Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Jacksonville, Florida, serving Duval, Saint Johns, Clay, Nassau, and Baker counties. We are also proud to be a top destination for many national and international visitors. We are humbled and honored to be Trip Advisor’s #1 attraction in Jacksonville.
The mission of Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is to provide a safe, loving and forever home to endangered big cats and to educate the public about their plight in the wild and in captivity. Our primary focus is in the rescue of exotic animals from serious situations. Once an animal arrives at Catty Shack Ranch, they have a loving, forever home for life. We do not breed, trade, sell, or buy any of our residents. Our current residents include tigers, lions, pumas, leopards, lynx, foxes, and coatimundis (the last two species being “honorary cats”).

It all started about 40 years ago with our Executive Director/Curator Curt LoGiudice. Curt began by training police dogs and then started working with exotic animals in 1982. He acquired his state license in 1984 and his federal license in 1992. In 1994, The Florida Panther Project asked Curt to be their representative in Jacksonville for educational presentations about endangered panthers. His rescue mission had begun.
Curt continues to learn from veterinarians caring for Catty Shack Ranch’s resident animals, attends conferences in the exotic animal industry, and attends meetings with the Fish and Game Commission in Florida. Curt also works with the USDA and state officials when accepting animals. Most importantly, he has earned the respect of the animals in his care and the mutual respect is obvious to anyone watching!

Day tour only - no expiration date