Big Cat Rescue is often referred to as Tampa's best kept secret. It is unlike any tourist attraction. This is one of the most fun things to do in Tampa. Here you can see behind the scenes operation of the world's largest accredited big cat rescue facility in action.

Big Cat Rescue, a non profit educational sanctuary, is 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, and to educating the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity and in the wild. 

The sanctuary houses the most diverse population of exotic cats in the world, with 14 of the 35 species of wild cat represented among more than 100 residents.  These include tigers, lions, leopards, cougars, bobcats, lynx, ocelots, servals, caracals and others, many of whom are threatened, endangered, or now extinct in the wild.

The sanctuary began in 1992 when the Founder, Carole Baskin, and her then husband Don, mistakenly believing that bobcats made good pets, went looking to buy some kittens.  They inadvertently ended up at a “fur farm” and bought all 56 kittens to keep them from being turned into fur coats. 

In the early years, influenced by breeders and pet owners, they believed that the cats made suitable pets and that breeding and placing the cats in homes was a way to “preserve the species.”  Gradually they saw increasing evidence that not only was this not the case, but that it was leading to a consistent pattern of suffering and abuse.   

Today the sanctuary is devoted to its Vision of a world where animals are treated with respect, and its Mission of providing the best possible home for the animals in our care and trying to stop the flow of animals needing sanctuary by educating the public about the plight of the animals and supporting stronger laws to protect them. 

They offer guided tours on Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. and again at 3:00 p.m. for adults and children 10 and over. These are walking tours and take about an hour and a half and the cost is $25.00 per person. On Saturday they offer tours at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. for adults and children 10 and over. These are walking tours and take about an hour and a half and the cost is $25.00 per person.