What is the appeal for owning Exotic cats?
The appeal of the great cats is alluring and spell binding to most people. Man has had an affinity with these wonderful and mystifying creatures for thousands of years in most cultures. Images of lions, tigers and cougars have always represented royalty, courage, strength, and dignity as they have been respected, feared and admired. No wonder in today’s generation of materialism in this country that wanting to own one of these magnificent animals has become an all too easy reality. The result of this phenomena is that breeders are producing great cats in record numbers to fill a growing demand. Lion or tiger cubs can be bought for as little as $300 from the back of pickup trucks, at flea markets, in bar parking lots, etc.; anywhere a quick impulse buy from a naive consumer might occur. The result is that today in the United States, it is estimated that there are more tigers (for example) owned as pets, housed in trailers, backyards, basements, etc., than are left alive in the wild. The
