Lynx cats are solitary cats that can be found in the wild in Asia, Europe, and North America.
They have beautiful, thick fur that helps them get through the cold winter months. Adults can grow 30 to 47 inches in body length and another 4 to 8 inches with their tails.
An adult male lynx can weigh anywhere from 20 to 65 pounds and the Eurasian Lynx is the biggest of the medium-sized lynx cats.
There are four different species of Lynx, including the Canada Lynx, Eurasian Lynx, Iberian Lynx, and Bobcat (covered in another article).
Can You Have a Lynx Cat as a Pet?
Yes, you can have a lynx cat as a pet in the United States if you live in Alabama, Delaware, Oklahoma, Nevada, North Carolina, or Wisconsin. You can have a pet lynx in these six states because these states have no official ban on big (or medium-sized) cats as pets.
If you live in any other state or another region of the world, you will need to check your local exotic pet laws to see if you can have a wild cat such as a lynx as a pet in your area.
Lynxes are exotic animals that are typically found in the wild but some pet owners do have lynxes as pets. If you want to have a pet lynx, you should read further to see why a lynx would make a great pet…or why it wouldn’t.
Just to show I’m not being biased, I am including reasons a lynx would make a great pet, but I’m also including reasons that a lynx would not make a great pet.
Let’s discuss this further!
Would a Lynx Cat Make a Good Pet?
A lynx would make for a good exotic pet as long as it is legal to own a wild cat such as a lynx in your area. If you’ve already checked and verified that you can have a pet lynx, then be sure to read about the pros and cons of having a lynx as a pet below.
I am providing 5 reasons a lynx would make a good pet and 5 reasons a lynx would not make a good pet.
I am trying to not be biased and give both sides of the equation for pet lynxes.
If you are set on getting a pet lynx, please be sure to read over this section thoroughly to better know the reasons to have a lynx and not have a lynx as a pet.
Note: We do not condone the trading, trapping, or selling of wild animals. We respect the exotic pet laws!
Not only are they respected, but we try to provide you with valuable information about these laws based on knowledge and research.
5 Reasons Lynx Cats Make Good Pets
Below are 5 reasons a lynx cat would be a good pet.
1. Lynxes Are Beautiful Cats
Have you seen a lynx? These medium-sized cats are bad to the bone. They are beautiful animals that have a lot of agility and stamina.
They can jump high (15-25 ft) and run fast (30-50 mph).
If you are looking for a medium-sized, exotic pet that would garner attention, then going with a lynx as a pet would be the desired move.
2. Pet Lynx – Perfect Companion
A pet lynx can be the perfect companion for you if handled from an early age and domesticated properly.
They can be very friendly animals, can be reserved at times, and can have a strong bond with their humans.
3. Pet Lynxes Can Be Trained
Pet lynxes can be trained to be around humans and domestic animals. They can even form special bonds with other animals in the family.
However, I can’t stress this enough!
When I state that lynx cats can bond with humans and domestic pets, it is with the assumption that your pet lynx was handled at an early age and is more comfortable being around humans and domestic pets.
4. Pet Lynx Lifespan
Lynx cats have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years in the wild. When held in captivity, they can live to be over 10 years old.
If you are looking for a long-term pet, then a lynx could be the right exotic pet for you, having just slightly less of an average lifespan than your usual house cat.
5. Lynx Cats Are Medium-Sized
A pet lynx can be a great alternative to a bigger cat, such as a tiger or lion. If you want an exotic cat that is smaller but of similar stature to the big cats, then a lynx is the cat for you.
While it is medium-sized, it is still one of the smaller exotic cats to own.
It would require much fewer resources than a bigger cat.
5 Reasons Lynx Cats DO NOT Make Good Pets
Below are 5 reasons a lynx cat would not be a good pet.
1. Lynxes Are Predatory Animals
Lynxes are predatory animals. They specialize in hunting birds, mice, squirrels, and rabbits. Lynx cats have also been observed taking down much larger predatory animals, including wolves.
