Keeping and Caring For Lion as a Pet

Why is having a lion as a pet is so crazy, With the featured movies sensation The lion king, the thought may have entered your mind at one point or another to own a Lion as a pet, or another exotic large cat, as a pet? Their sheer power, beauty, and unmatched athleticism is something truly to behold. Sadly, of the estimated 10,000 captive wild cats pets in the United States, only an estimated 350 are held in registered and accredited zoological facilities.

Private ownership of a lion as a pet is not recommended, and many states have very strict bans or restrictions surrounding the possession of exotic animals. Not only is a lion a wild, endangered species that should be left in nature, but a pet lion has extremely intricate and difficult behavioural, dietary, and exercise needs that must be met in order for the animal to stay happy and healthy.

About the Lion as a Pet

The lion is a large cat of the genus Panthera native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, deep-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called pride. A lion’s pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs.

Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans, the species typically does not.

Read more: Can Gorillas Make Good Pets?

Do Lions Make Good Pets?

So. you want a big cat as a pet? Perhaps a sweet little lion cub that you can cuddle with. There’s nothing that will love you like a lion cub. Or maybe a tame cougar who can stay in your house and sleep on the bed with you. Before you run out and get a lion for pet, there is some important information you should not only know but fully accept.

The first set rule is that “big cat” and “pet” do not belong in the same sentence. Big cats cannot be “tamed” in the common sense of the word. They are, and always will be creatures of the wild.

A lion is not a house cat. It does not stay small forever. In fact, lions and tigers soon begin growing at a rate of five pounds per week. When you finally figure out that you can’t keep it, it is practically impossible to find a home for it other than a cemetery.

So you should first become aware of what private ownership of a pet lion is like. Talk to some people who have big cats. Learn the lengths you must go just to get the proper diet for your cat.

Do you have experience in handling big cats? If not, you shouldn’t even consider ownership. Do you have children? If so, leave this page now. Too many children have been permanently disfigured or killed by their parents’ big cats. Both the children and cats pay for their parents and owners’ stupidity.

This page looks at some of the facts and fantasies of big cat ownership and tells you some of the preparations you should make before obtaining a lion pet.

Can I Own a Lion as a Pet?

Can I own a lion as a pet? First of all, before thinking to own a lion for pet, you should see if it is legal, different states have different laws? Owning a pet lion is considered legal or is unregulated in eight states, all of which have rather lax regulatory laws concerning animal rights in general: North Carolina, Alabama, Delaware, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Fourteen other states require a permit to own a lion pet or any other big cat. Meaning that roughly half of the states accept pet lions on a legal basis.

Can Lions be Friendly?

Can lions be friendly with humans? The thing is that although the lion may be amiable and reliable 90% of the time, he also might get into a snit for some reason and strikeout. And, if he suddenly loses his temper, he can, of course, do terrible damage in seconds.

Or, because of his great strength, the pet lion might hurt someone without ever even intending it or may just for playing because of the power that he has in his body.

Behavior and Temperament

Lion as a pet can be an exciting idea, the Lions are huge, solid, and hazardous felines. They can bring down a 500-pound running gazelle, and are very regional. In the wild, male lions will cover a region of up to just about 40 miles; females cover approximately a seven-mile domain. Guys mark their domains by splashing pee and dropping defecation in essential areas. lions normally carry on with single lives aside from mating and, just every so often, during the introduction of the offspring.

In spite of the fact that lion whelps are little and adorable, in their first year alone they will develop too many pounds and have canine teeth and hooks that are a few inches long. Proprietors can’t declaw any lions, as they utilize their hooks for strolling. Eliminating their enormous teeth would likewise keep them from having the option to successfully eat and process their food.

A long time before their first year, a lion whelp becomes adequately large to push down a grown-up human, and it’s an exceptionally poorly conceived notion to grapple with offspring. Indeed, even their play nibbles can cause genuine harm and kill a human. Numerous lions are cautiously and deliberately prepared to associate with individuals and will go a long time without occurrence, yet you can’t adequately foresee the conduct of a lion—they are still wild creatures on a basic level. Renowned coaches have been battered and killed by their dearest lions, even in the wake of working with them every day for quite a long time.

How Much is a Pet Lion?

