While dogs, cats, and fish are some of the most common types of animals to own as pets in the UK, some might lovee to go with a more exotic option.
One such pet is Pumba, a five year old caracal that resides in Latvia – where it’s legal to own caracals – with his owner Deniss Jegorovs and his other two domestic cats. Caracals are medium-sized wild cats, known for their striking appearance and distinct behaviours, and are native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India.
Famed for their distinctive tufted ears and agility, caracals are typically solitary animals, which is why Pumpa’s relationship with Deniss and the cats are so unusual. Pumba has become an internet sensation in recent years, with over 11.1 million followers on TikTok where Deniss posts videos of their everyday life. “Pumba hates being alone so he usually follows us during the day,” Deniss told Metro.
“‘He likes sitting next to us and watching TV in the evening. We usually feed him three times a day. He also likes spending time with our two other cats, a Maine Coon and British Shorthair.”
Pumba is often seen joining in playtime with the other cats, as they all chase the same toys. Even though he is often seen hissing at the camera, he acts very similarly to the other cats.
He loves a good cuddle with his owner and the other cats, as well as exploring the outside areas. Deniss shared the challenges of keeping Pumba, their pet caracal, from wandering: “Our main challenge is not to let Pumba escape from our territory, because it happened in the past and he could not find a way home, so we were searching for him for two days. He explained precautions during winter: “Also in the winter our lake turns into ice and Pumba tries to leave our territory crossing the lake. That is why we keep him inside in the winter.”
He also mentioned the public’s reaction when out and about with Pumba, noting that while some are excited, others question his safety: “Is he actually dangerous or just grumpy? I really wanna know,” asked one viewer, with someone else commenting that bopping Pumba on the nose is a sign of happiness.
The Feline Conservation Foundation clarifies that caracals use hissing to express various feelings, judged by their body language. Amid concerns for safety, one commented on a playful interaction between Pumba and another cat: “Don’t you think he’s going to hurt the smaller cat!”
Meanwhile, others jest about Pumba’s wild nature: “Keep your enemies closer,” joked one user, and another warningly suggested, “Run while you still can.” Yet, there are plenty who enjoy the unique videos: “However others are loving watching the videos of Pumba, expressing their amazement of having a wild animal as a pet.” One user commented: “I don’t care if he bites me, he is so cute,” while another said: “he is such a sweetie pie he must be mighty happy where he’s at. “
In the UK you need a licence to keep some animals considered to be wild, dangerous or exotic. You can apply to your local council.