Matty, the cougar, along with six other cats were part of a big cat rescue from the Catskill Game Farm in New York in 2008. With the closing of their animal park, the game farm auctioned off 950 animals and made east coast and national headlines (articles below).
Many worried some of the animals would wind up in the hands of unscrupulous dealers, killed for their parts, or sold off in the illegal exotic animal trade.
Wildlife Watch intervened and negotiated placement of animals in sanctuaries while others purchased animals to ensure their fate. It is described as one of the largest animal rescues of its type.
For many years, Matty lived with her parents Max and Mia together in a large, free-roaming habitat here at the sanctuary until they both passed away.
Matty is very active and interested in what’s going on around her – especially in what all her cougar neighbors are up to. She loves to crouch low and stalk anyone passing by her habitat. She also lets loose a fearsome cry every mealtime, reminding us daily that these cougars will always be wild at heart.
to play with the ‘5 Wild’ along the fence line, play hide and stalk from the tall grass with her caregivers and then pop up purring as loud as could be.
She came to us in 2006 with several other cats when the Catskill Game Farm in New York closed. But boy, does it seem like just yesterday. 
