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Oh, the litterbox is the least of the problems! Cats are naturally clean, so the bobcat should prefer to use litter (especially if there's another cat using the litterbox -- cats will go the extra mile to make sure that fellow cats aren't getting privileges they don't have).

It's the "training the bobcat not to rip your throat out when it's a full-grown adult" part that's challenging, along with "what's the difference between a chicken and a toddler" and "why you should respect our rule that the sofa is not a scratching post."

Some of my grad-school friends raised dog-wolf hybrids, and being part non-domestic animal really did make obedience training a lot more challenging than it ordinarily would be.

In New Jersey and New York owners of wild animals must have permits or licenses for them. Last week a woman in Queens discovered a 15' long python in her toilet that had gotten in there via the plumbing from another apartment in her building. There was the crazy man who kept a cougar in his studio apartment. The city of New York discovered it and over his strong protests, took it away to a wild animal farm and banned him from seeing it. Although some of the pictures of the Russian bobcat are cute, it's likely only a matter of time before it does something uncivilized. If you want a cat that big, get a Maine Coon.

That bobcat is really doing an industrial job of washing on that cat though!

Holy Smokes! since i was little i always wanted to have a little tiger..but when i found out that they dont stay lil' well, i changed my mind!

my 2, 10 pound each, beautiful cats make it up for it though...

Uhh, well I am all for humane treatment of animals but at the same time I'm not a huge fan of domestication. You sort of lose what's so great about the creature when you do that. I guess if you maintain that respect, then hopefully they will respect you and you won't have any problems.

I have always wanted a big wolf-like dog...but I think I will probably stick to akitas and other working dog breeds.

I have two Bengal cats which are part Asian Leopard Cats (a wild animal). They are incredible... super super vocal and extremely athletic. They can jump 6ft straight up. They can open doors with or without knobs. They are often on top of the cabinets, and we can't figure out how they get there. However, they do require A LOT of attention and affection. They are independent, but it's not one of those "I'll leave you alone" kinda of cats. When they get angry they make deep hissing noises... even our vet said he's never heard anything like it. One has a two lenses inside his eye.
They are fun and different :-)

i love Maine Coons!! i am so not a cat person, but they act so much like dogs, they totally win me over. we had one for almost 18 years...

I could be wrong, but I don't think this is a Bobcat, the ears look wrong:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat

JuliaL, my old roommate had a bengal and he was beautiful. He was the runt, so he was a little smaller than usual. I love their coats - they're so short, but soooo soft and velvety. I think our bengal was a little bit of an oddball - he was super-athletic, but he loved cuddling on my lap, also.

Anyhoo, I've seen these pictures before and they always elicit a scared laugh from me. First, I don't think it's a bobcat - the ears are wrong. Secondly, I'm iffy on bringing wild animals in the home - there's a reason it's illegal in most places. However, this Russian couple seems pretty good at letting the animal display its primal instincts, by giving it chickens and catfish to play with, for example.

logic aside, this is adorable! but i grew up in a house with six cats, so maybe i'm a little biased.

It might be an asian fishing cat, or some kind of mix. The markings look right, but I'm not sure about the ears...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_Cat

it would explain the mid size and clear enjoyment of water...

I love the shots of it grooming the domestic long hair...

That is not a bobcat, one of the small jungle cats from central america would be my guess.

Some animals are domesticated, some are not, even a domesticated animal can hurt you and a slice and dice from a cat that big can maim. I have a scar running two feet long down one leg due to a cat not much larger than that one.
Jackass people smuggled it into the country as a kitten and freaked when it grew up. I got the call at 2AM to go catch a thoroughly pissed off wild cat. Tons of fun.
I was for many years a professional in the field and I cannot tell you how many times I had to go attend to the aftermath of somebody who thought a wild animal was cute when it was small and could not deal with reality when it grew up.
Sometimes the animal was too damaged by the contact with people to be released back into the wild, sometimes the animal had to be put down due to hysterics on the part of the owners or the animal authorities. My sympathy, in all cases,was with the animal.
Sometimes the story had a happy ending but not often.
I give long odds that this is not going to end well for that beautiful cat. Sad.

That cat is everywhere in that home, and it's not cute. I think I'd rather take a bath and use the toilet by myself. I'm all for cats, but this one doesn't tempt me. (And I don't think it's a bobcat, either.)

Not feeling the "Russians are crazy" jab. Lots of stupid people everywhere, not just Russia.

Remember the guy who was eater by his tiger in NYC? And around my parents' house, there was a woman who raised wolf hybrids illegally. They mauled her to death last year.

I love animals. I'm probably a crazy cat lady in the making. But trying to "domesticate" a wild creature is just wrong. I'm sad to agree with witchdoc that things will probably not end well for this beautiful creature.

Sorry, that's not a jab at Russians, just this couple in particular (although, one of my best friends is Russian and she's nuts in the best way possible. After she sent me this link, she said, "So cute! I want one!" while I was slightly traumatized by the chicken slaying in the apartment).

And yes, there are a lot of crazy people everywhere.

Oh there are crazy people everywhere! My sister lives in Mexico and recently on a blog post, she was trying to describe how crazy Mexico is and how anything goes there... her description included how right next to one of the places in a residential area where she works, there is a house. Makes sense. In the [enclosed] yard they have a pet...lion. That they keep in a swimming pool. With a cage on top. Sometimes...you can hear it roaring.

The bobcat doesnt seem so scary afterall.

wow, that lady sure does dirty up her bath water!

BTW, the caption on the photo indeed calls it a fishing cat, not a bobcat. It also mentions its vulnerable species status.

Definitely not a Bobcat, it's a Fishing Cat.

http://www.cathouse-fcc.org/fishingcat.html

There was this one magician....he had a tiger.....

Next thing you knew there was a jump and glitter and rhinestones went flying everywhere!!

He no longer performs in Vegas with his partner. He no longer has a working eye either.