So, uh, how do I go about having one of these cats as a pet?

stalk · #1 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:37 AM

Now now, I know they probably have very specialized care, and lots of requirements, etc etc etc. I'm not saying I'd get one, and all that jazzy stuff. Just disclaimers before anyone tries to persuade me from getting it!

I'm just wondering how they are taken care of? Are there any forums like this one, specifically for taking care of large cats that is fairly active? What kind of cats are in the pictures? The third picture looks like a Serval, and the first two look like a Mountain Lion (but I'm not knowledgable in all the different speices etc.)

It seems like a very interesting animal to have around.

Any info would be appreciated. I'm 90% sure it'd be impossible but one can dream, right?

Stargazer · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:41 AM

I'm not sure if it's legal to own one of these without a special permit, or if it's safe. So many of them start with owners who have good intentions, but then end up in a zoo. My recommendation is to buy a Savannah. These are domestic cats who are first, second, and third generation African servals bred with Bengals and similar housecats. Some of them look exactly like servals and retain some of the wild personality, too!

-KB- · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:44 AM

You can have as many as you like if you can get funding (unless its already available) to start a sactuary for them. Lord knows that we need more. Big cats like that are becoming fewer and further between. With more sanctuaries they'd have a better chance.

I see pictures like that and I almost cry because they are such beautiful animals. I absolutely love felines. I think I was a cat in my past life actually! Not that I believe in that kind of thing, but if I did, I think I'da been a cat.

stalk · #4 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:45 AM

Yeah I know of those. I'm a lot more scared of a large cat than I am of a large snake. I'm just curious about how one goes about keeping that sort of thing. With large snakes, you can keep them in escape proof containers that are small. But with these, no matter what you do, you will end up in a large open space with nothing in between you and the cat.

So I'm curious.

stalk · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

You can have as many as you like if you can get funding (unless its already available) to start a sactuary for them. Lord knows that we need more. Big cats like that are becoming fewer and further between. With more sanctuaries they'd have a better chance.

I see pictures like that and I almost cry because they are such beautiful animals. I absolutely love felines. I think I was a cat in my past life actually! Not that I believe in that kind of thing, but if I did, I think I'da been a cat.

I would not do anything unless I felt I could properly care for them. And I'm almost 100% sure I could not, as I take care of Siberian Huskies. They are my true love.

But I'm curious, what are these sanctuaries you speak of? Any links to websites like that?

-KB- · #6 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:50 AM

You have to trust the cat. Basically with your life. That is, if it lives in the house with you. Many people keep them in Kennel like enclosures, large hurricane fenced cages. Me? If I were to have it as a pet, my home would be its home.

Before Ocelots were taken off the market, so to speak, I looked into getting one because of my incessant adoration of all things feline. I found one about 45 minutes from my house for about $3000. Didn't have the money at the time, and now they are not allowed to be held in captivity unless it is like a sanctuary or a zoo or somehting like that, so I just really missed out. Very sad. I would do almost anything to get to spend a day with big cats.

-KB- · #7 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stalk

I would not do anything unless I felt I could properly care for them. And I'm almost 100% sure I could not, as I take care of Siberian Huskies. They are my true love.
But I'm curious, what are these sanctuaries you speak of? Any links to websites like that?

Here's two that I have as favorites on my FireFox. Just google "Feline Sanctuary" or "Exotic Sanctuary" and there are millions. You can usually even find one near you! We have quite a few in TX.
1) International Exotic Animal Sanctuary | Our Animals
2) International Exotic Feline Sanctuary

stalk · #8 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

You have to trust the cat. Basically with your life. That is, if it lives in the house with you. Many people keep them in Kennel like enclosures, large hurricane fenced cages. Me? If I were to have it as a pet, my home would be its home.

Before Ocelots were taken off the market, so to speak, I looked into getting one because of my incessant adoration of all things feline. I found one about 45 minutes from my house for about $3000. Didn't have the money at the time, and now they are not allowed to be held in captivity unless it is like a sanctuary or a zoo or somehting like that, so I just really missed out. Very sad. I would do almost anything to get to spend a day with big cats.

