Kitty cats become obsessed as soon as a Christmas tree is placed within their territory – sorry – your home. Whether it’s the ornaments or having a bit of nature inside, the tree can serve as anything from a new climbing structure to endless entertainment.
Guess what! Big cats are just as obsessed over conical-shaped pine trees. In fact, the folks over at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jacksonville, Florida, love to provide their lions, tigers, and other big cats with seasonal toys. Drop off your Christmas tree, if you’re in the area, and make a big cat very happy. It’s a great way to recycle your tree!
Out on a Limb
All cats are great climbers. Once they scramble to the highest point, on the other hand, their skill level plummets. There is a reason firemen are known for rescuing pet cats from trees. Big cats get trapped in trees, too, just as our wayward mountain lion has. Yet trees are an ideal place for napping, stalking prey, or devouring the latest kill without having to share it with scavengers.
Only cheetahs cannot climb trees. As the only cat without fully retractable claws, their semi-retractable nails are not made for climbing. But they are made for sprinting. Cheetahs are the world's fastest animal, hitting top speeds of 75 mph. Interestingly, the cheetah is also the only wildcat that can purr but not roar.
Tiger Temple
This tiger looks happy enough, lapping up some food from a monk's bowl. Tiger Temple, located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, doesn’t have a stellar reputation. It’s true that Thai monks have taken in rescue tigers, but, unfortunately, it has been to exploit the creatures. Asians have a deep and long-held respect for tigers, and Tiger Temple charges an admission fee to see them.
Based on a report of the care the animals received, 39 groups, including the Humane Society International and the WWF, sent a letter urging the National Parks of Thailand to take a stand against the treatment of the tigers. Tiger Temple is accused of mistreating the beasts. Tiger Temple was also accused of secret illegal breeding. In 2016, the Thailand Wildlife Conservation Office began shutting down the facility and investigating it for alleged wildlife smuggling.
King of the Wheelbarrow
There's an age-old saying, "If I fit, I sit," that cats will live and die by. This is one such example. Cats are territorial. The king of the beasts in this photo looks fairly set on commanding this great and mighty green machine. On the other hand, zoo ground crews may never again retrieve their wheelbarrow.
If you've had a kitty, it's pretty obvious that your sweet little feline gravitates to high places. From the top of the stairs, or from a secure vantage on the landing, we sometimes see our pet cats studiously observing the action downstairs. In the wild, cats will head up to high places such as trees to hide and prey.
Cats Love to Play
This stunning white tiger named Zabu simply adores its big red ball. In any other situation, Zabu is a fearful and ferocious beast. But here she is playfully romping around with her favorite toy. Just like house cats, fierce wildcats like this tiger don't want to miss out on playtime.
The heavy-weight ball that endures Zabu's playful bites and scratches is actually a stall ball. Stall balls are designed for horses. Horses like to play too! Thankfully and wisely, Zabu doesn't play together with the horses, and we're sure you can figure out why. It has something to do with tigers being apex predators and able to take down animals twice their size. Also, who likes to share?