Big Cat Breeds Need Rescue Shelters
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Cat rescue operations don't always cater to the small, domestic cat breeds that we usually keep as pets. Many people decide to purchase a big cat, such as a tiger or another exotic type of breed, and bring the cat home. This type of purchase is illegal to start with and big cats are usually only found through black market venues. What makes the situation worse is that the cute, cuddly and interesting cub the individual brought home soon becomes a large feline that can be very dangerous.
Rescue operations end up having to care for big cats for a number of reasons. The cat might attack a human being, or the owner may often start neglecting the animal, unable to provide for its feline needs. Sometimes, the owner believes that since the exotic pet was wild to start with, it should be well able to survive on its own and the big cat is abandoned to fend for itself. The authorities try to do what they can, but more often than not, big cats may need to be put down on the spot. If the cat is lucky, a rescue shelter can take it in.
A zoo is not an option. Many times, this is where the trade started. Unscrupulous zoos breed big cats in captivity to increase attendance at the zoo because the public enjoys seeing new babies. When the felines are grown, the public loses interest, and the zoo can't support the larger cat. The animal is sold off to private brokers who then turn around and sell the animals to the public. Anyone might end up with the feline. Even worse, that owner might try to breed the cat to have another cub or to sell cubs to his friends. When this happens, the cycle begins all over again.
Supply and demand are the two biggest contributing factors to big cat breeds ending up in a cat rescue. The breeders will keep breeding the cats, and the public will continue to buy them. People have a fascination with getting close to an exotic feline. What the public fails to realize is that there is a massive responsibility that goes along with caring for big cats. The cats were never meant to be pets to begin with. You can't keep them indoors, and keeping a big cat outdoors isn't much better. These cat breeds play rough. They are hunters, and thousands of years of instinct tells them they are the top of the food chain. That baby tiger will not "bond" with your toddler. This is not a Walt Disney movie. You can bet that when the tiger reaches maturity, your child, your domestic house pet, and you may be labeled as lunch.
Big cats have been kept in cages that are far too small for them. The minimum size required by law of an animal's cage is one that is large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in. We all cry out in anger when we hear of Vietnam Veterans who had been tortured in "tiger cages". Why should we subject large felines to the same type of torture?
A big cat rescue shelter can offer a better quality of life for the abandoned animal. Many big cats that do reach the rescue stage are suffering from malnutrition. Others who might have been in show business are nervous wrecks from over-stimulation or are nearly blind from a life of flashing light bulbs and the bright lights of photo shoots. The people who run the shelters have the means and experience to raise the animal properly and meet the cat's nutritional requirements.
The number of human deaths caused by big cat breeds kept as pets continues to grow. Only four states (Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky and New York) passed an all-out ban on big cats as pets in 2005. The following year, Kansas, Louisiana and Maryland followed suit. Though these bans are helping, they are still not enough. Anyone can apply for a permit from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), for a very low fee and promise to use the big cat for some kind of commercial venture. It's time to break the cycle. Tigers, lions, leopards, and all of the other large felines need to be preserved responsibly for future generations to know.
That's the end of this article, I hope you found it interesting.
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Today's Tip On Cats
Before you think of bathing, give your cat a good brushing. Use a soft brush or grooming glove for short haired felines. For cats with longer fur, use a wide-toothed comb. Don't brush too hard. Cats don't have very thick skin like their wild cousins, the big cats. Brush out any tangles and check the cat over for any sores or abscesses. Clean the cat's ears and trim its nails. If your cat starts to get a little antsy, take everything in stages. Start with one task, then put the cat down and come back to the next task later.
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