Keeping a Tiger as a Pet

“If they’re in another country, it’s impossible to get a cat to you. They would literally have to smuggle it in,” said Susan Bass of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, an animal sanctuary dedicated to rescuing exotic felines who have been abandoned by their owners. According to Animal scientists, a raw meat diet is the preferred source of protein for tigers. However, pet owners may be required to supplement this with other nutrients. When keeping a pet tiger, you should provide successful enrichment by breaking the routine. Apart from eating, the cat should look forward to discovering new things.

Additionally, buying a baby tiger from a reputable breeder is more expensive than buying from an individual seller. With the two newcomers, the sanctuary is now home to three tigers rescued from the pet trade. Loki arrived first, in February 2019, after being found in an abandoned Houston home, living in a cage so small he could barely move (“The tiger next door,” September/October 2019). In March 2020, the How to buy a tiger captive tiger problem gained mainstream attention with the Netflix series Tiger King, which followed the antics of U.S. roadside zoo operators. As the show’s human stars gained notoriety due to their eccentric personalities, animal advocates warned that the series glossed over the abuse endured by the big cats at these zoos. It is a real “tiger business,” involving trade of the animals all over the world.

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To put it bluntly, pet owners who keep wild animals should do so at their own risk. This is because generally owners of wild and exotic pets are subject to strict liability because these animals are potentially uncontrollable and inherently dangerous. Strict liability means that the victim need not prove negligence to win his or her personal injury or wrongful death claim. The mere fact that the animal owned was wild creates automatic liability for the owner under the law. With the featured Netflix sensation Tiger King, the thought may have entered your mind at one point or another to own a tiger, or other exotic large cat, as a pet. Their sheer power, beauty, and unmatched athleticism is something truly to behold.

Sadly, of the estimated 10,000 captive wild cats in the United States, only an estimated 350 are held in registered and accredited zoological facilities. Private ownership of a tiger as a pet is not recommended, and many states have very strict bans or restrictions surrounding the possession of exotic animals. Texas has no state law banning the private possession of tigers. The state requires owners to register their tigers, but many don’t. Some counties have enacted bans, but others have lax or no regulation.

Can I Declaw or Remove the Tiger’s Teeth to Tame It?

These tigers’ diet is supplemented with «enrichment items,» such as knucklebones, cow femurs, and rabbit carcasses. Therefore, it is best to look for other safer felines to keep as pets. The plot should also include trees, shelter, barriers, and different levels of elevation. In other words, it ought to recreate a similar experience of the wild to stimulate the tiger’s foraging behavior. But if it is a life and death situation, you may need to euthanize the pet.

It depends on the severity and type of injuries, the total financial losses, comparative fault, and other factors. If your pet causes harm to another person or animal, you could be held liable for any damages caused by your pet. The new legislation has been a decade in the making, according to Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and is the “death knell for the cub petting industry”. Tigers groom themselves quite effectively with their rough tongues, much like house cats do. They also enjoy swimming, but it is more for cooling down than cleaning up.

Veterinary Care

However, if you are curious, here are some details about what it’s like keeping these large cats living alongside humans. Owning a baby tiger can be expensive, but it is possible to afford one. By researching the cost of food, supplies, veterinary care, and housing, you can create a budget that fits your needs. Additionally, there are alternatives to buying a baby tiger, such as adopting from a sanctuary or volunteering at a wildlife center. In addition to the initial purchase price, there are other financial implications to consider when owning a baby tiger. This includes ongoing costs such as food, supplies, veterinary care, and housing.

Masson said the tigers had been moved into tiny cages on the back of a truck for no more than eight days. Blacourt is a quiet village in the Oise region of northern France – with about 600 residents, a church and, until last December, 10 tigers that the neighbours used to hear growling in the morning. Transport services are available to E-Ticket holders, with the price depending on the pick-up location. Transport tickets are available to purchase at the same time as your E-Tickets. Additionally, the city or county where the person keeps the animal can sue the owner and recover a civil penalty between $200 and $2,000 per day, plus attorney’s fees, Gray Reed said.

Do Tigers Make Good Pets? What You Need to Know

While these cats are acceptable alternatives to a wild cat, there are still behavioral and dietary requirements to consider before adopting a hybrid cat. As a large cat, usually exceeding 600 pounds, a tiger needs a tremendous amount of protein in his or her diet. In the wild, a tiger will bring down a large antelope, deer, or water buffalo and eat over 80 pounds of meat in one meal. Not only is providing 80 pounds of meat for a single meal expensive but simply being able to store that much meat in a safe and healthy way for future meals is unreasonable for most people. Many tigers are carefully and strategically trained to be around people and will go years without incident, but you cannot effectively predict the behavior of a tiger—they are still wild animals at heart.

When considering the cost of owning a baby tiger, it’s important to remember that there are both upfront costs and ongoing expenses to take into account. Additionally, potential legal issues should also be considered before making the decision to buy a baby tiger. A baby tiger’s diet should consist mainly of raw meat, such as beef, chicken, or fish.