Are you CRAZY? A Cougar for a Pet?

I am a dog person but a cat lover. I've always been fascinated by cats, from the time that I was almost too small to remember. When I was five, I got my first cat that was mine. My parents took me to the shelter to pick him out and he was... wonderful. We named him Buffy because he was a long-haired buff-colored cat. He was never particularly affectionate, but I loved him like crazy, and it still breaks my heart to think that he's gone.

Most people consider me a cat person, probably because I've had an ongoing love affair with cats in general. My favorite wild animals (after giraffes) are all cats. Bengal Tigers, African Lions, Panthers all fascinate me. I've written "furry" fiction and some of my favorite characters are cats. I remember watching Born Free over and over again when I was a child, wondering what it must be like to have a "pet" lioness that lived in the house with the humans, just like a house cat.

I've never been "average" when it comes to pets. I'm obsessed with the exotics. I've owned several snakes (varying from very small to very large Burmese Pythons), rats, mice, and sugar gliders as well as various lizards. I've owned cockatiels and budgies as well, though I'm not sure you could classify those as "exotic" birds. I would love to have an African Grey parrot though!

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No, not exactly. With those of us who enjoy exotic pets (and I have owned several, as I have mentioned), the purpose of having the animal is not to try to domesticate the animal, the breed, or the species. It isn't even necessarily to tame the animal (and not all exotics can be tamed). For those who love exotic pets, it is the strong desire to touch the wild and to make contact with it that causes our desire and even urgency to own animals that others wouldn't even consider as pets.

Cougars are wild animals, just as the snakes that people keep as pets are wild animals, and my sugar gliders are wild animals, and many other pets that people keep originated in the wild. And generation by generation, perhaps they could be tamed, or even domesticated. It is commonly believed that the further the animal is from a wild parent, the more "domestic" it is. However, one thing that anyone considering such a dramatic purchase needs to consider is that a wild animal will always be wild. They are dangerous. Precautions must be made, and the owner must ensure that they are able to care for a wild animal for the duration of a very long lifetime.

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Big cat ownership is dangerous. There is no question that a person takes a certain amount of risk when they decide to allow exotic animals into their home. When I owned snakes, I was often asked "don't they bite?" And my answer was always, "If it has a mouth, it can, and probably will, bite." The key to taking on a large exotic animal is to know what the risks are and to take precautions. For example, it would be foolish to enter a lion or tiger enclosure alone. A second person is your guard against attack and can help to defend you if an attack does occur.

When someone chooses to take on an exotic animal, such as a pet cougar, they are accepting that there are risks. How much you understand your animal will certainly change your odds of running into problems down the road. Species research and breeder research are absolutely imperative in successful ownership of an exotic animal.

If you are going to own a cougar, or any type of large cat for that matter, a lot of research is required. You cannot slack off on your research! There is a lot of information that you will need to have before you decide to purchase your cougar. Is it legal where you live? What kind of licensing do you need to have? If the laws change, will you be grandfathered in? Do you have enough room for a full outdoor enclosure? What are you going to feed your cat? Do you have enough information on raw nutrition? These are all things that you will need to know in order to help you to deal with the ownership of a cougar (or any exotic pet).

Read, read, read. Some of the links below might help you to make your decisions and learn more about ownership of cougars and other exotic cats.

One note: Find a good exotic animal vet. I'm luck that there is one in town. My first exotic cat will likely be an African Serval and I have been able to confirm that they take them.

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