Big cats in captivity

It’s been estimated that upwards of 10,000 big cats like tigers, lions and cougars are kept captive in the U.S. by private owners. The exact number is a mystery because few records are kept. What we do know is that these animals should never be kept as pets.

Why is privately owning big cats such a problem?

It’s inhumane. Most captive big cats are kept where they shouldn’t be: backyards and basements, on farms and ranches, in garages and sheds. Private owners who acquire big cats as cubs are often not able to manage them once they’re fully grown. Consequently, the animals may be poorly fed, abused and left to spend their entire lives in cages with barely enough room to move. Since 2003, IFAW has come to the rescue of over 150 big cats along with many other displaced, unwanted, and abused captive wildlife. In addition to responding to these urgent situations, IFAW works diligently with the U.S. big cat sanctuary community to support the life-time care of these animals once they are placed in qualified, reputable facilities.

Interact with our Big Cats map by clicking here.

It’s a public safety issue. In just the past two decades, dangerous incidents involving captive big cats in the U.S. have resulted in the deaths of 22 people (including 5 children); and over 200 additional humans have been mauled or injured.

It’s a global conservation issue. Private possession and breeding of big cats contributes to the interstate traffic in those species and may contribute to illegal international wildlife trade. There is no way to know how many U.S.-born big cats are disposed of or when their parts are illegally sold into black market trade.

We need a comprehensive federal law to protect big cats and people. The current regulatory patchwork of federal and state regulations for dangerous captive big cats is expensive and it just doesn’t work. A single, nationwide policy is necessary to accomplish what many states have already tried to do: Stop big cats in private possession from endangering communities. Having a nationwide law would also reduce a complicated regulatory burden and could even save taxpayer dollars once in effect.