It is currently legal to own many species of exotic cats, like servals, leopard cats, caracals, ocelots, and more, as pets in British Columbia. They can be bred, sold and shown off in public without any provincial restrictions. 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.
After strong BC SPCA and public advocacy, big cats such as lions, tigers and leopards were banned as pets under the Wildlife Act’s Controlled Alien Species (CAS) Regulation over 15 years ago. The provincial government is now proposing regulation changes that would ban the breeding, sale and future ownership of all non-native and non-domestic cat species.
The BC SPCA does not support the keeping of wild or exotic animals, including their hybrids, as pets due to the poor animal welfare they experience in captivity and the risks they pose to the health and safety of people, other animals and the environment. The heartbreaking 2019 cruelty investigation of a serval breeder near Kamloops is just one of many exotic pet investigations the BC SPCA has undertaken, witnessing the devasting consequences of a lack of regulations.
The proposed changes to the CAS Regulation would not prohibit owning hybrid cats like Bengals and Savannahs, who are created when an exotic cat is bred to a domestic cat. However, the proposed regulation would prohibit the breeding of exotic cats, so the creation of new, first-generation hybrids would not be permitted. Learn more about wild-domestic hybrid cats.
Your voice matters! Together, we can help ensure that all exotic cats are regulated in British Columbia to prevent their suffering and keep our communities safe.
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.
It is challenging to find veterinarians who can care for exotic cats. Wild and exotic animals hide signs of illness or injury as a natural defense 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.
