Large cats as pets?

[DeadlySin]

I know some people have strong opinions agains this.
And by large cats I mean lions, tigers, panthers, pumas etc.
Typically wild cats, then raised in captivity for breeding and sold as pets.

I believe when its illegal it's a horrible thing, and when the owners aren't experienced its bad too.

But there are people who rescue them from people who can't handle them properly and either give them to zoo's or people with special license for them.

I want a license. =P
And I want a panther.

I know that's ridiculous and it could turn on me etc.
But I still really want one.

I know I could change my mind or it's a bad idea.
I was just wondering if anyone else was interested in that sort of thing?

Or just think it would be fun to have one of them?

(Please don't go all PETA on me =P)

[Dr. Gregory House]

Hey there!

I'm against getting big cats as pets, but mostly for safety reasons. Even if you train them and domesticate them, they can turn on you pretty quickly. Their personality could change in an instant.

I think it would be fun to have one if there wasn't any threat to safety. They're cute, and they'd make GREAT pillows. You'd have to get 'em declawed though. ...Though I don't know how that'd go at the vet's office.

[Power Cosmic]

Not sure about the laws where you are, but the licence you need costs you craploads, you'd need frequent inspections, a proper enclosure type place where it lives that ensures that its secure. Also, I'd advise captive-bred, but most big cats are just not suitable as pets, for example, if you bleed even a little, the tiniest nick or scratch, around some large felids, that'd be when they see you as a ready meal on legs. I'm fairly certain this even includes period blood, add to that they've got a killer sense of smell...
I also wouldn't recommend it without some really in depth (say, postgraduate university level) knowledge about the panther and it's behaviours.
I mean, I definitely see where you're coming from, panthers are beautiful animals, but I think unless you have the resources of a zoo, you'd be doing it a disservice.

[topov]

I dont know of the laws ect, but I know a little about how much of a stressful time raising big cats is.

A friend of mine works for a conservation park, and a long while back, there was a new litter of tiger cubs... and the mum died.... Most of the cubs were fine and we're distributed to other parks but one (the runt) was to week and fragile... and so came to live with my friend for 24 hour care.
I happened to be one of my friends on call buddies to help out with (smiks) the baby tiger.

Although feeding and play time were amazing and so cute... I have never been so tired and badly injured!!! It was like having a very sharp agressive baby! and I was only there 2 nights a week to help out!

[bitesize]

Personallyyy, although it would be cool to have a tiger (<3) I'm slightly against the idea, I just don't think it's really quite fair on them. They're made to live int he wild and not be domesticated so I think they should be let alone to do that!!

[Pelios]

The guy that was running for government here had a lot of exotic animals, and everyone was getting all upset about it but I’m ok with someone having those types of animals as long as you have enough money to maintain them and they have enough space.
My dad has a spider monkey in his ranch (well in the family ranch,) he treats it like if it was another kid of his, and they can be really fun, it’s like another family member but as long as they are living in an ok way I have no problem with it.

[Algernon]

I just think for safetly reasons It's not worth it. Maybe if you went to school for training and got some kind of degree to work with large cats, okay.

[Broken one]

It can be done but you need a Dangerous Wild Animal Liscence (DWA)
These cose varying amounts depending on where you live and what the laws of where you live are. You have to be able to to show that you can set up a proper enclosure, the fences have to be tall enough and the right type, they have to be dug around 7ft down into the ground, have to have double gates. You need to be able to find a vet that would be willing to treat such an animal. You have to be able to show that you can meet their dietry requirements since obviously they can't be fed normal cat food, they need carcasses. You have to be able to afford vaccinations, worming, dental care, food, any enclosure fixtures etc.

Also panthers are very difficult to look after, especially in captivity, they have a very nervous disposition and they will turn on you, you can't predict how they are going to react.

Panthers ae also exceptionally expensive and it's unlikely if your in the UK you'ld be able to get one without having to pay importation fees, quantry fees etc.

