| Have you ever dreamed of living with a bobcat | | | | kitten, and incidental expenses which seem to |
| or having a pet tiger? You're not alone, and | | | | crop up on a continual basis. The cost of |
| many people share their lives responsibly and | | | | owning a smaller cat such as a serval or |
| safely with such animals. My beloved | | | | bobcat is more likely to be affordable than |
| companion is a African Serval, a very | | | | that of owning a tiger or other large cat. |
| affectionate 33-pound spotted feline. | | | | When you get into the large cats you will |
| However, this dream come true brings with it | | | | find that your feeding and enclosure costs |
| some very real challenges and | | | | escalate dramatically.A major consideration |
| responsibilities far beyond those facing the | | | | is the size of the cat. Some species are |
| average pet owner.A huge number of visitors | | | | smaller than a domestic cat, while others |
| to my exotic feline site are trying to make | | | | reach 500 pounds. The most common species to |
| very important decisions. Should I get a | | | | find in a pet household is the serval, which |
| exotic cat? Is this species the right fit for | | | | ranges fron roughly 18-40 pounds.Owning a |
| my family? Can I provide for one | | | | small cat is a more realistic goal for most |
| properly?There are a number of things to take | | | | people than a large cat such as a tiger. |
| into consideration when deciding if exotic | | | | Large cats are very expensive to feed and |
| cat ownership is for you, and if the answer | | | | house, heavily regulated by the federal |
| is yes, which species of exotic cat is | | | | government, and of course much more |
| suitable for your situation. They include: | | | | dangerous. Often keepers are unable to |
| | | | safely enter the enclosures of big cats once |
| Your ability to make a lifetime committment | | | | they mature. This does not mean that these |
| to an animal who may cause you considerable | | | | animals are malicious, but a tiger or other |
| headaches | | | | big cat can easily injure you even in play. |
| | | | If you see yourself with a "pet" cat, start |
| Your ability to be a responsible owner | | | | thinking small.Cougars are an interesting |
| | | | compromise in size and temperament. They are |
| Local and Federal Laws | | | | actually classified as "small cats" even |
| | | | though most people think of them as a big |
| Your financial ability to provide proper | | | | cat. They are large cats and come with all |
| care and housing for the cat | | | | of the duties, responsibilities, and cost of |
| | | | owning a big cat. However, they often have |
| Your level of experience in working with | | | | very gentle and affectionate natures; of all |
| animals | | | | the large felines, they are probably the |
| | | | species that you are most likely to be able |
| Size of the cat | | | | to have a "pet-like" relationship with after |
| | | | they mature. For those determined to own a |
| Disposition of the cat | | | | big cat, I would reccommend a cougar over any |
| | | | other species, especially over a tiger.Owning |
| Endangered Species StatusOwning an exotic | | | | an exotic feline is not for someone who |
| cat requires a lifetime committment to a cat | | | | spends their time in fantasyland. If you are |
| who may live to be 20 years old. If your | | | | one of those pet owners who think their dog |
| circumstances change, the cat develops | | | | is soooo sweet that he could never, ever harm |
| behaviors that are unacceptable to you, or | | | | anyone, that all animals love you because you |
| you simply grow tired of caring for it, an | | | | have a "special touch" with them, or that no |
| exotic cat cannot simply be given over to | | | | animal will be dangerous as an adult if you |
| your local humane society. Being placed in a | | | | "love it enough" or "raise it right," you |
| new home is much more traumatic to an exotic | | | | have no business owning an exotic cat.You |
| cat than to most domestic animals and can | | | | have to be able to objectively assess the |
| cause a major change in their personality. | | | | safety of any decision you make, whether it |
| In some cases, they may never accept a new | | | | involves handling your own cat, letting a |
| owner. Qualified people willing to take in | | | | family member or member of the public have |
| an adult exotic cat are hard to find, and no, | | | | contact with the cat, etc. You have to be |
| the local zoo will not accept your cat. | | | | able to say "I love Tigger with all of my |
| Large cats such as cougars and tigers are | | | | heart and he loves me back, but I can tell |
| especially hard to place.Everyone gets an | | | | from the playful look in his eye that if I |
| animal with a certain dream in their minds | | | | walk into his enclosure now he might hurt me, |
| about how that animal will behave, and some | | | | so I choose not to."It is important to locate |
| people cannot handle it if things turn out | | | | a good veterinarian who is willing to treat |
| differently. For instance, if you want to | | | | your exotic cat before you get one. It can |
