Whether you’re a cat lover or not, big cats are amazing creatures. Their size and strength are something to be admired, but what about their potential for domestication?
As it turns out, there are quite a few big cats that you can domesticate. However, it will take enormous time and effort to achieve that.
This blog post will have a short history of cat domestication, the best big cats you can domesticate, and tips on how to do it.
How Cats Were Domesticated in the First Place
It seems that the first instances of cats living alongside humans date back to the ancient Egyptians, over 2,900 years ago.
At first, they brought these wild cats into homes and farms to help control the rodent population.
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Over time, however, these wild cats and their offspring became more accustomed to human presence and began integrating themselves into Egyptian society. It’s thought that the Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, though there’s still some debate on the matter.
FUN FACT: Interestingly, there’s evidence to suggest that the Egyptians sowed the seeds for cat domestication in other parts of the world.
From there, cat domestication spread throughout Europe and Asia, eventually reaching the Americas. Today, an estimated 600 million domestic cats are in homes worldwide — a testament to their long history as our beloved furry friends.
Cougars
Cougars (Puma concolor) are also known as mountain lions or pumas. Adult cougars typically weigh between 115 and 200 pounds, making them much larger than the average housecat but smaller than lions or tigers.
Cougars are native to North and South America and can be found throughout the continent, from Florida to Alaska.
While owning a cougar may seem like a thrilling experience, it’s important to remember that these animals are still wild at heart. Cougars have sharp claws and teeth and are capable of causing severe injury or even death if they feel threatened.
NOTE: Cougars are not recommended as pets for first-time pet owners or those with small children.
Leopards
Leopards (Panthera pardus) are large cats that weigh between 90 and 200 pounds on average. These spotted predators are found throughout Africa and Asia and prefer to live in wooded areas where they can easily stalk their prey.
Leopards have historically been hunted for their beautiful fur coats, which has led to a decline in their population in recent years.
As with cougars, leopards can make good pets, but only for experienced pet owners who understand how to care for them properly. Like all big cats, leopards require a lot of space (at least 1,000 square feet), plenty of enrichment activities to keep them mentally stimulated, and a diet that mimics their natural diet as closely as possible.
FUN FACT: Leopards are the most skilled big cats at climbing trees. Take a dive into the big cats that climb trees, and why they do so, in my article here.
Servals
Servals (Leptailurus serval) are medium-sized cats that weigh between 20 and 40 pounds on average — making them smaller than most other big cats but still too large to be considered housecats.
These African felines are characterized by their long legs, big ears, and short tail; they’re also excellent jumpers and can leap up to 10 feet into the air! Servals prefer to live in open areas like savannas, where they can hunt small animals like rodents and birds.
While servals do not typically make good house pets (due partly to their hunting instincts), they have occasionally been kept as companions by experienced big cat owners.
Like all big cats, servals need plenty of space to roam, mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored, and a diet that meets their nutritional needs.
Caracals
Caracals (Caracal caracal) are medium-sized cats that weigh between 20 and 40 pounds on average — similar in size to servals. These African felines get their name from the black tufts of hair on the tips of their ears; “caracal” comes from the Turkish word for “black ear.”
Caracals prefer living in dry habitats like deserts or scrublands, where they hunt small animals like:
- rodents
- birds
- reptiles
As well as hunting larger animals like:
- hares
- young gazelles
NOTE: Caracals have occasionally been kept as pets — although this is not recommended since they do not generally make good housemates due to their hunting instincts.
How Can I Domesticate a Big Cat?
First things first — before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to domesticate a big cat, we need to talk about why you should not try to domesticate a big cat. Because, make no mistake, trying to turn a wild animal into a house pet is an incredibly dangerous undertaking that could result in severe injury or even death.
So, please — for the sake of both you and the animal — only attempt to domesticate a big cat if you have experience working with large animals, are prepared to commit to years of training, and are ready to take on all of the financial responsibility that comes with owning a wild animal.
With that said, let’s move on…
The process of domesticating a big cat is going to be different for every individual animal.
After all, every big cat has its unique personality, temperament, and set of needs. That being said, there are some basic steps that all would-be big cat owners should follow.
#1: Earn the Animal’s Trust
This is going to be the most critical step in the entire process. You need to gain the trust of the animal before you can even begin thinking about training it.
You can do this by:
- Establishing regular feeding times.
- Providing enrichment activities (like playing with toys or climbing structures).
- Spending time each day slowly getting the animal used to your presence.
#2: Train the Animal
Once you’ve earned the animal’s trust, you can start working on basic obedience training commands like:
- sit
- stay
- come here
Again, this will be a slow process — don’t expect your big cat to respond ideally to commands after just a few days, or even weeks, of training.
TIP: Be patient, stay consistent, and reward your furry friend with treats or affection whenever they do something right.
#3: Get Them Spayed or Neutered
This step is essential for two reasons:
- It will help reduce aggression levels in your big cat
- It will help control their population if they happen to escape into the wild (yes — even after all your hard work domesticating them, there’s always a chance they could escape)
Spaying or neutering also has health benefits for your big cat, so it’s a win-win situation.
#4: Keep Them Healthy
Once you’ve successfully domesticated your big cat, it’s essential to keep them healthy by:
- providing them with good food
- taking them for regular vet checkups and
- ensuring they get enough exercise to keep their weight down and their muscles toned
Final Thoughts
It’s no wonder so many people are fascinated by big cats and want to keep them as house pets. These animals have a long history with humans, and they can make excellent companions if you’re willing to spend the time and effort to domesticate them.
However, it’s crucial to remember that big cats are still wild animals at heart, and you should approach them cautiously.
Keep these tips in mind if you want to safely domesticate a big cat for yourself and your family. If you need more big cat resources, follow our blog!
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