hunters and land grabbers that turn animals like lynxes into endangered species.

I don't think ALL animal rights people are a threat to lynx owners, and I respect the rights of those who disagree with me to believe what they do. Yet, I want non-domestic cat owners, particularly those on the list I created, to have some protection from sabotage, like "freeing" your or my cat.Suggestion:

To protect ourselves from such events, I suggest that individuals not disclose their individual physical addresses or phone numbers to the list at large. Doing that privately, when you want to communicate to others is perhaps safer. If you choose to, it is at your own risk. (I won't intervene, if you do.)

Rule:

NEVER disclose anyone else's physical address or phone number to the list at large.

Suggestion:

If you know of activists for animal rights that might sabatoge others such as lynx or bobcat owners, and has infiltrated our list or could infiltrate our list, then let me know. I CAN block particular people, based on their e-mail address from joining or sending messages to the list. I can remove members if needed. I would need evidence of course before I did anything.

None of this may ever amount to anything, though I tend to be cautious and have heard stories that are quite sad, so I hope this message is not too paranoid. (Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean that THEY are NOT out to get you!)

If anyone has problems with the suggestions and rule above, or would like to comment about them or add new ones, please do so. The purpose for the list is to create a community of members who have lynxes (and other cats) as common interests.

Thanks,

Kelly

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