It’s thought that 64 percent of people let their pets sleep in the same bed as them, according to YouGov, but for the most part that’s ordinary cats and dogs. A small chihuahua or tabby cat pales in comparison to this woman who sleeps with her pet wild cat by her side.
A video was shared on Instagram (@bigfloppa.gosha) showing owner Elena, 49, lying in the bed beside her pet caracal, named Gosha. The wild cat was born in December 2017, and he found his forever home with Elena and her husband Andrey, 58, by April 2018.
Despite being large predators, Gosha is kept inside like any ordinary house cat. Indeed, Andrey even told Newsweek that the cat sleeps “in the bed with us at night.” But the caracal never truly switches off, as he always remains “really protective” of Elena while she sleeps and is constantly on the lookout for potential dangers.
The video of Gosha laying beside Elena in the bed has shocked the internet, generating over 12.1 million views and more than 244,000 likes on Instagram at the time of writing.
Gosha the caracal in bed beside Elena at their home. Gosha has been with his owners since April 2018, and he always sleeps in the bed beside them.
@bigfloppa.gosha / Instagram
“Gosha treats strangers without aggression but with caution,” Andrey said. “If Gosha has already met a person before, then he recognizes this person even after a long time and allows himself to be petted by them.”
But Gosha is not the couple’s only pet in their home in Moscow, Russia, as they also have a Maine Coon cat named Justin. There may be a huge disparity in size between them, but the duo has become inseparable.
“Gosha and Justin sleep both sleep in the bed with us. During the day they usually sleep in different places around the home but they’re still next to each other,” Andrey continued.
Male caracals can weigh up to 40 pounds and stand up to 20 inches tall at the shoulder. Their body length is usually somewhere between 35-39 inches long, according to the organization Big Cat Rescue. They can be found in Central Africa, South Africa, West Africa and the Middle East, preferring dry habitats over tropical rainforests.
As for their prey, their diet mostly consists of rodents, hares, and small antelope, but they wouldn’t be afraid of hunting prey that’s larger than themselves, including springboks. Indeed, the Big Cat Rescue highlights that their agility enables them to leap into the air and take down 10-12 birds all in one go.
While they’re majestic animals to be around, Regina Domingo, founder of the nonprofit Nakawe Project, which focuses on the conservation of wildlife and regeneration of tourism, says the idea that caracals make good pets is a “misconception.”
They might look sweet and even docile at times, but they’re wild cats no less, and should be treated with respect and caution.
Domingo told Newsweek: “They remain unpredictable, possess strong instincts, and need specialized care that captivity cannot provide. This applies to all wild felines, whose natural behaviors and social structures are essential for their survival in the wild.
“Captivity is not a valid way to save endangered species. True conservation means protecting natural habitats where these animals can thrive. We need to prioritize preserving wild spaces over confining animals for personal joy or status if we want to stop the alarming decline of biodiversity.”
The Social Media Reaction
Andrey regularly posts clips of Gosha on Instagram to give social media users a glimpse into their daily lives with a wild cat. While many people are left in awe by Gosha, he adds that a lot of the negativity they face is actually about his weight rather than their decision to keep him as a pet.
“Unfortunately, Gosha is overweight, and this leads to a lot of negative comments online,” Andrey said. “People don’t understand that this is a difficult problem to solve.
“If you don’t count the excess weight he carries, then the overwhelming majority of comments online are of admiration.”
After going viral online, the video of Gosha laying in the bed with his owner has generated over 1,000 comments on Instagram so far. One comment reads: “Never EVER interrupt nap time.”
Another person wrote: “That’s so sweet. He really loves and protects Elena.”
Although it wasn’t entirely positive, as one commenter added: “That’s a wild animal for goodness sakes.”
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