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You say you want a tiger??
Tigers can grow to weigh between 350 and
500 pounds, and can live to be over 20 years of age. The cub
stage doesn't last long, since they grow at a rate of about 10
pounds a month. As young adults, they begin to urinate to mark
territory, including their bedding. In fact they love to mark
fresh, clean bedding. Their urine is tacky and very pungent,
and often times pointed at people, too.
Tigers eat meat, period. They don't
eat hot dogs and can't live on chicken alone. Tigers need red
meat such as beef, bison, or venison. In a year, an adult
tiger can eat 1.5 to 2 tons of meat. Vitamin supplements may
also be required, depending on the quality of meat you can provide
and how well the cat was nourished as a cub.
Tigers can kill. These natural
predators are one of nature's best-designed killers, and humans are
attacked every year - both in captivity and in the wild. Roy
Horn. Need we say more?
In order to truly bond with a tiger, you
have to live, eat and breath it every day. EVERY
day. No vacations, no separation of tiger home and your
home. No time to work a job elsewhere. No family and
friends allowed. People who have shown off their ability to
truly bond with tigers (Roy Horn, et al.) have dedicated their
entire lives to those animals, living with them -
literally. For every one of those unique situations, there are
thousands of others that fall far short of that dream, causing
officials to confiscate, and sanctuaries to rescue, tigers from back
yards every day.
In 2003, the United States federal
government signed a new bill into law that makes it illegal to sell
big cats to be kept as pets, and makes it illegal to own them as
pets. If an owner does not hold proper USDA licensing, and
local required permits, the fines are substantial and the cat will
be confiscated. This is the first federal law ever to address
the exotic pet trade in our country. Additional laws vary by
state, county and city. Some states and local governments ban
exotics entirely.
So is owning a tiger fun? If you
think fun is never again taking a vacation, perhaps. Over the
next 20 years, if you're properly caring for your tiger, it will
bond with you as it's keeper. No one else will be able to
safely feed it, give it medical attention, or clean up after
it. When it does need medical attention, good luck finding a
'local' veterinarian willing to help. Most are not trained or
equipped to handle treating a tiger. When you're lucky enough
to find one, it may be quite expensive.
The outcome of keeping big cats as pets is
often isolation. Isolation from loved ones, neighbors,
friends, and others who lack your extreme passion for animals.
If you are alone in your desire to
own a tiger, understand you may be even more alone once you have
one.
An ideal tiger habitat will be include lots
of greenery and a water feature. (Tigers will defecate
and urinate in their water feature, so be ready to clean it
frequently!) Real grass and dirt, not concrete, and plenty of room to stalk
and jump and hide are essential. Boomer balls and shelter are
important features, too. Depending on where you live, winter
quarters may be needed. And in the event of needing medical
treatment, a means of locking down the cat and transporting it
safely are a must. Just to clarify, people's homes, garages,
apartments, and caravans do not a good tiger home make.
If
you still want to be involved with tigers...
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here.
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You say you want a tortoise??
Though only about the size of a 50-cent
piece when purchased, an African spur-thigh, or sulcata tortoise
can grow to weigh nearly 200 pounds and be around 30 inches in
diameter. Even more astounding is that they can live upwards
of 80 years! Are you ready to put your new pet tortoise into
your will for others to inherit and care for when you're
gone?
Though not especially smelly, the fecal
matter, when not disposed of in a timely manner, will stink.
And they will defecate daily! They also urinate, of course, and
bedding and substrates will have to be changed out regularly to keep
from becoming smelly and for good health.
Providing the correct diet for the tortoise
will be your biggest challenge. Commercial feeds, though
available, won't alone make for a healthy tortoise. Research
and experience will help, but even the research can be confusing
because of so many differing opinions. Whatever the case, it
will cost money to buy the right ingredients. And if you have
any nutritional problems, your tortoise will need medical
attention. Mouth rot, funguses and other problems are pretty
routine with many reptiles. Will you have an experienced vet
who can help?
Tortoises aren't lethal, but they aren't
that exciting either. Unlike cats, dogs and other domestic
animals, tortoises aren't likely to really bond or exhibit a lot of
personality. In fact, they can be pretty boring
animals.
Though it's not illegal to have a tortoise
as a pet, consider what contributing to the pet trade is
doing. Where once there were several hundreds of thousands of
African tortoises living wild across the desert, there now are only around
25,000. These animals have been poached for the pet trade for
the past 15 years and now they are in grave danger of eventually
disappearing forever. On a more local note, sanctuaries are
getting calls every week from people trying to place tortoises they
bought, but now don't want. Hundreds of them!