I had a encounter with a Mountain Lion once when I was backpacking. Fortunately my dogs were not with me at the time. Typically they are very shy and it's nearly impossible to see one. So I was suprised almost literally going around a boulder into a sleeping Mountain Lion. It woke up and got aggressive but did not make any move to me. I think it was sick. So I left it alone and slowly went away as it was not sitting up or making any attack stance towards me, in which case I definitely would not have walked away and looked like prey.

I'm still not sure how one keeps them in the house. I understand the concept of my house is their house, I do the same with my dogs and cats (I have a doggy door to outside so my dogs can go outside or inside the whole house whenever they want) but I can't imagine being able to train a wild feline to you know, use the bathroom in proper places.

I can also see outdoor kennels but in city areas wouldn't that freak neighbors etc out?

Xeikeness · #9 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:04 AM

The third is a bobcat, not a serval.

I trained a cougar, once, for a guy who owned it here in OR. It was a ton of fun.

I'll never own one myself - too expensive to feed, too hard to contain, to cruel. But it is an entertaining idea. I'd jump at the chance to train another one though. That was a ton of fun.

Reptscue · #10 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:05 AM

A friend of mine use to own a Canadian Lynx. He was great until she had her son. She ultimately had to give him up because he hated her son and wanted to attack him everytime he saw him.
To keep them here you have to get permits and you have space requirements. Outdoor pens are a must!

-KB- · #11 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:07 AM

About 90% of the time, if a big cat is living in an urban area, its illegally. I can't see where anyone would keep these cats strictly in the house. Their innate curiousity would destroy a house very quickly. They would need a very large (as in acreage) backyard to roam in, with a very dependable surrounding enclosure; like a 12 fence or something to keep them in, I really dont know about how to keep them in. Sanctuary's cover such vast property and many cats are kept in the kennel enclosures. I can see the cat(s) being brought in at night, but to keep them in a house all day would be asking for trouble. not to mention, the cat probably would be illtempered from being couped up all the time. The best scenerio would be to have a whole bunch of land, with a good perimeter fence, and an open back patio you could leave open to the house, and you could stay home all day with the cats. ......lol

-KB- · #12 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:09 AM

I digress, even bringing them in at night would be iffy...as they like to hunt at night. This is why I wanted an Ocelot....small enough to keep, but still a "big cat".

stalk · #13 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:10 AM

Thanks for the info. Looks like it will remain one of the countless dreams. It's a fun thought to entertain, though, much like taking care of wolves. I've looked into that and gave up on that too.

stalk · #14 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:14 AM

But as Stargazer said, Savannah Cats and Bengal Cats are certainly a attainable one.

-KB- · #15 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:15 AM

I understand, I would be in absolute heaven if I could live side by side with big cats. It hurts to talk about it I want it to happen so bad. If I had the money I would open a sanctuary. I think that's my dream.

munge · #16 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:16 AM

i actually had a mountain lion a long time ago and they're awesome, but becoming illegal somewhere new every day. check out REXANO's website (rexano.com or .org)

right now, big cat owners are on the defensive and are losing. there is all types of new legislation popping up and i THINK that a new law just went into effect that makes it illegal to take your LEGALLY OBTAINED BIG CAT with you if you move. basically, if you own a big cat and are 100% legal, you can NEVER take it anywhere else for the rest of its life. it's ridiculous, pointless and totally wrong, but more than likely, big cats as pets will be a thing of the past.

i've only owned a mountain lion (a big female) but i've dealt with other large cats. my personal favorite is lions, which are some of the least regulated "big cats" out there.

if you aren't scared for your life, even if you've raised it since it was a cub, then you're naive and just not all there. even a mountain lion can be totally overpowering and most of them never hit 200lbs. a small adult female can weight about what a rottweiler does, but even that is enough to overpower you.

