Of course, we all have many questions when first encountering these grand animals. If you have one we haven't answered, let us know, we'll be happy to provide the information we can. To us, the animals are intriguing and we could probably go on for days about the cats, so let's see if these address some of your queries:

General Questions

How has The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary gotten all of its cats?
How many cats do you have? How many different species?
What's the main difference between all of the different types of cats?
What are the natural habitats of the different cats you have?
What's the average life span of the cats?
In what ways are the wild, larger cats like domesticated house cats?

Newborns

What's the size and weight of newborns?
Do they need their mother's milk?
What do the babies eat after that?
Are babies born with their teeth? Do they lose baby teeth and then have permanent teeth? At what age?

Health and Care

Do they go to a regular veterinarian?
Do they have to have a regular check-up?
Do they need shots? If so, for what?
What do they eat, at what age?
Do they ever get the opportunity to hunt fresh meat? Does this harm them?
Does the traveling bother the cats?
Is keeping them in cages on the road bad for them?
What type of accommodations do the cats live in at the current Sanctuary?
How much space does each cat require?
Because they are around humans, at some point, will they need to be declawed?
Are they safe to be around? Will they always be accepting and comfortable around humans?
Do you have to bathe the cats or do they keep themselves clean?

General Questions

How has The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary gotten all of its cats?
Primarily, the adults we have received from a variety of governmental departments when they have confiscated the cats from abusive and/or neglectful situations. The younger cats are mostly the result of our endangered species breeding program. We are very selective about which cats we breed. Back to Top

How many cats do you have? How many different species?
Currently, we have 36 cats on the premises: Siberian tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, and a serval. Back to Top

What's the main difference between all of the different types of cats?
The first point of difference is the scientific designations for big and small cats. Tigers and lions are the only "big" cats. The remainder of the cats: cheetahs, leopards, cougars, etc. are considered small cats. Surprisingly, the DNA patterns are identical for tigers and lions although they come from different continents. A leopard and jaguar are very similar in look although a jaguar is much bigger and more temperamental. In fact, temperament is another characteristic which separates the different species of cats. Jaguars are known to be the most temperamental. But just like people, each cat, regardless of gender, has its own distinctive personality. Back to Top

What are the natural habitats of the different cats you have?
Spotted leopards: cold and dry; Indo-China and Pakistan; Lions: hot, dry or wet; Africa; Mountain Lions/Cougars/Pumas: Tigers: humid, hot and wet; small islands off of Indo-China, and Asia. Back to Top

What's the average life span of the cats?
Twenty-five years for the bigger cats, and fifteen years for the small cats. Back to Top

In what ways are the wild, larger cats like domesticated house cats?
Cats' stereotype for moodiness and sometimes they want to be fooled with, sometimes not. They love playing with balls or rope, pouncing and stalking. Back to Top

In what ways are they not similar to domesticated house cats?
The larger cats are not domesticated, and are not pets, no matter how much someone may try to make them so. They have highly tuned animal instincts that never leave them although they can diminish somewhat. When a domesticated cat gets mad, it's one thing. When a 400-600 lb tiger gets mad, it's completely different. Back to Top

Newborns

What's the size and weight of newborns?
For tigers and larger cats, the newborns are about three pounds, the newborns of the smaller cats are less. Back to Top

Do they need their mother's milk?
Yes, but only for the first forty-eight hours. During that time it is very important in developing their immune system to get the colostrums from their mother's milk. Back to Top

What do the babies eat after that?
They are fed a special food replacer, such as is used for kittens. This continues until they are about two months, when they also start eating some chicken without bones. Then they progress to chicken with bones and at about three a half months to four months, they are eating about a chicken a day. All of this is much easier on their stomach than beef until they are at least nine months old. Also, they receive a treat of formula of raw turkey meat, evaporated milk, and water which is continued for many months. And even, Shirokan, our six year old, still enjoys an occasional bottle. Back to Top

Are babies born with their teeth? Do they lose baby teeth and then have permanent teeth? At what age?
Just like human babies, the cats have two sets of teeth. The first comes in at about four weeks. The second at up to one year old. When does a baby stop growing? The "babies" continue to grow for about three years, at which time they are considered mature. They will continue to fill out for about another six months or so. Back to Top

Health and Care

Do they go to a regular veterinarian?
Yes, although as you can imagine, it's a little difficult to find many vets that are experienced with these types of cats. Back to Top

Do they have to have a regular check-up?
No, not in the traditional sense of domesticated pets but we are always watching over them for anything unusual. Nonetheless, they are better taken care of than domesticated pets. Each animal receives a fecal quarterly which is certainly much more frequent than any house cat. Back to Top

Do they need shots? If so, for what?
Yes, they do get yearly shots. The most important is for feline pano, otherwise known as distemper. In fact, we usually administer the shots ourselves. Back to Top

What do they eat, at what age?
Babies will drink formula and then begin weaning at about six weeks. At full growth, depending on the type and size of cat, small cats eating 3 to 9 pounds beef, chicken, or fish. Big cats eat 10 to 25 pounds beef, chicken, or fish. Puts a small dent in the average family budget. Back to Top

Do they ever get the opportunity to hunt fresh meat? Does this harm them?
Currently not, but it's not something that they miss. In fact, this is one of the reason that the animals' life spans is more than doubled from in the wild. They do not have to compete for food as they would in the wild. Back to Top

Does the traveling bother the cats?
For most cats, the answer is no. However, for those cats that do not like traveling, they will only be shipped in the case of emergency. Back to Top

Is keeping them in cages on the road bad for them?
No, as long as they have ample room to sleep, eat, and exercise, proper shelter, and exposure to the sun, they are happy and fine. The trainers are the ones most likely to suffer from the traveling. Back to Top

What type of accommodations do the cats live in at the current Sanctuary?
We significantly exceed all standards set by the state of Florida for enclosure size. And the cats of The Catty Shack Ranch often get out to play. The cats are grouped by species and gender; hence, there tends to be six to seven groups of four to eight cats each. Back to Top

How much space does each cat require?
In captivity, it's not as much as we are likely to think because in the wild the cats primarily need a lot of roaming space for eating and hunting reasons. Back to Top

Because they are around humans, at some point, will they need to be declawed?
The cats are declawed for their own protection. Due to the specific nature of their metabolisms, it is extremely dangerous to put a cat to sleep to perform surgery. And the cats play so hard with each other that when they're older, they often are hurting each other. Because they have a "second skin", they may not notice the hurts they have but many need up to fifty stitches; thus, requiring the cats to be anesthetized.  Back to Top

Are they safe to be around? Will they always be accepting and comfortable around humans?
The younger they are, the more controllable they are; of course, they are just like kids and very playful. Although better trained, the older they get, the more unpredictable the cats are. Remind you of any adult humans you know? Hence, the younger cats are the ones that travel, which teaches them people-socialization skills. The point to remember at all times is that no matter how "cute" they seem, these are wild animals. Back to Top

Do you have to bathe the cats or do they keep themselves clean?
Sometimes we bathe the cats, but most of the time they keep themselves clean. And of course, because the tigers LOVE water, they are often getting refreshed. Back to Top