While visiting Tampa, Leopard Lady stopped in at the Big Cat Rescue
www.bigcatrescue.org
for a 3 hour private tour.
Click images to enlarge
We almost missed the street or should I say path to turn down into the Big Cat rescue. It was long narrow dirt road with foliage on either side. We pulled up to a giant locked
gate, where there was a big bell to ring. Someone came and greeted and unlocked the gate
and let us in. We were greeted by a gal named Cara (pictured on the left).
She was very sweet. She took us through the gift shop and out the back door. My eyes were darting everywhere as I started
to see the first glimpses of the "cat-a-tats". These are were the big cats are housed. Big wire pens. There was a golden leopard to my right that was sleeping in the brush that I almost missed. Cara was very knowledgeable and told us all about each breed, and Barbara assisted with giving the cats "treats" on our way. We came upon some beautiful lynx's and Leopard Lady's heart started racing.
They were so gorgeous. But one of my most memorable stops was the very first cage we stopped at. Which is where Jimangi lived. He is a drop dead gorgeous black leopard with huge green eyes. His fur glistened in the sun, and actually looked like a deep dark chocolate brown and you could clearly see his spots. Cara our guide was flirting with him and he turned over on his back just like a real kitty and started going after his back foot and tail. He was beyond gorgeous! I just wanted to hug
him!
But of course none of the workers are allowed in ANY of the cat cages, so certainly we were not allowed to touch. These cats are wild, no matter how cute they look. And speaking of wild, one visit to the ocelot pens reminds you that these cats are indeed wild in every aspect. The ocelots constantly growled at us and they kept "marking" their territory as they paced back and forth. This constant "marking" was QUITE the pungent smell! The strongest I have EVER smelled.
Pushing on....
Bridgette joined us towards the end of the tour, another sweet gal, we talked many times on the phone prior to my visit. ( pictured on right in the top pic). We were looking at some of the other cats when we noticed a worker walking by and on his daily routine and walking by the snow leopards cat-a-tat, and the snow leopard leapt up and scaled half of the length of the cage trying to go after this worker. It was an awesome sight to see with his LONG fluffy tail trailing behind him. His paws were ENORMOUS. Like giant pads of fluff. The worker quipped " I can't tell if he likes me or hates me". The snow leopard has part of his pen outside and an air conditioned "cave" within the pen when it gets hot outside. Being in Florida, I am glad we went in February so we were able to catch him outside as it was cool out that day. Snow leopard's can only drink spring water by the way! Check out Big Cat's Snow Leopard Trust! It is a fabulous cause! And you can help! I bought some Christmas ornament gifts and a long sleeve shirt for the cause. It is a very interesting Trust to read about.
You can help too!
Now I can't tell you every cat we saw, but some of the memorable ones were Buffy the tiger
(who my son picked to sponsor for a year, read all about sponsorship on their web site)
Buffy "chuffed" at us and was very chatty. A real handsome tiger. Very friendly. Buffy was
an ex-Ringling Brothers performer and perhaps he was at tad more used to people. I was
pleased to hear that Ringling Brothers is housing two of its retired cats at Big Cat.
Although I wish they would completley stop having big cats perform in their shows. They are
noble beasts and where not put on this earth to perform degrading tricks for humans. Please
do not support their shows until they cease and desist on having big cats in their shows.
As a matter of fact I dropped them a line recently to let them know how I felt.
Getting back to my visit, I was delighted to see Tonga who is an all white serval. There
are only 2 all white servals in the world, and Big Cat has them both. They also have many
golden servals housed at Big Cat. Servals unfortunately are one of the cats that people think
they can have as pets, probably because they are a smaller cat. They get them as kittens
and when they become to difficult to handle, and then the people can no longer care for
them. They are WILD and should not be in anyone's home or a pen in the backyard. It is a
terrible life for them. Now if you do not recognize all these big cat's names, head on over
to the big Cat site, they have plenty of pictures to show you all these lovely cats.
Another favorite cat of mine was Flavio. He was very chatty also and he had beautiful
markings. The cougar cubs who are now over a year old, where so pretty and they were lazing
around in the sun. One was upside down on his back with all fours up with one fang sticking
out of is mouth. Just adorable. Towards the end of the tour we met Shere Khan and China
Doll. Two more outrageously beautiful tigers. They have extremely LARGE pens with woods and
even a pond for them to go in. They have the largest pens because they were the very first
residents at Big Cat. Shere Khan was not in the mood to come and say hi, but I can see him
way in the back amongst the trees sitting very regally. Thank God I had my binoculars. I
almost gasped when I saw his size! his head was ENORMOUS. He is an 800 pound beauty. A
Bengal and siberian tiger mix. Believe it or not he was originally a "throw away" cat. And
was in dyer straights when he arrived at Big Cat And Big Cat brought him back to health.
Please read about "throw away" cats on their site. It will blow your mind. Everybody should
be educated on this matter, but few people are. I myself always thought white tigers where
just white tigers. I had no idea they were "mutants" from cross breeding. The entertainment
industry always wants the white tigers because they are the public's favorite. And if they
are born golden... so many are THROWN AWAY! Can you imagine that??
Well, on a better note, please if you are in the Tampa area, or just plan a trip to go to
Tampa, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the Big Cat Rescue. It is something
different. They have many different tours to pick from. All these tours are listed on
their web site. Or perhaps attend their "Fur Ball" in October. A great benefit sponsored by
Jaguar of Tampa! I hope to make it there myself this year if I can. Sounds like a
grrrrrreat time! And if you can't visit the cats in person then please visit their web site
and meet the cats. I have included some pictures( which are not very good) of some of the
cats.
Go here: www.bigcatrescue.org
Oh! and please do not support roadside places that offer for you to take a picture of you
and a big cat, do not buy "Wild" mix cats from breeders, or swim with the dolphins when on
vacation, (especially in Mexico, the way they obtain them is horrific) or bullfighting, or
zoos that do not house animals correctly, state or town fairs that have animals that should
not be in a fair,(I saw one fair that had a camel in a tent in 95 degree weather,
ridiculous) OR the circus, OH! or the rodeo (for ones that have bull riding) Ok, I have
said my peace, it's not everything, but its enough! Leopard Lady
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