they are awesome creatures and mountain lions are actually pretty decent "pets". bad things happen, but it's so very rare that it's only worth mentioning because they are wild animals at heart still and are not domesticated.

some other cool and far less dangerous exotic cats that are tons of fun are servals and lynxes (sp?) although lynxes are illegal in more places than are servals. i had a siberian lynx that used a litter box AND the toilet lol. a lot are actually toilet trained and i got the idea from the net and treated him as i did my child when it came time to potty train. they're pretty amazing and lynxes are more like lazy dogs when they get older. although siberian lynxes can reach 75-90lbs, most top out around 50lbs.

servals are awesome, easy to care for and there are quite a few breeders all over. they are energetic though. at 30lbs, they can ruin a house if you aren't ready for them.

even if you don't get one (looking more and more impossible for the common big cats) you should still figure out a way to help someone else with their's, like a zoo, sanctuary, etc.

it's a totally unique experience and while i don't care for house cats, big cats are some of my favorite animals. i'd love to own another cougar but with the legalities the way they are nowadays, it won't happen. our cougar even loved our rottweilers. they'd play together every day and just watching, you'd think the dogs could have their way with her if they wanted. she was usually on her back "fighting" them off. when she got serious, a hiss and a swat was all it took and she was the boss again lol.

munge · #17 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stalk

But as Stargazer said, Savannah Cats and Bengal Cats are certainly a attainable one.

they are cool, but more like housecats, which is what they're supposed to be basically, a big house cat. they don't act like big/exotic cats in any way IMO.

if you want that unique experience, you're easiest, safest, most practical bet would be to get a serval. for $2000 or less, they're half as expensive as the "big house cats", they're 100% "exotic cat", they're small enough to live inside and tame enough to take outside on a leash for exercise, which they do require a lot of. it would be best to build a large, totally enclosed cage (10' chainlink with a chainlink top) to let them play in. you gotta get that energy out of them to keep them healthy and you sane.

i actually plan on getting a serval in 2008 or 2009, assuming they're still legal. without captive breeding, a lot of cats will see extinction in our lifetime probably.

stalk · #18 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

I understand, I would be in absolute heaven if I could live side by side with big cats. It hurts to talk about it I want it to happen so bad. If I had the money I would open a sanctuary. I think that's my dream.

Wolves are my dream.

But I love my Siberians. If I was going to rescue again, it would be for them. I used to be a foster home until it got so fustrating that I could not go on. I was happy taking care of the dogs it was dealing with people I hated.

I know I can only keep 2 dogs in the long term with what I have now. But sometime in the next 2-3 years I'll be moving into my final house where I hope I will have an acre or two. I'm hoping to start taking in as many as I can afford to.

I will of course have a few other animals to enjoy (my snakes, cats, etc) but I'm somewhat sorry to say that nothing comes close to my Siberians

-KB- · #19 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by munge

you gotta get that energy out of them to keep them healthy and you sane.

....and your house intact

Quote:

Originally Posted by munge

i actually plan on getting a serval in 2008 or 2009, assuming they're still legal. without captive breeding, a lot of cats will see extinction in our lifetime probably.

Agreed. Where I live, There's something being made illegal everyday, so yeah, good luck, I hope you are more fortunate!

munge · #20 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stalk

Thanks for the info. Looks like it will remain one of the countless dreams. It's a fun thought to entertain, though, much like taking care of wolves. I've looked into that and gave up on that too.

true wolves aren't so much "difficult" as they are secretive and just not fond of human interaction. it makes me sick every time someone buys a high percentage wolf hybrid and that animal ends up in a shelter/sanctuary because they "aren't like a dog". the owner/trainer of the wolf/siberian husky dog that was in "white fang" was actually a neighbor of mine in 1990. they sold that exact dog for $300. i was young and tried my best to make it happen, but couldn't. she was awesome and looked just like a big timberwolf, but was very obedient and tolerant of attention.

i just want a ZOO.

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