Feeding big cats is a big job. As the adage goes, “You are what you eat.” Selecting the right diet is especially important for cats because of the unique way they break down food for energy. So the simplest and most critical thing we can do to help our rescued residents is to provide them … Read more
Our focus has always been on what is doing right for the animals. Our Tiger Amnesty Program allows for surrender of tigers, lions or any wild cat without question. We follow all state and federal requirements. This program ensures wild cats can find safe sanctuary. It allows owners, authorities or entities to place the cat … Read more
What’s a rescued leopard supposed to do on a cold Minnesota winter day? Play on his indoor jungle gym, or curl up in a cozy hammock inside where it’s toasty warm! Even though our warm weather cats like leopard Shazam enjoy playing outdoors in the snow, we also think it’s important to provide our cats … Read more
Searching for the right internship At a very early age, from the first time I laid eyes on them, I felt an instant affinity towards big cats. I was intrigued. I was in love. What made them tick? Why were they so special, so intriguing, so magnificent? Their eyes, the way they move, their language, … Read more
What a difference a couple of months can make for two very ill tigers! When we picked up Mohan, he had such difficulty walking. With degenerative joint disease of the knees due to untreated cranial cruciate ligament injuries and with nails grown so long they’d embedded in his front paws, walking was so painful. Look at … Read more
Whenever we share a photo of one of the dozens of hybrid wild cats we’ve rescued, someone always asks the question, “Could my rescue be a Bengal?” Tabby cats and Bengal cats can often look very similar. Without a bill of sale, some sort of registration/pedigree papers from the breeder, or more information from whoever … Read more
At one time, white tigers were indeed rare. The last one captured in the wild was Mohan in India in 1951. He was intentionally inbred with his daughter. The resulting four white tiger cubs began a long line of inbreeding for profit. Fast forward to today when almost every accredited sanctuary in the U.S. has … Read more
Cub petting is the practice of using baby animals, like tigers, as photo props for paying customers. These operations are deceptive because they prey on people’s affection toward baby animals, and exploit the desire to hold or care for them. This masks a secretive dark side, inherently dependent on animal cruelty for its very existence. … Read more
Note: This article is the second in a multi part series explaining cub petting. For the first part, go here. This tigress has had a tough life. Following the rescue of more than 100 big cats, including 75 tigers, from a cub petting operation, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) and Tigers in America (TIA) took over … Read more
Can you imagine the joy of finally living ‘wild at heart’ in a huge habitat, instead of a small cage where you spent the first six years of your life? Today, you don’t have to imagine. You can watch the first moments brothers Dimitri, Griffen and Zeke spent checking out their new home, as well … Read more
As far as phone calls go, this one didn’t seem all that strange. Another rescue group had been contacted by a private owner. He was having trouble with his Bengal cat not using the litter box consistently. We get these calls all the time since it’s such a common complaint about hybrid wild cats. He … Read more
This is a question we’re often asked when people find out our rescued tigers are neutered or spayed. The misconception is, if tigers are endangered in the wild, shouldn’t you allow captive tigers to breed? Four reasons accredited sanctuaries don’t breed captive tigers: 1. Tigers in the US in captivity have been overbred, inbred, and … Read more
