Caring for a jester is much harder than it seems. They may be nearly extinct, but it's still good to know these to preserve the knowledge of this old era clown breed.
Jesters were/are an old, royal breed that has been around since the ancient times, originating in Rome as balatros (balatro singular). As their species developed, they became to be known more as jesters during the 14th century.
Mostly considered extinct in the wild, having one is a luxury. Their lack of numbers is mostly due to the culling of their species once they became obsolete and fell out of popularity among the nobles.
Their mischievous nature and sharp tongue mostly meant that they weren’t desired and were considered pests in the wild, therefore no conservation effort was made to keep them around.
A purebred jester is extremely rare, in fact almost none exist nowadays.
Jesters were exotic pets kept by royalty and were relatively high maintenance. Back in medieval times, having a pet jester was costly and therefore only the rich could afford to care for one.
While mostly solitary and preferring to live on their own in the wild, some courts have been known to hoard packs of multiple jesters as pets. It isn't to say that a jester can't be socialized with one another or with humans, in fact, they're more than happy to do so.
They're very playful and smart, even if their jeering and teasing can be sometimes testing on someone's patience. Some might even find their jokes endearing rather than offensive.
Claws - They have sharp, hooked, but spindly claws. These were meant for both catching prey and fighting one another for territory.
Sharp Teeth - Their teeth are also sharp and grow back upon being lost. They are partially omnivorous but are carnivorous by nature. Think of how dogs are capable of digesting a small portion of cooked vegetables but meat will always be the main staple of their diet. Regardless, you do not want to be bitten by a jester.
Predatory But Not Dangerous - While they are mostly bipedal, they are capable of walking quadrupedal down low to stalk prey before pouncing. Their agile, lanky, and long forms allow them to weave in and out of the striking range of their opponent, but they themselves cannot withstand heavy injury.
It's relatively uncommon to be pounced by a jester, as they don't prey on humans (not even children) unless desperate. Their preferred prey are smaller animals such as cats, small dogs, mice, and various game and would rather run than fight.
Interaction With Other Clowns - Other clown breeds don't have much to fear from jesters unless they find the jester's jeering to be offensive and pick a fight with them. The fight will result in injuries on both sides, particularly from the jester's claws and teeth.
Tool and Weapon Usage - Oh, yes. And they are capable of using smaller bladed weaponry if they want to, such as daggers and kitchen knives. Be careful and keep it out of their reach.
Scratching and Ripped Furniture - Like previously said in the above category, jesters have very sharp claws. This meant that they require scratching posts, nail files, or regular trimmings as their claws grow fast. If not cared for, a jester can suffer from overgrown claws and furniture will be decimated from their attempts to file them down on their own.
Stealing and Hoarding - Jesters also like to hoard trinkets such as colorful balls, dice, or tarot cards rather than shiny objects like silverware or jewelry. The reason is disputed, as each jester seems to have their own explanation. The largely agreed upon reasoning is that they simply just find them intriguing to their little jester brains.
That being said, jesters can be kleptomaniacs. If it helps, they tend to collect generally useless objects. Sometimes a jester can be found juggling these objects out of simple boredom or the occasional attempt to court a mate. They can and will lie when being asked about stealing these objects.
Loyalty - Their unpredictable behaviors may lead to some trouble down the line, but the companionship of a jester is not to be underestimated. Underneath their teasing and crude jokes, they actually just want the best for you by telling you things your friends and loved ones are too afraid to tell you.
Remember that bad behavior is the result of poor nurture, not nature. If you take good care of your jester, they'll return the favor. Sometimes in the form of a dead animal on your doorstep or some pilfered shiny dice. That's a gift and a sign that your jester likes you.
Jesters are incredibly intelligent, on par with or even more than some humans. So much so that basic toys will not entertain them for long.
Some clowns may be content with chasing a toy on a stick, but a jester would likely mock you for even attempting to get them to chase one.
Literature - If taught, a jester can read just as well as any human can. Back in medieval times, literary skills were a privilege. Since jesters were mostly owned by the rich, many of them could read and write. This means that books and novels were given to jesters as entertainment, however they were never to be trusted with important or top secret documents.
Music - Many jesters like music, in fact a majority of them do. A jester taken to a play or circus might find themselves fascinated by the music and desire an instrument themselves to practice upon. They are absolutely capable of writing songs and do so on their own time if given enough inspiration and encouragement.
Conversation - They are also capable of intelligent and engaging conversation, being very keen clowns. Sit with one over a spot of tea and you'll find yourself having a riveting back and forth with your jester as they make you laugh with their quips and jokes.
Puzzles - Puzzle boxes and riddles are also a good way to keep your jester busy. Rubik's cubes and other puzzles can test a jester's mental acuity as well as stimulate them. Introducing puzzles that gradually get harder throughout your jester's jollyhood will help them develop their cognitive skills.
Physical Affection - Jesters are not exactly the most cuddly of clowns, but they don't mind sitting next to their owners on a couch or laying their heads on their laps once they feel comfortable. They sort of come to you for pets rather than allow you to pet them.
There are some cases of jesters trying to court humans rather than other clowns, though...