An Inquiry into the Nature of Communication Between Humans and Exotic Cats

DATA

Table of Contents

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Data

• Results

• Discussion

• Credits

• About the Author

Table 1

    Tiger Touch was established in 1997 in Fallon, Nevada.  Ten cats currently reside there, two tigers, two lions, two cougars, two bobcats, a Siberian lynx, and a serval.  Two staff members stay on the premises twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  Primary roles of the staff are to monitor the cat's progress, prepare food and feed the cats, and tend to the daily activities of care required for the compound.  The diet of the cats consists primarily of chicken leg quarters, complimented by high quality beef products.  Most cats receive a processed zoo food called Mazuri, and all cats receive a proprietary nutritional supplement known as Grrreen Magic.

    Thunderhawk Big Cat Rescue was established in 1996.  It has two facilities in Brevard County, one of which is in Cocoa, the other of which is further south in Palm Bay.  The Cocoa facility was the prime location for the study.  Twenty-three cats reside at this facility: twenty tigers, two lions, and one leopard.  Thunderhawk also cares for a number of reptile species and local wildlife that requires assistance.  At least one person is present at the compound most hours of the day, though the staff expands and contracts depending on individualized work schedules.  Special projects requiring more staff and public education shows can have in excess of ten staff members present.  At the compound, the staff prepares food and feeds the cats, tends to the daily activities of the compound, and monitors the cats.  During shows, staff can be responsible for handling and feeding cats, cleaning cages, playing with the cats, or maintaining security.  The diet at Thunderhawk consists of a variety of meat, including chicken (whole, quarters, or wings), pork shoulder butts or picnics, horsemeat with charcoal, or ground meat in five-pound tubes.

An itemized list of significant activities required for care is listed in Table 2.

Table 2

     Both compounds required some clean up of the enclosure.  Clean up normally consists of removing solid waste, washing feeding pans, and examining the compound for signs of wear and tear.  Water is an essential component of life, and is replaced at least daily for all the cats involved.  Food preparation happens on a daily basis.  Because of the volume, food preparation begins the day before at the Thunderhawk compound whereas Tiger Touch food preparation is normally done the morning-of.  No cats are transferred from their enclosures at Tiger Touch.  Several of the cats stay in indoor enclosures for the night at Thunderhawk and are returned outside each morning to allow those cages to be cleaned.  As a result, there is an added step of laundering and disinfecting those indoor areas soiled by the cats.

    Visual examination, defined as brief observation of the cat for any signs of abnormality without the use of contact, occurs at both compounds regularly.  Staff members look for cuts or scrapes, signs of conflict between cats, and behavioral abnormalities.  Physical examination is defined as the observation of a cat by physical touch—not necessarily a formal examination, but involving observation through play, friendly contact, or other touch.  The smaller cats of Tiger Touch, serval and lynx, are most often receive physical examination due to their close living quarters with their companion humans.  Physical examination occurs with most cats at the Thunderhawk compound, whether during enclosure shifts or other play.

    Due to the extreme temperatures associated with the desert at Tiger Touch, the outdoor tiger required spray-downs of water to help them keep cool.  This was avoided at Thunderhawk since the cats had access to tubs that they could completely submerge in.

Table 3 summarizes the level of observation or participation at each site.

Table 3

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