Why A Pet Tiger Is Never, Ever, Ever A Good Idea

Earlier this month, the United Arab Emirates outlawed the keeping of wild animals like tigers, cheetahs and lions as pets. Big cats have become surprisingly popular as status symbols in the Middle Eastern nation, and per the BBC, officials are rightfully concerned about the dangers these exotic animals pose.

Interesting enough, the United States has no federal law regulating the ownership of exotic animals. Although a majority of states have bans on individuals keeping big cats as pets, these can be tough to enforce. Only 14 states require a permit (which can be easy or difficult to obtain, depending on your location), and six states don't have any laws regarding exotic pet ownership (looking at you, Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin).

According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are more tigers in American backyards than in the wild. Last year, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s deputy assistant director for law enforcement Edward J. Grace estimated (via Smithsonian Magazine) that the United States is home to more than 10,000 captive tigers. According to the WWF, only around 350 of those tigers are held in facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Attempting to domesticate any wild animal is dangerous business. According to the Humane Society of the United States, four children and 16 adults have lost their lives to incidents involving cats since 1990, and countless others have been paralyzed, mauled, lost limbs or been seriously injured. It's not just the humans who suffer, either — as the HSUS notes, at least 100 big cats have been killed following attacks and escapes.

In addition to the obvious health and safety risks involved, a big cat's captive life isn't particularly pleasant for the animal or its owner. The people at Big Cat Rescue, an animal sanctuary in Tampa, Florida, made a video highlighting the many reasons you don't want a real-life Tony the Tiger as the supersize family pet. Not only is doing so dangerous (see above) and expensive (sanctuaries spend an average of $10,000 a year on medical bills for each tiger), but it's also immoral — when tigers roam hundreds of miles in the wild, living in a cage just doesn't cut it.

Oh, and when you consider that tigers spray urine on anything and anyone to mark their territory, the idea of keeping one at home is also pretty gross.

First Photo Credit: Mathias Appel via Flickr