by Brenda Nelson

Created on: September 05, 2010

Have you ever wanted to own an exotic pet such as a Tiger? Believe it or not but estimates suggest some 10,000 to 15,000 tigers are living as pets within the United States, this is more than are living in the wild. You may also be interested to know many of those animals kept as pets are suffering.  If you are interested in owning a pet tiger there are more than a few things you need to know and consider before venturing further with your desire to own such an extreme pet.

-Carnivores-

All cats are carnivores, and tigers are no exception. There is no commercial diet available for pet tigers as such they are usually fed raw meat, typically horse. Sources of meat in suitable quantities may be hard to find, and of course, will be very expensive.

-Dangerous-

Along with being a carnivore it stands to reason that such large animals are dangerous. Tigers can grow to 11 feet in length (3.3 meters), and can weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms). They are armed with strong teeth and sharp claws. This puts them at a huge advantage over their owners. People have been mauled, and even killed, by their pet tigers.

-Lifespan-

A pet tiger can live upwards of 20 years, making them a long term commitment.

-Caging-

A tiger is by no means a house cat. They need suitable, 100% secure, containment, and this must also prevent trespassers from entering the area where the big cat is kept. The cats enclosure needs to also enrichment items such as trees (or logs), tires, hills, and so on, to prevent the animal from becoming excessively bored. You may note that while you may see tigers loose on television in some celebrity homes, these people typically have additional facilities for the animals when the cameras are not on.

-Natural Behavior-

Tigers are more apt to spray urine to mark their territory, than your regular domestic house cat. This urine has a stronger odor than that of a domestic feline.

-Laws-

Many areas have laws restricting the ownership and trade of tigers as pets. In many places permits are required and an inspection of the facilities must be done on a regular basis.

-Consider the Facts-

Many tigers are up for adoption in exotic pet rescue facilities, these animals are there because their owners were unable to provide a lifetime home for their pets. Many were found in such poor conditions it represented animal abuse. In fact according to Big Cat Rescue (the worlds largest large cat rescue center) between 1999 and 2009 over 1060 big cats were “Unwanted” by their owners. The Rescue was only able to save 79 of them while only 19 more found other Homes. As such it is clear that these pets are not suited for everyone and ultimately pay the price.

-Alternatives-

Rest assured there are other ways of caring for and owning a pet tiger, one is through sponsorship of an animal in the zoo or wild. Or you can adopt a distant cousin of the tiger, a domestic house cat, there are millions in shelters just waiting for a good home right now.

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