Will your friends and family be willing to
clean up after a tortoise? Will they know how to feed it
properly? In other words, will they cover for you if you want
to take a vacation? Ignorance can lead the people around you
to refusing that responsibility. You may be alone in wanting
to care for your pet tortoise.
Such a potentially large animal will need a
lot of floor space, and a special substrate - not concrete or carpet
or linoleum. It will need lots of heat, like desert heat,
and water to wade safely in. And when it eats, it grazes, so
it will like having food available all day to munch on. It
also needs ultraviolet light, like that from the sun, but
year-round. So when it can't graze outdoors (be careful, they
can move quickly and become lost quickly) it will still need the UV
rays.
These tortoises are not like our native
turtles, so research, research, research.
If
you still want to be involved with tortoises...
Click
here.
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You say you want a macaw?
Thousands upon thousands of these amazing,
beautiful birds die each year being illegally transported into the
states and abroad for the pet trade. Dozens of species of
macaws are now endangered due to disappearing habitats in their
native South America, and because of the continued illegal
poaching. If that alone doesn't turn you off, read on for more
facts...
Macaws vary in size by species, but are
among the largest of the rainforest birds. Their large beaks are
incredibly strong, capable of snapping off human's fingers quickly
and easily. They can live quite old, reaching 50-60 years of
age isn't uncommon in captivity. Not only will your bird be a
member of your family, you quite literally will need to consider
putting it in your will and making sure someone is there to care for
it if it outlives you.
Though not especially smelly, birds do
come with a distinct smell. And they are MESSY! Macaws
love to make messes because doing so draws attention and is just plain fun
for them. If you are attracted to macaws because of their
beauty, you may be disappointed when you see how messy your
beautiful house may become. If you already have trouble with
even the mildest asthma, birds in your home will make it much
worse... for some it's unbearable. And these birds are noisy, too.
Full of character and always wanting to be the center of attention,
macaws will scream their guts out when the doorbell rings, phone rings,
or you're in the other room 'ignoring' them.
Providing the correct diet for the macaw
will be a challenge. Commercial feeds, though available, won't
alone make for a healthy bird. These birds require fresh fruit
and vegetables regularly and love nuts, too. Unfortunately,
feed will cost a pretty penny, and must be kept on-hand, and fresh.
Though a macaw is probably incapable of
killing you, it can do serious damage none-the-less. Many
macaws just have attitude! Are you prepared to make the bird
the center of your life? That's what it will expect. If
you think owning a dog is a lot of work, wait until you have your
macaw... it not only expects your attention, it will lash out at you
when it doesn't get what it wants.
It's not illegal to own a macaw. But
it's wise to research if you buy your macaw from a commercial seller
to help ensure you're not contributing to the illegal pet trade.
Also consider liability... what if your bird hurts someone
else? Are you willing to risk having people lose not just
buttons from their clothes, but perhaps fingers?
Will your friends and family be willing to
help you care for your bird? Will any of them willingly
inherit it when you're gone, or will they be forced to find a new
home for a member of your family? If they find a new home,
will it be treated as well as you intend? Will they know how
to feed it properly?
Such a large bird will need a lot of space
and enrichment. It will need to be kept warm, with relatively
high humidity, like the rainforest. It will need water to bath
in and drink - changed daily. It will also need
ultraviolet light, like that from the sun, but year-round. Your
bird, like a dog, will need attention, affection, a proper diet,
exercise, toys, and more... and without it, it will become mean,
aggressive, and can become ill.
If
you still want to be involved with macaws...
Click
here.
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You say you want a bobcat?
Bobcats, though small and reminiscent of
domestic cats, can reach weights of up to 45 pounds. Their
typical lifespan is 12-18 years. They are nocturnal, and will
be most interested in exploring and trying to hunt at night.
If you aren't a night owl, you will have to become one to live with
a bobcat.
Even when compared to tigers and lions,
bobcats and their homes are stinky! These cats are adamant
about marking territory and will urinate and rub on everything in
their midst to claim it. Neutering and spaying will not
eliminate this natural behavior.
Bobcats are carnivores. In the wild,
they eat mostly rodents such as rabbits and mice, as well as birds
and other small mammals. There are specific nutrients in this
natural prey that a diet of only red meat will not provide, often
times making supplements a necessary part of a captive diet.
Commercial feeds are expensive, and it can cost a lot, too, to buy
the meat they require. Chicken alone will not suffice if you
want a healthy cat.
