THE Province is proposing regulation changes that would ban the breeding, sale and future ownership of all non-native and non-domestic cat species.
While lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and cheetahs are already regulated in B.C., other exotic cat species are not, allowing them to be kept as pets. Animal-welfare organizations and wildlife experts with long-standing concerns have called for regulatory measures to address the public-safety and environmental risks posed by exotic cats.
If approved, all exotic and non-domesticated cat species would be added to the list of approximately 1,200 species already designated as “controlled alien species” under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation in the Wildlife Act. This includes, but is not limited to, servals, caracals, ocelots, European and African wildcats, Asian golden cats, fishing cats, jungle cats and marbled cats.
This change would provide consistent and enforceable guidelines to strengthen protections for communities, native wildlife, ecosystems, pets and exotic cats themselves.
It would also allow current owners to keep their exotic cats for the remainder of the animal’s life, provided they apply for a free permit and meet basic care and safety requirements. However, breeding, selling or acquiring new animals from these species would no longer be permitted.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship will continue to engage with the public as the proposed amendments move forward. To ask a question or comment on these proposed changes, email: controlledalienspecies@gov.bc.
MEANWHILE, the BC SPCA says it is encouraging British Columbians to share their feedback on the regulation of all exotic cats. It says that for decades, it and concerned British Columbians have advocated for a ban on importing, keeping, breeding, displaying and selling exotic cats.
“After a major cruelty investigation of a serval cat breeder in 2019 highlighted the issues with exotic cat breeding in B.C., we have been patiently waiting for the provincial government to act. Now we need British Columbians to speak up for exotic cats’ welfare,” says Dr. Sara Dubois. “Even when bred in captivity, exotic cats retain their wild instincts and needs. It is not possible to provide them with good welfare in captivity as pets. We know many are exploitatively bred and sold for up to, and over, $10,000 per kitten.”
Exotic cats’ strong hunting instincts, and their climbing and jumping ability and need for large territories make them inappropriate as house pets. The size and strength of servals and caracals, who can reach up to 40 pounds in weight, present additional health and safety risks for their guardians and members of the public. It is very difficult to meet exotic cats’ nutritional needs in captivity, and they can suffer from debilitating and painful metabolic bone disease if not provided with a proper diet. Finding a veterinarian who can treat these animals is also challenging.
If exotic cats escape from their guardians or breeders, which happens frequently, they pose a risk to other domestic and wild animals, and members of the community. “No one expects a native wild cat like a bobcat or a lynx to make a good pet,” says Dubois. “And these exotic wild cats from Africa, Asia or South America are no different. The novelty of owning a wild animal or the profit that can be made from breeding and selling them does not justify their suffering in captivity or the risk they pose to B.C. communities.”
The BC SPCA is encouraging British Columbians to let the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship know that they support the regulation of all exotic cats by sending a pre-written letter, available on the BC SPCA’s website: https://spca.bc.ca/news/speak-up-for-exotic-cats/
Learn More:
For more information about controlled alien species in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/
