The , signed into law on December 20, 2022, fundamentally changed the landscape of big cat ownership:
Buying a "big cat" (such as a lion, tiger, or leopard) is effectively in the United States as of 2022. While some may still seek these animals out of fascination, federal law now treats them as "prohibited wildlife species," strictly limiting their possession to accredited zoos, universities, and sanctuaries. 1. Legal Prohibitions buy a big cat
: It is now illegal for private individuals to breed, sell, purchase, or acquire big cats like lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars. The , signed into law on December 20,