Big Cats Do Not Make Pets - Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Part 2

May 18, 2011

Like puppies, big cats are quite appealing when they're young and playful. Unlike a puppy, a tiger can eat 10 to 15 pounds of raw meat a day and grow to more than 500 pounds.

Big cats such as lions and tigers are awe-inspiring, beautiful animals. People are often intrigued by keeping big wild cats as pets, but what kind of pets do tigers, lions, bobcats, and other big cats make? Even the smaller of the non-domestic cats (bobcats, servals, and lynx) are not at all like domestic cats. Different species have different temperaments, but all of these cats can exhibit unwanted behavior, from urine marking to aggression. If they are not overly aggressive, their natural tendencies must be remembered. They are predators and even at play their huge size and strength makes them a threat.

Frequently, young cubs of big cats are sold to people as pets: sold at auctions across the world and sold by backyard breeders to unsuspecting buyers. A few short months pass and the new "pet owner" begins to realize they have made a mistake. Most of them turn to newspapers, exotic trade magazines, zoos, and roadside parks to find the young cat a new home. If that isn’t successful, euthanasia is the usual choice.

For 19 years, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has traveled the United States saving big cats. Most of these precious animals would have been euthanized if not for Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Their stories chisel the following statement deep into the hearts of the people who read them: Big Cats Do Not Make Pets. This is the topic of the presentation given by the refuge President and Vice President during their annual visits to MCPL. They will be here at the Excelsior Springs Branch on June 8th at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Angela H.
Excelsior Springs Branch

Check back here next week for Part 3 in this blog series!