I was contacted by a viewer of Max who believes that I need to improve my bond with Max and allow him total access to me. He mentioned Messi, the puma on YouTube and how he’s completely domesticated. One cannot compare my bond with Max to Messi’s bond with his family. I’m sure they are with him 24/7. I have a full time job, rescued domestic cats and a number of exotics that all take up my time. I don’t have a husband to do the lawn care in the summer or snow removal in the winter. I am the handyman in my house. I also have a mother whose health is deteriorating that resides with me. I love Messi. I think he’s an awesome feline but with his physical disabilities comes mental ones too. He’s not a normal cougar. I worked with them as a zookeeper and although I bottle-raised Amos, he thought about nothing else but to try and dominate me inside his enclosure. I also think that personality plays a big part. Messi is emotionally a cub, so he’s very chilled.

I didn’t get Max to have him live in my house as a pet. I don’t believe he belongs in my house or in my bed. He loves the snow and the outside enrichment. Why would I rob him of that? He was obtained to educate and excite children in hopes that they would become interested in our wildlife. I love him dearly and have spent my savings tending to his care.

My state license prohibits owning a lynx as a pet. It also prohibits public contact (except my vets) and therefore Max was raised only accustomed to me. A team of caregivers could have conditioned him for easier vet visits but I had to and still have to follow the law. I was told by this viewer that if Max and I had a natural bond, he could be walked into the vets on a leash and with the “right care” his aggression would gradually subside. Ha-ha. I would never bring Max into the vets on a leash even if he was easy going in that area. Anything can go wrong. Heck, I’ve seen problems with dogs. All animals are unpredictable. Zookeeping taught me that.

So, I leave you with these thoughts. I do the best that I can with the time that I have when it comes to Max. Personally, I think I’ve done an excellent job. Is it perfect? Nope, but life isn’t perfect. Also, if someone wants to pay me to quit my museum job so I can sit home to train, play, and love on Max, bring it on!