Owning A Large Cat

emk101 · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

I have been interested in exotics for a while now and have had many many animals already (I'm 19). I have started to get into exotic rescue and now have 5 sugar gliders. I don't have any license for this I am just doing it because there are a lot of sugar gliders that are being mistreated and that are being given up.

I got a domestic cat so that I can get an understanding of the cats personality. The one I rescued from a shelter is a crazy little boy who loves to jump everywhere and hunt evenything (including my feet).

My ultimate goal will be to take in large cats, IE Tigers, Lions, from people who bought them as pets or had them for circus pets and no longer want to keep them. I want to purchase a large plot of land (50 or so acares) and make large zoo like enclosures for these animals to live.

Before I take on that responsibility I would like to work my way up. Hopefully with working with smaller cats (like the one I have now) then next a cougar. Once I work with these guys a little more and the time is right I would like to get my own Lion or Tiger. I love both but I think I would want to go with a Lion at first because they bond with people better (so i've read). I'm not looking for an animal that I can train (to do circus tricks so to speak) but one that can bond with me and be part of the family!
After I get the experience with having my own big cat I would like to build this facility to take on more cats.

What do you think is the best way to go about doing this. I will be looking into geting a cougar sometime in the next 6 years and I'm trying to get everything lined up (as far as where to get one and things like that)
Right now I'm living in rochester, ny but will move to another state to get this property. Which state do you believe to be most lax in their laws on big cats. I've seen the webpage on laws by state but I'm trying to get a feel from people with experience because some states say it's as simple as geting a license and others will say, "that's not an easy task."

Anyone have advice and know where I can obtain a cougar cub when the time is right for that. And also a lion cub when the time is right for that.

Thank you everyone! Very Happy