How many unwanted exotic cats are there?
The Feline Conservation Federation is the nations oldest and most knowledgeable organization that keeps statistics on private ownership. However, there are no reliable surveys on the number of exotic cats that have become unwanted. The number of tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar and cougars in USDA licensed sanctuaries is estimated to be about 1,000 total nationwide and the total private sector large cat population is estimated to be between 5,000 and 7,000. This high proportion of large cat species in sanctuaries is partly due to a growing number of communities and states that have passed legislation that greatly increases the cost and red tape for private owners, or completely prohibits ownership. The number of small cat species in sanctuaries is substantially less because small cats are easier to re-home with experienced private owners who can afford to fund the lifetime care of the feline. Q: Why does legislation to prohibit the ownership and breeding of exotic felines make matters wors
