Cat lovers may think that the best experience in their lives may be to have a large non-domestic cat as a pet. The idea of ​​owning a big cat of one kind or another may seem intriguing, alluring, and possibly even beneficial to the animal, but there are a number of very serious considerations to take into account. Here we analyze the main problems.

cost

Let’s start with the purely practical: keeping a large cat is extremely expensive. Buying the cat alone is a considerable amount of money with a Bobcat costing around $900, a serval or caracal around $1500-2000, a tiger cub £2500 and an ocelot as high as $15,000. This is only for the initial outlay of the animal itself and does not cover any of the other expenses such as lodging and of course the biggest one: food.

In addition to the cost of purchasing the animal, you will also need to have state and federal permits which can be expensive, difficult to obtain, and will continue to need to be renewed, with an associated cost each time. If the permits are not correct, your animal may be seized. You will also often be required to have special liability insurance in case the cat causes damage or harm.

land

Many states have specific requirements about how much land and other facilities you need before you consider getting a big cat. For most, this is at least 5 acres of land and this land should have an eight foot perimeter fence around it. This wall also cannot be part of a cage, so if you keep them in an enclosure, it must be inside and separate from the perimeter fence. You should also have a roof over the area to prevent them from escaping.

veterinary care

Another problem is finding a veterinarian capable and willing to deal with these types of animals and to be on call in case there is a problem. Most do not want to risk exposure of themselves or their staff to this little critter. You will need a piece of equipment called a compression cage that can handle the entirety of your cat’s weight and full size for people to check out if there is a problem and these can cost up to $2000 alone. Not only that, but the logistics of getting an 800-pound animal anywhere will likely involve a forklift, as well as a very important transport vehicle.

food

Big cats need meat and lots of it. There are no commercial big cat foods that you will find in the supermarket, so this means finding a butcher or other supplier who can meet your needs. And these cats need a diet that cannot be varied without putting the cat’s physical and mental health at risk. Dealing with all that raw meat is also a health hazard, so it needs to be done carefully and specifically to protect both the cat and the humans in the home.