There's other cats you can keep slightly easier and are alot easier to obtain, these include things such as
Servals
Lynx
Bobcat
caracal
cougar
jungle cat
etc
You also get a "big cat" without a DWA liscence but they are cross breeds between "big" cats and domesticated cats
There's different grades from F1 which you need a DWA for to F8 which is pretty much a normal domestic moggy with a very small amount of "Big cat" in it.

here's a very good website which would be worth you having a look at
http://www.exoticcatz.com/
Hope I've helped some what ^^

[Imagine]

The only reason why I'm against big cats is because of safety reasons, and i don't want it turning on me ect.

[Penguin Queen]

I'm pretty against keeping them as pets, unless you can guarntee it a good and realistic enviroment, loads of land etc. and you will be extremely extremly strict with safety.

[wksbro]

it would be fun to have a lion

[Toast]

It would be fun, but they just aren't suited to be pets. However, if you could care for one properly(that includes not keeping it in your house :P) I don't have a problem with it. I don't think they're the kind of animal you could keep in your house. Try keeping a horse inside your house, for example.

[TheBabyEater]

The problem is... Mostly domestication, and having a good environment. Even a large cat who looks all calm and perfect and domesticated, can out of nowhere get a little. well, crazy. Hell, dogs do it too and they've been domesticated for... hundreds of years. But, that's pretty rare. And mostly due to bad ownership there...

I mean, I have a hedgehog. They're also very recently domesticated. It's not really so much about the animal itself, it's about the animals parents, and their parents, and the whole line that makes an animal domesticated. It's breeding out bad traits like. attacking people for food. The difference between a hedgehog and a big cat as a pet, is that if my hedgehog decides to show his wild side (which, he has by the way) his bite isn't going to kill me. He's yet to even draw blood, unlike my insane bird.

Not to mention, animals don't do too well in suburban or city life. I'd say that if you're going to get one, move out to a country area so it has a LOT of room to roam and run and play. I mean, it's pretty damn abusive to try and keep an animals that is used to big huge open spaces, in a little house. Also, the right food can be a problem as well...



That being said, I would love a monkey.

And yes. I WANT it to crap in it's hand and throw it! That'd be awesome! ( Dane Cook.)

[Pour the Teapot]

u do realize that u would have to dedicate your whole life to making things good for this panther? it would cost time money and effort in great extents. i really think you should just satisfy yourself with getting a job at the zoo or something, not your own panther.

[PunkRoxS9]

I want a lion cub or a panther (but preferably a lion cub), I don't see the problem because if they're raised as a pet they wouldnt suddenly eat you because they wouldnt know any better than curling up on your lap and acting like a normal household cat x

[Power Cosmic]

Originally Posted by PunkRoxS9

I want a lion cub or a panther (but preferably a lion cub), I don't see the problem because if they're raised as a pet they wouldnt suddenly eat you because they wouldnt know any better than curling up on your lap and acting like a normal household cat x

That's not actually true. I mean, even their play is VERY rough, as in whilst trying to play with you, they could easily break your bones or tear open an artery or something.

[MegaMadness]

I would want one. It'd be awesome but I'd be too terrfied of them turning on me attacking me or even just accidently hurting me whilst playing.

[Fucking Done]

You can get past a dog, but NOBODY fucks with a lion

[Awakening]

I want a lynx those things are adorable!

[PunkRoxS9]

Originally Posted by Quintessence

That's not actually true. I mean, even their play is VERY rough, as in whilst trying to play with you, they could easily break your bones or tear open an artery or something.

Okay, true, but you just teach them that they're not allowed to hurt you. My cat (a normal small one) has never scratched or bitten me in the entire 8 years of having her, cuz she knows id go skitz at her if she did, every one else in the family're been hurt x

[Power Cosmic]

That's a domestic cat though, they're still very different to a big cat, since big cats will usually take any form of resistance as encouragement, and then even if you do dominate them, they'll start to honestly hate you, which is just dangerous, since they are stronger and faster than a human.