A bobcat probably won't ever kill you, and
if you respect their warnings, you may even avoid injury
altogether. However they do have long claws and pretty large
teeth, so bites and scratches will be a way of life if you intend to
interact. Like domestic cats, they can be feisty, territorial
about food, and lash out when least expected. But, unlike
domestic cats, they are larger and inherently wild at
heart.
It may be against regulations to own a
bobcat, depending on where you live. These cats are endangered
in some states in the United States and capturing one in the wild
might be a serious crime.
Anyone who owns a bobcat will probably tell
you they love their cat. They love seeing it play and love
that such a large cat can purr and seem affectionate. But
spending a few days in their shoes may paint a more complete and
different picture. Owners have been known to sacrifice whole
portions of their house, or build on habitats to their home. Outdoor fences may have to be built so the cat can be
outside, where it really belongs and thrives.
Winter shelter, woods, and lots of places
to hide are essential. Indoors, closets and other hideaways
can become dens, where the cat will hide all day long, bounding out
only at nightfall when it's hoping to find prey to hunt and
kill. These natural instincts are not taken away just because
a human steps in.
Do you have family or friends that will
care for a bobcat when you're away? It's asking a lot of them
if you do. Bobcats aren't like domestic cats that may tolerate
strangers. Your bobcat may feel threatened by strange people and
quickly become aggressive or bound past them out the door,
potentially lost forever.
As with many non-domestic animals, finding
the proper vet care may be a challenge, too. It is not
generally a popular or accepted notion to house native wildlife
unless you are rehabilitating them to re-release into the wild or
are a licensed zoo or sanctuary. What you think is cool may be
a big turnoff to others around you. Is that the fun you
anticipate?
If
you still want to be involved with bobcats...
Click
here.
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You say you want a monkey?
Depending on the species of monkey, you may
be looking at an animal that will see you as a member of their
family for its lifetime, which can range up to 30 years. A rhesus macaque monkey,
for example, will weigh up to 45 pounds at adulthood and require
total social bonding for it's entire life in order to be healthy and
fulfilled.
Monkeys are probably among the most
fascinating creatures to humans because they are so
human-like. Physically, that's amazing, but socially, it's a
very challenging reality. The most disgusting, ill-mannered,
mean, silly, and/or athletic person you can imagine cannot compare
to what you could be in for if you try to keep a monkey as a
pet. Throwing feces, urinating in all directions, pinching,
biting, scratching... are all part of being a monkey. And with a
monkey comes a lot of mess and, typically, a lot of odor.
The dietary requirements of a primate are
similar to that of humans. Although hopefully, when not
given a choice, the selections provided to a captive primate will be
more responsibly selected for good health. A balanced diet of
fruits, vegetables, breads, proteins, and plenty of fluids is
essential. Providing such a diet can be costly, and because
monkeys can suddenly turn into picky eaters, waste can be costly,
too.
Only the largest primates, such as the
great apes, would probably be considered lethal, though even the
smallest capuchin monkey can be really nasty. Monkeys can
throw temper tantrums that equal that of a two-year-old human child,
but they're potentially a lot more dangerous. Some species of monkeys
have canine teeth that equal that of a large dog, with jaws even
stronger. Long, strong fingers and fingernails can do serious
damage. And when in a rampage, it may not only be you they
attack, it may be your home and your belongings.
Laws regarding ownership vary, but it is
illegal in many places to own primates, and very difficult,
naturally, to buy them legally. There are reasons behind such
laws, so it pays to research and understand why.
It makes sense that many monkeys are owned
strictly for commercial purposes. When an animal can make
someone a lot of money, that person is more likely to put up with
the hassles of ownership. And even the most passionate owners
will probably admit that caring for their keep is not a bowl of
cherries, even on the best of days.
Providing really proper housing is almost
impossible. When one considers a monkey's natural habitat,
it's quite diverse. Trees, water, grasses, vines, and such are
what keeps them entertained. Matching that enrichment is the
biggest challenge you'll face. And a mad or bored monkey is not fun!
What many people don't realize is that most
primates will only bond with one human being. Though they're
social by nature, they typically will only come to trust one
person. So expecting someone else to try to care for the
monkey or enjoy relating to it will be a letdown at least. Not
only is that unfair to the monkey, it can quickly take the wind out of
your sails when you can't share the joy of your bond.
As with many non-domestic animals, finding
the proper vet care may be a challenge, too. Capturing,
transporting, and asking anyone else to work on a sick primate is a
tough proposition. And remember, you may have this animal for
the next 20-30 years... are you really prepared?
Click
here to read about one pet monkey's life story.
If
you still want to be involved with monkeys...
Click
here.
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