These naturally wild animals have an instinct to hunt and pounce on prey.
Handling a kitten from birth or shortly after birth can make a difference, but there is never a guarantee that your pet lynx will not revert back to instincts.
If you are considering getting a lynx as a pet, just be mindful that this animal has the ability to be lightning-fast and to cause damage within no time at all.
Just be careful, especially around other small pets and even children. Not trying to manifest negative energy, but it is just something that needed to be mentioned.
2. Lynx Cats Are Solitary
Since lynxes tend to be solitary animals and rarely gather in groups, they can lack social structure when entering into a family (human) environment.
While pet lynxes can be friendly, the lack of social characteristics may make it harder for your new exotic pet to adjust. As stated before, it is best to get your pet right after birth (within expert guidelines) and from somewhere reputable.
The last thing you want is to get a “domestic” cat when in reality it can never be tamed. Just something to think about before getting a pet lynx.
3. Lynx Cats Have Sharp Claws & Teeth
While pet lynxes aren’t aggressive toward humans and only attack when provoked or when in defense mode, they still have sharp, 1-inch claws and 28 teeth with long canines made for taking down prey.
Death to humans? Probably not! But they could still cause some serious pain and damage to you if they wanted to.
4. Lynxes Can Be Friendly…But
Pet lynx cats “can be” friendly. However, just as friendly as they can be, you can also end up with a lynx that isn’t very friendly and doesn’t want to participate in the domesticated life you have envisioned.
It takes many years, possibly hundreds to thousands of years to breed animals for domestication.
Dogs were NOT selectively bred and then kept as pets overnight. It was a lengthy process, but it was also a necessity for wild dogs (or wolves) at the time.
Dogs relied on humans for food and humans relied on them for hunting back in the day.
It turned out to be a “win-win” situation for both species, but that took a long time to manifest.
5. Pet Lynx Cats Are Expensive
Not only do you have to account for the initial cost of a pet lynx, but you also need to think about the special diet your lynx will need.
You also need to think about the special exotic pet vet that your new cat will need to see for shots, checkups, etc.
On top of all that, a pet lynx will need lots of room to roam. In the wild, a lynx can have a territory range from 5 miles up to over 100 miles.
Unless you have acres and acres of land (and no neighbors), it would be unrealistic to keep a pet lynx and allow it to be outside.
How Much Does a Pet Lynx Cat Cost?
The cost of a pet lynx depends on which species of lynx you want to purchase and where you plan to make that purchase.
Check out the table below which gives you an approximate cost of each species of lynx.
This is just for the initial cost of a pet lynx and may not reflect any registration, licenses, or permits you need based on the exotic pet laws in your area.
| Species | Average Cost |
Canada Lynx Cost |
$2,000 to $6,000 |
Eurasian Lynx Cost |
$2,000 to $7,500 |
Iberian Lynx Cost |
$2,000 to $7,000 |
Bobcat Cost |
$1,500 to $5,000 |
Where Can I Buy a Pet Lynx?
You can buy a pet lynx from exotic pet dealers if you have any in your area.
Below are a few websites I found online that sell exotic pets, including lynx cats, but I have never used these websites and can’t vouch for how their processes work when purchasing a lynx as a pet.
However, I just wanted to provide you with some options so you can get an idea of what you can expect to pay and where you can expect to buy a pet lynx.
Recap
Having a lynx as a pet can be a wonderful experience that creates a loving bond, but having a pet lynx can also be a nightmare if you haven’t done enough research and just purchase this exotic pet on a whim.
In this article, I provided you with valuable information on owning a pet lynx legally, why a lynx would make a great pet, and why a lynx would not make a great pet.
I also provided you with information on the cost of a pet lynx and gave you some options to check out when you are ready to buy.
You know your family and living situation better than anyone else.
Think about everything that goes into owning an exotic pet before you make that purchase, especially with a predatory animal such as a lynx.
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed the article! If you did, don’t forget to check out other exotic pet articles we have on the site.
