This Is What It's Like Owning A Big Cat As A Pet

Whether you watched Siegfried & Roy or "Tiger King," or you follow Luna the black panther on social media, you've probably wondered what it would be like to own a big cat as a pet. These animals share more than 95% of the DNA of their much-smaller domesticated feline relatives, but they obviously differ in major ways as well. Owning a big cat comes with a hefty price when you factor in the upfront and ongoing expenses as well as the habitat requirements. It also requires a large amount of space and could be dangerous (or even deadly).

Acquiring a big cat as a pet is another factor to consider. Of course, you can't just walk into your local pet shelter and adopt a mountain lion or bonded pair of cuddly jaguar cubs. While these big cats do live in the wild in the United States, it's rare to see them, and they can't be adopted the way traditional pets can.

Even if you did come across an abandoned big cat cub somewhere, the Big Cat Public Safety Act banned the private possession of these wild animals in December 2022 in the U.S. This means you can't legally own one in your home, but we can still play "what if," right?

Although you'll probably never be able to legally own a big cat at home, knowing the costs of such a feat may still pique your interest. Just because they're called "big cats" doesn't mean you can treat them the same way you'd treat the average household kitty. After all, a tiger can weigh over 600 pounds when fully grown. You can enjoy all 3 pounds of one when it's a newborn cub, but by six months, it will tip the scale at 60-105 pounds. The bigger the cat, the more items and space it needs, and "more" equates to more money, compared to an 8-pound housecat.

Habitat is one of the biggest expenses associated with caring for a big cat. Big Cat Rescue recommends owning at least 5 acres for a big cat to roam and play on. In the United States, an acre can cost anywhere from $4,200 to $350,000 depending on your location. A cage enclosure adds another several thousand (depending on size) to the upfront expenses.

Next on the list are the day-to-day requirements. Of course, big felines need to eat, too, so expect to pay about $10,000 a year for quality raw meat. Assuming you want your "pet" to be healthy, you'll need to budget for veterinary expenses, too, including vaccinations and flea and tick prevention. These services combined can cost $600 per year, on average or more, since you'll need a vet specializing in large and exotic animals. With all the dollar signs considered, a big cat is one of the most expensive types of pets you can buy.

Sharing your home with a big cat isn't just costly; it can be dangerous. After all, even sweet and fluffy ragdoll cats, tabby cats, and other protective small cat breeds can behave unpredictably and scratch or bite a human, drawing blood, so imagine what a giant one could do. Cats are natural predators, so a big one could seriously injure you and damage items in your home, intentionally or unintentionally.

Even if you start raising your tiger or lion as a cub, there's no guarantee an accident or deliberate attack won't happen. Case in point? Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy. The famous pair of illusionists dazzled audiences for years with their white lions and white tigers in their performances, until a tragic October day in 2003. That was the day their tiger Mantacore, whom the duo raised since he was about 3 weeks old, mauled and dragged Roy across the stage during a performance in Las Vegas. Horn survived the incident, but was left partially paralyzed.

Owning a big cat can pose a threat to other people and animals as well, including those that never step foot inside your home. It could be a neighbor's dog or the mailman. Bottom line? Instincts can't be removed from a wild animal, even one raised in captivity. While the experience of walking a lion on a leash or wrestling with a panther might seem exhilarating, anyone who signs up for big cat ownership must also be prepared for the dangers.