Big cats as pets

It's been a while since I watched this video, but I think it illustrates very well the topic I'm about to talk about:



What do you guys think about people, who, like this family keep big cats as their pets? Do you think it's crazy? For me it looks like a really crazy thing to do. I know some people see those big cats as their pets, but those big cats are not supposed to be pets. I respect those who like to keep them as pet, but I'd never like to do something like that.

Plus I think big cats deserve to be free, livig in a house can't be good for a big cat. It sounds so selfish to me.

What's your take on this?

 

I don't think so, tigers aren't domesticated animals. They fall under the category of animals that can be unpredictable. They may seem to be tame, and they may seem to be loving one minte then the next could turn on you or someone else. We have heard of situations where such a thing has happened. There are certain animals who can't be domesticated and this is one of them.

 

Yes, I know! If you read through my post you will see I wrote I think it's crazy, I just used the video to show there are people out there who actually like to keep big cats as pets! It's crazy!!!! If the big cat snaps all of a sudden then it's game over for whoever is ''playing'' with it. So crazy!!!!

 

Oh wow,
How can you say you can take care of an animal like a tiger? What do you do if a cat that large gets sick? What vet in their vicinity is a specialist in large cats? Can you afford to feed a tiger that huge amount of meat they require as a full-on carnivore? This makes me very sad to think that there are some people out there that just have to have the biggest, or the best, or the most...etc. This is simply owning an animal as a living trophy.
I don't think there is anything researched in biology that indicates a wild animal will have instincts that go "dormant". Natural instincts can be triggered by just about anything, a passing squirrel, a howling dog, and then the tiger turns into the wild creature he/she has always been. And when that happens, and they turn on their captors, well, we've heard the end of those stories before--the cat gets put down, and the people who caused the problem go unpunished.

 

Even though I love big cats as much as I love little domesticated cats, I would never own them.
I have seen shows on TV where people foster young cubs that have been abandoned, or left after their mother was killed. It is definitely cute to watch them grow and become attached to the family and the families other pets, but once the animals are big enough they give them to zoos or reintroduce them to the wild. I think it would be crazy to try and keep a full grown tiger or lion as a pet. They have a natural instinct to hunt, like domestic cats but on a larger scale. What if they get so hungry, they kill the owners or any of the neighbors. The cost of owning one must be thought the roof. I just don't think it is a good idea.

 

So, I'll be honest, when I read your thread title, I literally thought you were talking about cats that happened to be larger than their original size, but not literally Tigers, Lions and more! It's definitely a different perspective that I have never thought of.

I would say that as much as I think it's cool and ballsy for other families to own large cats such as Tigers, Lions and more, I would never do so myself. I think that there's a difference between traditional domesticated cats and wild cats. WILD cats should be in the wild. It's self-explanatory. Humans can ensure that they have a safe haven in the wild, but they shouldn't necessarily domesticate them; I think that confuses their ability to be able to live on their own in the future.

In addition, I would never even think of owning a wild cat because there are times where their natural senses will kick in and they may not be how they were when they were younger. There are many examples throughout history where people have been faced with his unfortunate event and have it either end fatally or just be severely injured. The fact that this family has a child living with them is what I find to be unsafe and irresponsible.

 

Like Bloomsie suggested, this calls for balls and some. I am looking at the video and I am also thinking it's a little crazy. As far as I am aware these animals are rather unpredictable and I would not risk that with a child around. In my case it is not a risk I would take period.Seeing the follow up attack on the guy makes it more of a no no for me.

 

I was watching a documentary recently about big cats being kept in Dubai why young wealthy guys and how they have loads of instagram followers, I dont think big cats are appropriate to be kept as pets personally!

 

Not a good idea in my opinion. Not only selfish, but dangerous. I had an quittance who was a big game hunter taking trips to Africa, etc. He even had a picture of himself with a past president on one of his excursions. Anyways, he some cages in his backyard and there were tigers. Seriously can not recall, if it was one or two, too many years ago. He had a special permit, but still did not want others to talk about his tigers to others. He kept it on the down low. I think, he was concerned about the animal activists. So, I could not imagine a big cat, as a pet inside the house!

 

Yeah, same here! I think it's crazy and I don't understand why someone would want to keep a big cat locked in a tiny cage... isn't only selfish and dangerous, but it also got to be darn expensive! I don't get those people. Big cats need big spaces.... can't imagine something more terrible than being locked in a cage that is barely bigger than I am.

 

Awesome documentary, I love anything made by the ''Vice'' guys, so I will surely watch it. I think those wealthy guys are so desperate for attention they do this kind of crazy things as a cry for attention. Kinda sad for them, really, they have all that money, yet they have a void that calls to be filled...

