Having Tiger as a Pet

Tigers cannot be domesticated as cats. The six surviving species (the three remaining) of tigers should not be kept as pets. A majority of US states have banned the keeping of tigers as pets. There are currently a majority of states in the US that ban big cat species from being kept as pets. Tigers, which are massive, strong, fanged predators, eat hundreds of pounds of meat each day. They also require expensive, high-security enclosures. The danger of an attack is far more dangerous than any benefits. This makes tigers ineligible for pet ownership at any age. Here are some details about how these large cats live alongside humans if you are interested.

Behavior and Temperament
The tigers are powerful cats. Tigers can easily take down 500-pound running antelopes. They are also strong swimmers and territorial. Wild tigers cover an area of approximately 40 miles, while females can cover around seven miles. To mark their territories, male tigers spray urine and drop feces in strategic areas. Tigers usually live in solitude, except for mating and the birth of cubs.

Although cubs of tiger are cute and small, their first year will see them grow to several hundred pounds. They cannot be declawed by owners as they use their claws to move. They would be unable to properly eat or digest their food if their large teeth were removed.

Housing the Tiger
Many acres are required for tigers to thrive. Tigers can climb, swim, and jump their way out from many enclosures designed to protect them. Because they associate humans with food delivery, tigers have been known to escape from zoos or private properties. Tigers can roam over miles of land in the wild. To be secure from the outside world and keep humans away, a large area of fenced land is necessary.

Even in a large enclosure, the owner must offer enrichment opportunities. The predator brains of tigers must be used to catch, jump and climb. A bored Tiger will not only become a tiger but also make them feel happy. Many zoos offer large plastic balls to tigers that they can jump on in the pools. There are also hanging containers with food inside and large tree limb area areas for them to climb on. Without complex enrichment strategies, tigers can become bored and suffer from medical depression.

Water and Food
Many factors affect the amount of food a tiger needs. For example, a male tiger might eat up to 88 pounds of meat. An adult tiger could also eat gazelle, water buffalo, and deer.

According to Smithsonian National Zoo’s tigers, they eat mainly ground beef. Their diet includes non-live rabbits and cow femurs as well as knucklebones and cow femurs.

Common Health Problems
The Big Cat Rescue organization warns that it can be difficult to find a veterinarian willing to take care of a tiger, regardless of age. The rescue organization also reported that 98% of all wild big cats species die within 2 years of being brought into captivity. Cats also suffer from feline distemper, rabies, and other diseases. These diseases can be fatal and every tiger must be immunized.

Feline immunodeficiency virusĀ is the feline counterpart to the human immunodeficiency virus. FIV, unlike its human counterpart, can be completely treated with treatment. FIV can make an animal vulnerable to other contagious diseases and weaken its immune system if it is not treated.

FeLV, which is more severe for cats, can also be transmitted to tigers. This virus can cause anemia in cats and chronic infections. FeLV can usually be treated. However, if the virus is allowed to grow into full-blown cancer, it is almost always fatal.

Is it legal for a pet Tiger to be kept?
There are restrictions in most states on exotic pets. This includes big cats. 35 states prohibit large cats and 21 states ban dangerous exotic pets. Before you try to buy a tiger or other big cat, check out the laws in your region.

Information about Tigers’ Attacks
The majority of reported attacks on tigers in America were serious. Less frequent non-lethal maulings are possible. About 260 exotic cat attacks that led to injuries were reported as fatal or severe. About 50 percent of all the reported feline attacks occurred from just one genus, the tigers.

Over the same period, statistics have shown that private menageries and unaccredited facilities are at the greatest risk of sustaining fatal injuries or attacks. Attacks on accredited institutions were also quite common, even from trained performing animals. These attacks could occur during shows or when the animal is taken out for a walk near the public. Safety concerns about big cats in the United States were enough to get legislators across the country to adopt laws that ban the ownership of tigers.