| own a tiger, you probably imagine being able | | | | sometimes be difficult to find a good, |
| to play with it and cuddle with it. That may | | | | experienced vet who will be willing to treat |
| happen; but if you undertake this | | | | exotics. Often, vets are uncomfortable |
| responsibility you have to be prepared for | | | | around them or dissaprove of keeping them as |
| the fact that you might not be able to so | | | | pets and will therefore refuse to treat them. |
| much as enter the cat's enclosure safely, | | | | Many clinics also lack large enough |
| even if you raise him from a cub.If you are | | | | equipment to handle larger felines like |
| interested in getting a small cat like a | | | | cougars or tigers. Veterinary costs for an |
| bobcat or a serval, you probably imagine | | | | exotic cat can be higher than those for a |
| sharing your household with it, as many | | | | domestic animal, especially if your cat |
| people do. But what if that cat grows up to | | | | develops a serious problem and you are |
| spray everything in sight?If you've been | | | | referred to a specialty clinic or |
| researching the idea of owning an exotic cat, | | | | university.If you choose to own an exotic |
| you've probably discovered how much | | | | cat, you owe it to your cat and everyone else |
| conflicting information there is. Some | | | | who owns exotics to be a responsible owner. |
| sources seem to indicate that living with an | | | | What constitutes responsible ownership? Some |
| exotic cat is no more challenging than | | | | of the criteria, in no particular order: |
| feeding your pet goldfish. At the other end | | | | |
| of the extreme spectrum, many sanctuaries and | | | | Provides a ample, nutritious diet suitable |
| animal rights activists paint them as | | | | to the species |
| unmanageable creatures that no ordinary | | | | |
| mortal could hope to deal with successfully. | | | | Provides ample housing for the cat to live |
| As is usually the case, the truth lies in a | | | | in happily |
| rational world between the two extremes. | | | | |
| This site exists to provide realistic and | | | | Provides shelter and protection from the |
| balanced information.Like all creatures, | | | | elements |
| exotic cats are all individuals, and nobody | | | | |
| can tell you exactly how your future cat will | | | | Provides veterinary care as needed |
| act. Generalizations can be made about the | | | | |
| behavior of different species, but individual | | | | Purchases animals from an ethical and |
| personalities and behavior traits vary | | | | responsible breeder |
| widely. As a dog trainer, I have seen | | | | |
| puppies with the perfect upbringing turn out | | | | Does not neglect or abuse the animal |
| dangerously aggressive, and severely abused | | | | |
| dogs who were stable and friendly. I have | | | | Provides generally pleasant living |
| met dangerous Golden Retrievers and | | | | conditions and has the cat's feelings and |
| unprovokable Pit Bulls. It's the same with | | | | best interests in mind |
| cats; you can generalize to a certain extent, | | | | |
| but never count on those generalizations.If | | | | Makes a good-faith effort to comply with all |
| you decide that you are serious about getting | | | | applicable laws |
| an exotic feline, one of the first things you | | | | |
| need to do is learn the federal, state, | | | | Takes stringent precautions to prevent the |
| county, and city laws regulating the | | | | escape of the cat |
| ownership of the species you are considering | | | | |
| in your area. Contarary to popular myth, | | | | Protects the cat from unauthorized contact |
| exotic animal ownership is pretty heavily | | | | or harrassment from members of the public |
| regulated. Laws and permit requirements vary | | | | |
| widely from area to area, and owning exotic | | | | Protects the safety of the public and |
| cats is banned altogether in many places.The | | | | visitors |
| legal issues will become vastly more | | | | |
| complicated if you are interested in owning a | | | | Makes a lifetime committment to caring for |
| cat that is endangered. While it is not | | | | the cat |
| impossible, the additional laws and permits | | | | |
| that you have to contend with makes owning an | | | | This article is written and copyrighted by |
| endangered cat an unrealistic goal for most | | | | Jessi Clark-White of This article may be |
| people.Owning an exotic cat means having to | | | | reproduced in its entirety only; permission |
| remain constantly aware of changing laws and | | | | is NOT granted to display editied versions. |
| of proposed legislation, and being prepared | | | | This article may not be used to support the |
| to fight for the continued right to own your | | | | ending of private ownership of exotic |
| beloved pet.Owning an exotic cat can be quite | | | | pets.For more comprehensive information on |
| expensive. You will need to take into | | | | exotic pets and their ownership, visit my |
| consideration the cost of building a secure | | | | website, You can ask the author and other |
| and spacious enclosure, feeding costs, | | | | exotic pet owners questions at our online |
| veterinary costs, the initial purchase of the | | | | forum. |