We did it! As of May 1, 2026, no exotic cats can be bred or transported into British Columbia and exploited for profit. All existing exotic cats, and hybrids up to 4 generations, will have to be permitted under specific conditions and owners have until May 1, 2027 to apply to the Ministry for permits. Today, please join the BC SPCA in thanking the Honourable Randene Neill for moving this change forward. Adding your name to this letter will show her that making this ban a reality over the coming year is important to you!
The BC SPCA would like to thank over 16,000 British Columbians who spoke out against the suffering of exotic cats in captivity as pets, first in 2019 and then again in 2025. After decades of advocacy by the BC SPCA and our dedicated supporters, the Controlled Alien Species Regulation (CAS) was enacted in 2008, but it included only large exotic cats that posed a public safety risk. Now the provincial government has added all exotic cats, including servals, caracals, leopard cats, ocelots and more. This change prohibits transportation and captive breeding, phasing out future private ownership of all non-native and non-domestic cat species as pets.
Exotic cats currently kept as pets will be allowed to stay with their guardians for the remainder of their lives, provided that their guardians obtain a free personal possession permit and abide by basic care and safety requirements. Permitted owners cannot display or have their exotic cats in contact with the public. The ban is intended to ensure that no more exotic cats are brought or born into captivity and forced to live as pets where their needs cannot truly be met. Under the Regulations, the BC Conservation Officer Service will now have the authority to investigate escaped exotic cats, a situation that happens all too often.
The novelty of owning a wild animal or the profit that can be made from breeding and selling them does not justify their suffering in captivity, or the risk they pose to B.C. communities.
There are many concerns with the keeping of exotic cats as pets:
Animal Welfare Concerns
Exotic cats are still wild animals and they suffer in captivity as pets. Domestication takes thousands of years, not just a few generations of captive breeding.
Most people do not have the resources or knowledge to meet exotic cats’ complex physical, behavioural or psychological needs.
It is nearly impossible for exotic cats to express their natural, wild behaviours in captivity. When exotic cats are not free to express their natural behaviours, they may become depressed, destructive or resort to self-mutilation.
Meeting exotic cats’ dietary needs in captivity is challenging, as they are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional requirements. Improper nutrition can lead to painful and debilitating metabolic bone disease, which can cause lameness, spinal fractures, stunted growth and misshapen limbs.
It is challenging to find veterinarians who can care for exotic cats as many vets are unwilling or untrained to treat them. Handling these animals can be dangerous, making even routine exams risky. Wild and exotic animals hide signs of illness or injury as a natural defence mechanism, so they often suffer for a long time before owners even realize they are sick, and at that point it is often too late to save them.
Exotic cats may be abandoned or surrendered when the novelty wears off and the reality of their care needs become unmanageable. Local animal rescues typically lack the resources to care for these animals and sanctuaries are hard to find.
Public Health and Safety Concerns
Exotic cats frequently escape from their owners and breeders. When they’re loose, they are a risk to other domestic and wild animals, and members of the community.
Exotic cats may bond with their owners, but their territorial and defensive instincts mean they can act unpredictably, particularly if they feel threatened, stressed or frustrated.
Both servals and caracals can weigh up to 40 pounds and have a bite force three times greater than a domestic cat, and equivalent to some larger dog breeds.
Environmental Concerns
Removing exotic cats from the wild for the pet trade can damage their natural habitats and threaten the species’ population and survival.
If exotic cats are abandoned or escape from owners or breeders, they may die in the wild or prey on native B.C. wildlife.
