Flood Bobcat Rescue

In October 2018, two wild bobcat kittens—just one month old—were taken from their wilderness home in Arkansas to be kept as household pets. Named Prince and Tony, the brothers spent their formative months confined to cramped pet carriers on a front porch in Lavaca, Arkansas, denied the freedom, space, and species-appropriate care essential to apex predators. When the owner’s husband became ill, the nine-month-old bobcats were relegated to small dog crates in the backyard, occasionally alternating brief turns in a dog run. Lacking room to move, both kittens developed severe muscle atrophy in their hind legs. Furthermore, being fed a strict diet of commercial cat food left them suffering from critical nutritional deficiencies and taurine shortages.

Their neglect turned to life-threatening danger in May 2019, when record-breaking rainfall caused devastating flooding along the Arkansas River. As local communities evacuated, the owners fled for safe ground, abandoning Prince and Tony trapped inside their crates on the porch. Rescuers and local law enforcement arrived just in time—with rising floodwaters already chest-deep on the terrified bobcats.

Under the owner’s direction, officers transferred the bobcats to higher ground in Charleston, Arkansas, placing them in the care of a local wildlife rehabilitator known for taking in small animals in need. Recognizing that bobcats require specialized wildcat care, she immediately reached out to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR).

TCWR President Tanya Smith and Vice President Scott Smith responded without hesitation. Partnering with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), our team loaded up transport crates and set off into west-central Arkansas. What is normally a two-hour drive stretched past three hours as floodwaters forced multiple detours around closed bridges and submerged roadways. Despite the treacherous conditions, our team reached Charleston safely, securing Prince and Tony before returning to the Refuge late that night.

Upon arrival, the bedraggled brothers were placed in quarantine at our onsite Jackson Memorial Veterinary Hospital, where staff veterinarian Dr. Kellyn Sweeley conducted comprehensive medical exams and established a species-appropriate raw meat diet rich in essential amino acids. Traumatized by severe confinement, near-drowning, and separation, the bobcats initially displayed stress-induced aggression. However, after being neutered and receiving focused care, Prince and Tony were successfully reintroduced to one another.

Once cleared from quarantine, Prince and Tony were released into a spacious, roofed habitat tailored specifically for agile small wildcats—complete with lush grass, natural rock formations, climbing logs, and high platform benches for perching. For the first time in their lives, the brothers experienced soft earth underfoot, scent enrichment, and room to build muscle strength.

Though the trauma of the flood lingers—the brothers still snuggle together deep inside their den whenever heavy rainstorms pass over the Ozarks—Prince and Tony have transformed from neglected survivors into confident, thriving bobcats. Their journey stands as a powerful testament to our mission at Turpentine Creek: offering lifelong refuge, dignity, and sanctuary to wild cats rescued from neglect, natural disasters, and the exotic pet trade.