Same here, Anne! I'd never take such a risk, even if I was very very wealthy, lol. I'd rather get a bunch of normal cats and dogs to keep me company If I was very wealthy I'd get Norwegian forest cats... I'd first get one, then two, then 3... until I could have 5 But only 5!

 

I know... it makes me sad! There are many families like that in the world, apparently some people think owning big cats is cool! which in my opinion is just plain crazy! I'd be worried about those instincts going berzerk all of a sudden. I'd never trust a big cat, I mean... even small domesticated cats have known to have snapped at one point or another. I mean, things like this have happened:



The cat was obviously not in the mood to be affectionate to the girl, but she failed to notice it. So if a tiny cat can do that... I can't imagine what a big one can do if it isn't in the mood to be nice to its human owner. Too scary!

 

Yes, i think this whole matter is sad in so many different levels. Just like you, the first thing that comes in my mind is the danger, I just can't understand how soe people are ok with the risk. Or maybe they are in denial? I'd never risk it, I mean, those paws can surely decapitate a person with only one blow. Or at least break one's neck. Damn scary...

As doe the cat, not fair to the cat... they need space and to be with other big cats. I have heard some celebs have big cats as pets, mostly rappers. If I was wealthy enough to afford owning a tiger I wouldn't... way to waste your money on keeping a locked animal, making it feel miserable so one day rips your face off. No thanks.

To be honest I don't like big cats, but I have watched those TV shows. It is cute as you said! I think those people who foster those cubs know the risk well, hence they don't try to keep them. Only crazy people like the one in the video I showed would. Big cats are wild, and will stay wild for a while...

 

Oh my God! Look at the video with the cat. Such a simple little act turned so bloody, I can only imagine what accidents can happen with bigger cats. My son was telling me about the Instagram postings of this guy with a cheetah or some other big cat. He said guy had thousands of followers so this seems to an every growing trend. It's a little scary if you ask me.

 

Yes, that went ugly very fast, right? The girl was too distracted to notice the cat was a bit moody, just look at the way he moves his tail! He wasn't in the mood to ''play'', that is why it is recommended to keep one's face away from a cat, specially if you can't tell when the cat is moody. Fortunately the girl didn't lose her eye, but she could!

 

I agree with Pafjlh. They aren't domesticated. My husband found some baby bunnies. Their mom was dead in the road in front of my house. I did what I could to take care of them. They were less than a week old, couldn't go potty on their own, eyes weren't open, just little babies. I was the first face they saw, ever. The were held and given all kinds of affection. You would think that would take them, right? Nope, they started getting sick and I had no idea why. I took them outside and sat them in the grass. It was an instant change. They perked up started running around. The reason I'm saying this is because the "wild" is innate. It doesn't matter how young the are or how much taming you try to do, the "wild" will always be in them.

 

I honestly don't know what she was thinking. Sometimes people forget they are cats. You can try that with dogs but never a cat. They are too unpredictable and even with the best of intentions those paws can be dangerous. Do you remember I told you about the three paw marks I got from Twinkle when he was playing with the dogs? I got those scratches as he was in his glee. I always played safe with Twinkle close to my face. If those accidents happen with small cats....we can expect anything from the bigger ones. Best wishes to those willing to go for it.

 

Yes, I remember your story But hey, at least that mark brings a smile on your face every time you see it, hehehe! And yes, I just have never liked the idea of shoving my face on a cat's face. They don't like it most of the time. If it ever happens is because the cat itself gets close to my face in the morning to lick my lips to wake me up, lol. But the cat starts it, I'd not shove my face on a cats face like she did if I saw those tail movements. Did you notice the ears?

 

Yes, the scratches make me smile. Can you imagine that? Even at the time I did not get mad at Twinkle. He really had me good. I passed by where he was buried last night. I was trying to find the home of the dog who keeps coming around. I'll have to talk about him elsewhere. It's pure stress with that dog and yet my heart goes out to him.

 

This reminds me of a funny story that I only vaguely remember, but my mom enjoys telling...

I was about 6 or 7 years old and we lived in a nice neighborhood in a smaller town in South Florida by the beach. Nice homes and pools, nothing too fancy but comfortable and safe. My mom made friends with this family who just moved in across the street, and a few weeks go by and they become kind of close friends. One day they call my mother and say something like "oh, you just have to come over and see this new cat we adopted. It was a stray and it's huge and so cute, etc etc" and my mom said sure. So we go over to the house and my mother and I are standing in the entry way and the woman is like "I'll go get the cat, he's so big, I wonder what he ate". And she comes back a few moments later and it's a bobcat. My mother was a little freaked out. I know a bobcat isn't the same as a tiger or lion, but they really aren't supposed to be domestic housecats lol. It was a really big bobcat.