Purchasing an lion pet

Exotic cats range in price from a $900.00 Bobcat to $7500.00 for a lion cub.
Most of the mid-size cats, like Servals and Caracals, cost $1700.00 to $2800.00 and Ocelots can run as high as $15,000.00. The more rare the cat, the higher the price. Even though it may be acute and cuddly lion cub right now, within the year they will reach almost their full size and will be spraying (no matter how young you neuter him or spay her) so you must have some things ready when the cat comes home.it is hard to find a lion for sale inside the USA or in any other country.

Lion Pet Cost

One lion can cost you a lot of money. It costs $1000-$3000, depending on lots of factors such as size, gender, age of the panther, and the conditions of the breeder. It might look easy to own one because it’s not that hard to earn $1000. Right? Keep in mind that what will burn your money in the bank is their needs.

Lion pets have many needs to live. You can’t just put your pet lion inside your house. It is dangerous and will make your pet lion uneasy. You need to buy a large space for the cage of your pet lion. When I say large, it means large where they can roam around and still execute some of their wild behaviours.

That is why you can only see a lion in the zoo or a shelter. These establishments have enough money to provide for the different needs of their lions. If you don’t have this kind of money, you can’t own a lion pet. You will just waste the money that you used in getting the a lion as a pet that you want.

Housing Lion as a Pet

Most states have cage requirements of varying standards. In some states, you must have no less than 5 acres if you want to own a big cat. Acreage, where I live, is $100,000.00 per care, but a lot of rural places near you may be as low as $10,000.00 per care. Most states and federal guidelines require then that you have an 8-foot perimeter fence which on 5 acres can easily run $8000.00. You are not allowed to use this outside wall as any part of your cage, so your cage will be another $5,500.00 for small to mid-size cats, like a lynx to $10,000.00 for a lion, leopard or tiger.

You will need a roof to prevent escapes so consider in your design how you will support it. These are just your first year, start-up costs. You will never be able to move with your big cat because the Captive Wildlife Safety Act prohibits moving big exotic pet cats across state lines. Many progressive states are banning the practice of keeping lion kitten captive and you could be investing tens of thousands of dollars and then when your pet dies you cannot buy another one.

Can you Tame a Lion?

Lion taming is the taming and training of lions, either for protection or for use in entertainment, such as the circus. The term often applies to the taming and display of lions and other big cats such as tigers, leopards, jaguars, black panthers, cheetahs, and cougars.

How Dangerous are Lions?

Most lions will only attack a human if they cannot physically satisfy their needs otherwise. lions are typically wary of humans and usually show no preference for human meat. Although humans are relatively easy prey, they are not a desired source of food.

Do Lions kill cats?

Obviously, a tiger or a lion would not eat a cat. They have been evolved to eat specific species so that they will stabilize nature. But a lion or tiger might kill a cat if they have encountered it but won’t eat.

Are Lions good pets?

lions pets are surprisingly easy and inexpensive to purchase as pets. While import and interstate trade are prohibited, they are available in many states from captive breeders. This means it is possible to own a large and powerful carnivore whether or not you are equipped to properly care for them.

Are Lions safe pets?

Keeping lions as Pets. lions are not domesticated cats, nor should they be kept as pets, but many people still care for them as such. It’s problematic to consider keeping a puppy lions or any big cat as a pet, yet thousands are currently kept as pets—more than are left in the wild.

Cat and Lion

All cats, from our own pet moggies to lions and tigers, belong to the same family of animals; the Felidae family. Other felines, such as cougars, leopards, and jaguars, obligate carnivores and eat anything they come across, including house cats. This does not mean they hunt your pet cat. Normally lions and tigers will not eat house cats and in many cases, we have seen cat and lion can be so friendly.

Dogs and Lions

Can dogs get along with lions? Yes. It’s rare if the big cat was raised with the dog. It’s more likely to attack a human than an animal it was raised with. You can never fully predict a wild animals behaviour at any given moment. They’re called “wild” for a very good reason. Once a big cat has reached maturity, all those wild instincts become fully realized.

Real letters from real exotic pet owners:

Hi: I have two male servals, the oldest male who is five urinates and sprays all over the house (although he will use the litter box as well) What do you recommend to remove the smell of cat urine from my home, we have removed all the carpets and now have wood and ceramic tile, but the place smells horrible, I have tried soapy bleach, ammonia, and an enzyme product but cannot find anything that gets rid of the small. The house looks spotless all the time, but just reeks. Can you help me out? I love my cats and never get rid of them for this reason, but I would like to cut down on the stifling odours. Thank you, Cheryl