The Rarest Exotic Cats To Keep As Pets

Exotic Cat Ownership

While the domesticated cat has lived around humans for thousands of years and is easily one of the most popular pets on Earth, some owners prefer to keep felids that are considered “exotic.” Caring for these unique creatures can bring pride and success as these pets can be very difficult to care for or require specific accommodations.

The bond between a person and an animal that may not be the same as the first human interaction is, therefore, more important, and when these cats are rarely in captivity, caring for one is a more great privilege. Here are the rarest exotic cats that some people have as private pets.

Cloud Leopard

• Species Name: Acinonyx jubatus
• From: Nepal, Bhutan, India, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
• Diet: Birds, fish, monkeys, deer, and mice. Sometimes they prey on domestic animals.
• Marriage: They should be kept outdoors, although they are sensitive to extreme temperatures.
• Extraordinary: Very rare, although available.

Clouded leopards are beautiful, medium-sized short cats that are starting to become more available to private zoo owners. They are very expensive, with some reaching around $20,000. Despite their “leopard” name, they are less dangerous and smaller than leopards in the genus Panthera.

These cats are highly arboreal, and they should not be in cold temperatures or in environments above 85°F. Clouded leopards are highly prized for their looks but are more manageable in size.

Sand Cat

• Species Name: pearl cat
• From: The Sahara Desert, including the countries of Algeria, Niger, Morocco, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• Diet: Small animals such as snakes, snakes, gerbils, hares, and birds.
• Marriage: Sand cats are small enough to be indoor pets, but some have challenging personalities.
• Extraordinary: There are a limited number of people who own sand cats.

Sand cats are occasionally owned as pets by people who can afford to import them. There are also a limited number of sand cat breeders who generally will not sell to people without a USDA license. Currently they are still rare in captivity outside of zoos.

Sand cats are one of the smallest wild cats in the world (next to the black-footed cat). Some sand cat owners report that they spray, although this can be improved by spaying and neutering.

Sand cats, despite their small size and close resemblance to domestic cats, can be challenging pets for the average pet owner. Some individuals may act aggressively and prefer little, if any, human interaction. Other sand cats may bond well with their owner but be aggressive with other people. Sand cats can often hiss in their communication.

They are not a cat for those who prefer the friendliness of domestic cats. Some may remain calmer in many interactions, although some may not feel confident around people.

Jaguar

• Species Name: Panthera onca
• From: South America, parts of Mexico, and the United States (Arizona and New Mexico).
• Diet: Large animals, including tapirs, capybaras, porcupines, caimans, and deer.
• Marriage: Large cats kept in outdoor enclosures only.
• Extraordinary: Moderately uncommon.

Jaguars are truly “big cats” and very dangerous. There’s a reason why they don’t often work “hands-on” compared to lions and tigers. They are also less available than those species, with most jaguar owners being licensed zoo owners. Jaguars need to be cared for in a similar way to other big cats such as lions and tigers, with the same level of care, although they will also need a cover for their cage to prevent escapes.

Ocelot

• Species Name: leopard leopard
• From: Central America, South America, and the United States (Texas and Arizona)
• Diet: Mostly small to medium-sized rodents such as mice and agoutis, as well as reptiles, birds, crustaceans, fish, and larger prey such as monkeys and lesser anteaters.
• Marriage: This smaller cat can be kept indoors, although they smell good and benefit from their own enclosure like other exotic cats. They should have places to climb and enrichment that provides a place to swim and dig is also ideal.
• Extraordinary: Extremely rare and possibly unobtainable.

The famous artist Salvador Dali once hugged his traveling companion, an ocelot named Babou, whom he described as a regular cat, proving that even a member of this species is a forgiving pet. In the ’50s and ’60s, they used to be fairly common exotic pets. These cats have a ferocious growling sound that is actually a mating call as ocelots, despite their appearance, can be quite affectionate when well socialized as kittens.

Sadly, while some owners may remain from earlier times, they are often erased from being available in the private trade because they were once endangered. However, the last time they were assessed, they were Least Concern. They are still protected.

Snow Leopard

• Species Name: Panthera uncia
• From: Central Asia, Himalayas, Bhutan, Nepal, Siberia, Mongolia, and China.
• Diet: Blue sheep and other ungulates, as well as marmots, hares, pikas, voles, birds, and other small animals.
• Marriage: A larger cat kept in an outdoor, appropriately sized enclosure with adequate climbing areas.
• Rarity: Very rare

Snow leopards were rarely available but are now even rarer, and when or if one is for sale, they will be very expensive. Two snow leopards were actually purchased for Carole Baskin by Tiger King fame by her late husband Don Lewis in 1998. These exquisite animals are clearly prone to colds and that needs to be addressed for them.

Despite their stockiness and the name “leopard,” they are known to be relatively docile and not as dangerous. They should also have levels to climb into their enclosure, as this is a cat that lives on cliffsides.

Fishing Cat

• Species Name: Pionailurus raccoon
• From: India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Java, and Pakistan.
• Diet: Fish, shellfish, small animals, and domestic animals.
• Marriage: Requires a water source. Usually kept in outdoor enclosures.
• Rarity: Uncommon but always available.

As the name suggests, fishing cats like to hunt and eat fish, and this is what they are often fed in captivity, although they also eat other small animals. A water source, however, is a good enrichment method for them, as well as any of the other methods used for carnivores and medium-sized cats.

Fishing cats are sometimes owned by people with private zoos but very rarely as pets. They may regularly be available in limited quantities, though not often to the general public.

Cheetah

• Species Name: Acinonyx jubatus
• From: In modern times, cheetahs are found in 25 African countries, and there are a small number of critically endangered cheetahs in Asia.
• Diet: Small and medium-sized ungulates such as antelopes, hares, and birds.
• Marriage: Cheetahs need large enclosures and access to areas to run at top speed. They are particular about social arrangements and sensitive to stress.
• Rare: Extremely rare in the United States.

Cheetahs are known to be relatively easy to handle despite being one of the larger cats due to their slender stature and timid nature. In fact, historically, cheetahs have often been kept as “pets” primarily for sport hunting. Unfortunately, cheetahs are very difficult to breed in captivity, which requires some social structures (males form social groups and females are solitary) and sufficient space. For this reason, despite their widespread presence in captivity, they are often caught, and this has proven to be unsustainable over time.

Cheetahs are compromised in the wild with low genetic variability. In captivity, cheetah owners are unusual because of how difficult it is to breed them and the unethical nature of removing them from the wild. There are some cheetah owners in the United States who own private zoos and some cheetah owners who live in countries with lax laws. There are places where cheetahs can be captured and imported for a large fee if the person looking for one can get approval from those facilities.

Sources

1. Shoemaker, AH, Maruska, EJ and R. Rockwell (1997) Minimum Care Guidelines for Mammals: Large Felids American Association of Zoos and Aquariums

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. The content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for personal advice or professional advice on business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2022 Melissa A Smith

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