Who is Big Cat Rescue?
Big Cat Rescue is the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats. We are home to over 100 lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars and other species most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, saved from being turned into fur coats, or retired from performing acts. Our dual mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in our care and educate the public about the plight of these majestic animals, both in captivity and in the wild, to end abuse and avoid extinction.
Big Cat Rescue is the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats.
The sanctuary began rescuing exotic cats in Nov. 4, 1992. The non profit 501c3 sanctuary is home to more than 100 exotic big cats.
The cats at Big Cat Rescue are here for a variety of reasons, including:
- Abandoned by owners who wrongly thought they would make good pets
- Abused by owners in order to force them to perform
- Retired from performing acts
- Saved from being slaughtered to make fur coats
- Rescued as babies after hunters killed their mothers. See our Bobcat Rehab and Release work
Big Cat Rescue has 14 species of cats, many of whom are threatened, endangered or extinct now in the wild, including:
- Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Cougars
- Bobcats, Lynx, Servals, Ocelots, Caracals, Jungle Cats, Leopard Cats and a Geoffroy Cat
Big Cat Rescue’s dual mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in our care and educate the public about the plight of these majestic animals, both in captivity and in the wild, to end abuse and avoid extinction.
The non-profit organization is:
- Accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries
- Certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity”
- Member of the World Society for Protection of Animals
- Rated 4 Stars by Charity Navigator (their highest rating) and has one of the highest scores of any animal based charity
The sanctuary is situated on 55 acres in the Citrus Park area of north Tampa, Florida.
For much information, including cat laws in the US, education and material for kids, please see:
QCA note: Readers will remember that a special concern for us is Tony the Tiger, incarcerated at a truckstop in wholly inappropriate conditions at Grosse Tete, Louisiana. He was the inspiration for our Sunday Meditation Group, set up by our member Elizabeth Rowland-Elliott of Southport Meeting, and we have joined with US campaigners to appeal for his release.
Please see:
https://quaker-animals.co.uk/2009/healing-meditation-group/
https://quaker-animals.co.uk/2010/tony-the-tiger-in-the-us/
Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue, who gave permission for the report above, provides the latest news on Tony:
http://aldf.org/article.php?id=2233
Panther, courtesy of Ann Johnson
- Leopard by Ann Johnson
Our committee member Ann Johnson writes:
‘These works are made entirely from recycled materials, including old paintings, household paint and also the frames. The Big Cats are made from magazine photographs of animal-print fabrics. I hope these pictures go some way to demonstrate how animal-inspired fabric prints for clothes and interiors are so much more contemporary, vibrant and exciting than items made from real fur and skin.’