Buy A Big: Cat

: It is now illegal for private individuals to breed, sell, purchase, or acquire big cats like lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars.

: Costs could exceed $100,000 for a single animal, including secure enclosures with high walls and caged-in ceilings to prevent dangerous escapes. buy a big cat

: Individuals who already owned big cats before the law was enacted were allowed to keep them only if they registered them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by June 18, 2023. No new big cats can be acquired by these owners. : It is now illegal for private individuals

The , signed into law on December 20, 2022, fundamentally changed the landscape of big cat ownership: Fish and Wildlife Service by June 18, 2023

: The law also prohibits public contact with big cats, ending "cub-petting" photo opportunities that previously fueled commercial breeding cycles. 2. Financial and Logistical Reality

: Ongoing expenses typically surpassed $10,000 per year. This includes feeding up to 15 pounds of raw meat daily and specialized veterinary care.

Buying a "big cat" (such as a lion, tiger, or leopard) is effectively in the United States as of 2022. While some may still seek these animals out of fascination, federal law now treats them as "prohibited wildlife species," strictly limiting their possession to accredited zoos, universities, and sanctuaries. 1. Legal Prohibitions