Big Cats

Exotic Cat Trade: Lions, Cheetahs, and the Pet Pipeline

The illegal and legal trade in exotic cats creates welfare harm at every stage from capture through captivity.

Key Facts

Thousands of big cats are kept privately in the US under patchwork state regulations
The Big Cat Public Safety Act (2022) finally banned private ownership of big cats in the US
Cheetah cubs are trafficked from East Africa to Gulf states at rates of 300+ annually
Lion bone trade from South Africa fuels lion bone farms with severe welfare problems
Cub petting operations have been documented as pipelines to canned hunting operations

Welfare Considerations

Exotic cats in private ownership suffer from inadequate space, inappropriate diet, forced human contact, and inability to express natural behavior. Cubs used for petting encounters are forcibly weaned early and subjected to constant handling stress. Lions bred for canned hunting in South Africa are confined in facilities where they await being shot by paying hunters. Each stage of the exotic cat trade causes welfare harm to highly intelligent, wide-ranging animals.

What You Can Do

Support the Big Cat Public Safety Act and similar legislation internationally
Never pay for big cat cub petting or selfie experiences
Report suspected private big cat ownership to USDA Animal Care
Donate to Big Cat Rescue and accredited sanctuaries providing genuine lifetime care
Advocate for international CITES enforcement against big cat trafficking routes