Big Cat Rescue Day Tour

Sightseeing  :  United States  :  Florida  :  Tampa  :  Nature & Wildlife

Looking for something more exciting and adventurous than sitting by the pool all day? Get up close and personal with some of the world's fiercest felines at Tampa's Big Cat Rescue, the world's largest accredited big cat rescue sanctuary. Big Cat Rescue is a nonprofit educational sanctuary devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic (i.e. wild, not domestic) cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats.

The sanctuary is home to more than 100 big cat residents (over 14 different species), giving it the most diverse population of exotic cats in the world. Current residents include familiar species such as lions, tigers, bobcats, leopards, cougars, bobcats, and lynx, as well as more obscure ones such as ocelots, servals, caracals.

Every tour is different than the one before because of the vast number of big cats and all of the things they find to do to amuse themselves. The volunteers spend a lot of time creating enrichment for the cats so that they have something new to play with and you get to watch as they check out a new scent toy or frolic around chasing ice balls. Look up into the trees and see cats sleeping or peek into underground dens and notice glowing eyes peeking back at you.

Your guide will tell you about each species in the wild and the threats and challenges they face for survival. Most of the cats rescued were formerly pets because of the poor laws and lack of information available that would prevent people from making such a big mistake. Find out why it never works out for the person or the cat when you see for yourself that they all spray. Your guide will tell you when you are in a spray zone and when to run!  Children under 10 are restricted from all tours except for the special kids tour, offered on Saturdays.


Kids Tour
Enjoy a tour specifically geared towards the "under 10's". Get an up-close look at the workings of Big Cat Rescue, and learn about the exotic cats and the other animals that reside here.  On this 1-hour wild cat feeding tour, watch big cat keepers feed tigers, leopards, cougars and other feline friends that have been saved from abuse and abandonment — everything from a 30-pound bobcat to a 350-pound tiger. The guide will share the animals’ tales of hardship and triumph, and talk about where they came from, what they eat and how they hunt in the wild.  Your guide will know all the fun facts that you will want to share with your friends. Strollers are allowed, but the terrain is dirt. There are barricades around all of the enclosures to keep little ones out of harm’s way, but parents must keep their children under control.  This tour is geared toward the children to keep them engaged and to feel a part of the tour.