Big cat rescue organizations in North America and beyond provide refuge for lions, tigers, and cougars from the private ownership and entertainment industries, with welfare quality varying significantly.
Big cat sanctuaries vary enormously in welfare quality. Genuine accredited sanctuaries like the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries provide large naturalistic enclosures, appropriate social conditions, species-specific enrichment, and prohibit public contact and breeding. Poor quality facilities rebranding as sanctuaries may provide minimal space, allow cub petting, and breed animals to produce petting cubs. Distinguishing genuine from fake sanctuaries requires examining specific standards: size of enclosures, whether animals can be seen by the public, whether cub petting occurs, and whether breeding is prevented. The Big Cat Public Safety Act has begun addressing the private ownership that supplies problematic facilities. Accreditation by organizations with published welfare standards is the most reliable guide to quality.