So when the couple moved out of their house, they left the animal chained to a tree in their back yard. Neighbors alerted authorities, and eventually the cat was carted off to the local animal shelter to be penned in with stray mutts. Ten years ago, one of these beasts would have fetched thousands of dollars in a market dominated by a small number of established dealers and high-end buyers. Animal Finders Guide, an exotic-pet newsletter, lists big cats of nearly every species for sale. Online classified ads have made these animals something of an impulse purchase.
Ownership appears to be most prevalent in the South, especially Texas.
Most owners fall in love with big cats when the beasts are playful cubs. Declawing the cats, a safety precaution commonly taken, only makes them more aggressive, critics of big-cat ownership say. One result is that abandoned big cats are becoming a significant burden at some local animal shelters. Exotic cats aren't the only potentially dangerous animals taking up residence in Middle American households. Macaques, wallabies, and potbellied pigs also are being drafted as domestic companions.