Small Pets Exotic Pets Exotic Pet Species

Should You Keep a Big Cat as a Pet?

Characteristics, Housing, Diet, and Other Information

A large tiger in Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
Mint Images - Art Wolfe / Getty Images

While there are 30 cat species in the world, the term "big cat" refers to seven specific species: tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, and cougar. These large and powerful cats are awe-inspiring, and people are often intrigued by the idea of keeping one as a pet. But what kind of pets do tigers, lions, and other big cats make—and is it even legal to keep these animals in captivity?

Species Overview

COMMON NAMES: Tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, and cougar


SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Panthera tigris, Panthera leo, Panthera onca, Panthera pardus, Panthera uncia, Acinonyx jubatus, and Puma concolor


ADULT SIZES: From 5 to 10 feet in length, and 49 to 660 pounds


LIFESPAN: Up to 20 years

Can You Own a Big Cat as a Pet?

Legality

The Captive Wildlife Safety Act was introduced and passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 to address the problems of the availability of wild cats as pets. This law prohibits interstate and foreign trade in exotic cats, including lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and cougars for the pet trade.

Circuses, zoos, wildlife rehabilitators, and some other licensed facilities are exempt from the Captive Wildlife Safety Act. This legislation was introduced with the sole purpose of making big cats unavailable to the private citizen pet trade, although it is not an outright ban on ownership.

Experts estimate that there are thousands of tigers kept as pets in private facilities in the U.S., possibly outnumbering the tigers left in the wild. The numbers compiled by the Feline Conservation Federation show a drop in ownership of big cats in the U.S. in the period from 2011 to 2016.

Ethics

Pet tigers have been involved in several fatalities and maulings in the U.S. and Canada in recent years, which generally results in the animals' destruction as well. Sadly, pet tigers and other big cats end up neglected, abused, or given up to sanctuaries when their owners cannot care for them. These tragic situations can be easily avoided by not choosing wild cats like tigers for pets.

While there are owners of big cats who go out of their way to provide appropriate housing and diet and have no problems, there are countless others who are misguided in their expectations and ability to provide the proper care.

Things to Consider

Owning a big cat of any species is a huge undertaking that should be carefully considered before making the decision to purchase one. Even if you can find a legal loophole that allows ownership, big cats can be extremely dangerous to people as well as other pets, and they can cause serious property damage if housed improperly. These animals need large, secure enclosures with structures for a cat to climb. In addition, big cats live long lives in captivity (up to 20 years), making conscientious ownership a long-term commitment with heavy financial and legal responsibility.

Big Cat Behavior & Temperament

The smaller of the non-domestic cats, such as bobcats, servals, and lynx, may look like house cats, but they are not at all like domestic cats. Different species have different temperaments, but all of these cats can exhibit destructive behavior from urine marking to dangerous aggression.

The big cats are even more problematic. Even if a particular individual is not typically aggressive, its natural tendencies must be remembered. Wild cats are predators; even at play, they exhibit instinctive predatory behavior such as pouncing, wrestling, biting, and clawing. Their huge size and strength make them a serious threat at all times.

All wild cats have sharp claws and teeth, so they can be quite dangerous. Even trained zookeepers who work with these animals everyday risk being attacked if the animal is startled or provoked in some way.

Housing Big Cats

Big cats need a lot of outdoor space in order to thrive. In captivity, they require large enclosures that have extremely high walls or caged-in ceilings. It is a huge commitment and responsibility to properly care for even the smaller wild cats. Their enclosures must also be extremely secure because there's a very real danger of a big cat escaping and attacking people or other pets.

Big cats require plenty of intellectual and physical enrichment opportunities, much as they would experience in the wild. These are smart, inquisitive animals that will get bored if they are under-stimulated, and boredom may lead to depression and health problems.

Stinky Spraying

Big cats naturally have a musky odor, and they tend to spray their urine. Spraying is instinctive "marking" behavior, so it is not possible to train these animals to stop. The odor of cat urine and excrement will quickly ruin a house and your property value, so aside from danger and cruelty to the animal, keeping a big cat indoors is simply a bad financial decision.

Expenses to Expect

Big Cat Rescue estimates an investment of $25,000 in the first year of owning a small to midsize wildcat and annual costs of $7,500. For big cats, expect over $100,000 for the first year and ongoing annual costs of over $10,000.

What Do Big Cats Eat & Drink?

Big cats are carnivores and require a lot of raw meat. Some species can eat up to 15 pounds of meat per day. They also need vitamins and supplements to mimic the nutrients they acquire in the wild to stay healthy. In their native habitats, big cats hunt animals like deer, fish, gazelles, birds, reptiles, and numerous small mammals. They eat the meat of their prey as well as skin, bones, and organs that provide multifaceted nutrients.

Since the average lifespan of a big cat is around 20 years, feeding one on a daily basis represents a significant financial burden.

Common Health Problems

Much like the common house cat, big cats are prone to feline diseases like distemper and rabies. Most zoos immunize their lions, tigers, and other cats against these conditions. As a private owner, though, it may be a challenge to find a veterinarian who can-or will-provide the proper vaccines for a wild animal.

There are several other ailments that affect big cats as well. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a feline equivalent to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If not treated, FIV can weaken the cat's immune system and make it vulnerable to other contagious diseases.

The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is another potentially fatal disease that can affect both house cats and big cats. It can be treated if caught early, but it often leads to other illnesses in cats, including anemia, chronic infections, and cancers. If FeLV develops into full-blown cancer it is almost always fatal.

Exercise

All species of big cats require a great deal of exercise. They roam territories that may span hundreds of miles in the wild, plus they leap, climb, and pounce to catch prey. These behaviors can be hard to accommodate in captivity. The ideal big cat enclosure would include a large amount of open space as well as structures to climb in order to challenge your cat physically and keep it in optimal health.

Grooming

Big cats naturally groom themselves thoroughly, so they do not need to be bathed or brushed by humans. They use their rough tongues to clean and "comb" their fur, removing dirt and debris. Some big cats, like tigers, enjoy access to pools of fresh water, but this is mainly for body temperature regulation, not cleanliness.

Size Information

There are seven species of felines classified as big cats in the world, yet "big" has a wide range of meaning. The smallest big cat is the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia), which measures five to about nine feet long and weighs between 49 and 121 pounds. On the other end of the spectrum, the largest big cat is the endangered Siberian or Amur tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), which can measure up to ten feet from head to tail and can weigh up to 660 pounds.

Purchasing a Big Cat

If owning a big cat still intrigues you, you must consider a few factors before meeting with a reputable breeder.

  • Keeping wild cats such as tigers, lions, bobcats, and cougars may be illegal where you live (either under local laws or by wider regulations).
  • You will need a veterinarian who is willing to treat your animal, and it is difficult to find one due to legal issues.
  • The future for many captive big cats is a life of neglect and even abuse when their owners cannot handle them anymore. Deciding to own a big cat is taking on a high level of responsibility for these animals, and one that most people find overwhelming after the first couple of years.

Similar Pets Related to Big Cats

Owning a big cat is widely illegal, dangerous, and financially unreasonable for most people, but there are other felines that might be a lot more fun to keep as pets such as these species:

FAQ
  • How many people have been harmed by captive big cats in the U.S.?

    According to the Humane Society of the United States, captive big cats have killed 25 humans (20 adults and 5 children) and mauled 274 more people since 1990. During this time, 151 big cats were killed because of these incidents.


  • How much does it cost to buy a big cat?

    It costs about $100,000 to purchase, properly house, and feed a big cat in the first year of ownership.

  • How long do big cats live?

    All big cat species can live close to 20 years in captivity with proper care.