| Thousands of cats find homes in cat rescue | | | | The cats were never meant to be pets to begin |
| operations. These cats aren't always the small pets | | | | with. You can't keep them indoors, and keeping a big |
| people usually have in their homes. Sometimes, the | | | | cat outdoors isn't much better. These cat breeds |
| cats in question are big cats, such as mountain lions | | | | play rough. They are hunters, and thousands of |
| or tigers. Purchased through the black market and | | | | years of instinct tells them they are the top of the |
| bought because they are unique creatures, big cat | | | | food chain. |
| breeds start small and cuddly, but soon grow to large | | | | That baby tiger will not "bond" with your toddler. This |
| proportions that most owners aren't prepared to deal | | | | is not a Walt Disney movie. You can bet that when |
| with. | | | | the tiger reaches maturity, your child, your domestic |
| Big cats rescue steps in when the owners find they | | | | house pet, and you may be labeled as lunch. |
| can't handle their exotic pets any longer. Either the | | | | Big cats have been kept in cages that are far too |
| owner abandons the big cats, thinking that because | | | | small for them. The minimum size required by law of |
| the cat was "wild" to begin with, it can easily fend | | | | an animal's cage is one that is large enough for the |
| for itself, or they start to neglect the animal. | | | | animal to stand up and turn around in. |
| Worse, the animal attacks someone. The authorities | | | | We all cry out in anger when we hear of Vietnam |
| rush in and do their best to remedy the situation, | | | | Veterans who had been tortured in "tiger cages". |
| sometimes having to put the animal down on the | | | | Why should we subject large felines to the same |
| spot. If the big cats are lucky, the authorities see fit | | | | type of torture? |
| to send the cat rescue center. | | | | A big cat rescue shelter can offer a better quality of |
| A zoo is not an option. Many times, this is where the | | | | life for the abandoned animal. Many big cats that do |
| trade started. Unscrupulous zoos breed big cats in | | | | reach the rescue stage are suffering from |
| captivity to increase attendance at the zoo because | | | | malnutrition. |
| the public enjoys seeing new babies. When the | | | | Others who might have been in show business are |
| felines are grown, the public loses interest, and the | | | | nervous wrecks from over-stimulation or are nearly |
| zoo can't support the larger cat. | | | | blind from a life of flashing light bulbs and the bright |
| The animal is sold off to private brokers who then | | | | lights of photo shoots. The people who run the |
| turn around and sell the animals to the public. Anyone | | | | shelters have the means and experience to raise the |
| might end up with the feline. Even worse, that owner | | | | animal properly and meet the cat's nutritional |
| might try to breed the cat to have another cub or | | | | requirements. |
| to sell cubs to his friends. When this happens, the | | | | Only eight states have passed bans on owning big |
| cycle begins all over again. | | | | cat breeds as pets since 2005. The number of |
| Supply and demand are the two biggest contributing | | | | deaths related to owning a big cat continues to |
| factors to big cat breeds ending up in a cat rescue. | | | | grow, as all that's required for an individual to own a |
| The breeders will keep breeding the cats, and the | | | | big cat for a commercial venture in the United States |
| public will continue to buy them. People have a | | | | is very low and a permit from the USDA. |
| fascination with getting close to an exotic feline. | | | | Breaking the cycle for responsible preservation of big |
| What the public fails to realize is that there is a | | | | cats for future generations is an important factor in |
| massive responsibility that goes along with caring for | | | | their survival. |
| big cats. | | | | |