The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) was passed into law by the United States President, Joe Biden, in December 2022. The BCPSA prohibits the private possession of big cats, including species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, cougar, or any hybrid of these species. Additionally, the BCPSA prohibits direct contact with big cat cubs to curb the growing popularity of the lucrative cub-petting industry among illegal exhibitors, roadside zoos, and circuses (Animal Legal Defense Fund, 2023).
Up until the BCPSA, the United States had banned the transportation of big cats across the United States borders with the Captive Wildlife Safety Act of 2003. The Captive Wildlife Safety Act of 2003 amended the Lacey Act, which made importing, exporting, buying, selling, transporting, or receiving big cats illegal, not addressing breeding and private possession (Jaleel, 2023, p. 25). Furthermore, state and federal authority was distributed between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and State Wildlife Agencies to regulate big cat ownership (Jaleel, 2023, p. 5).
The passage of the BCPSA marks significant progress by the U.S. federal government; however, the Act excludes smaller wildcats and hybrid species—such as bobcats, caracals, lynx, African servals, and Savannah cats—which pose similar concerns as big cats. Social media channels like Facebook and TikTok have fueled the plight of privately owned, small wildcats by featuring adolescent cats in videos wearing stylish collars or curling up with their owner on the couch.
Small wildcat and hybrid laws vary from state to state, and many states allow individuals to own these animals legally. Additionally, breeders and owners falsify documentation to mislead authorities and bypass local ordinances, creating a risk to public safety (Thies, 2022).
Like big cats, small wildcats exhibit natural wild behaviors and strong territorial instincts, which can significantly impact ecosystems. A major concern is their breeding with stray and feral community cats—an issue many neighborhoods already struggle to control. Additionally, most of these wildcat species are not native to North America, making it difficult for them to adapt to local weather conditions. Without proper nutrition, they are more vulnerable to injury, starvation, and other survival challenges. (Thies, 2022).
The key to addressing this issue lies in education and stronger regulations to curb the overbreeding of these animals through future legislation and local ordinances. It’s essential to educate law enforcement and local authorities while collaborating with humane societies to develop effective solutions.
Public awareness is also crucial—empowering individuals to recognize and report exploitative social media content featuring exotic cats and to support petitions that drive meaningful change. Additionally, animal advocates must continue strengthening their partnerships with local and state legislatures, ensuring these relationships can be leveraged for future progress.
As demonstrated by the BCPSA, which required years of advocacy and multiple attempts to pass, change takes time. While it may take years to see improvements in the small wildcat and hybrid crisis, the BCPSA has laid the groundwork by highlighting the dangers of private ownership of these species.
Animal Legal Defense Fund. (2022, December 20). Big Cat Public Safety Act signed into law. https://aldf.org/article/big-cat-public-safety-act-signed-into-law/
Jaleel, H. (2023). Letting the (big) cat(s) out of the bag: A case for federal prohibition of exotic big cat ownership in Pakistan. Journal of Animal & Environmental Law. p. 1-35.
Thies, T. (2022, February 16). Small Cat Crisis: Behind the Beauty [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo9TEm6lerU&t=628s