B.C. banned breeding and future ownership of exotic cats
Starting May 1, B.C. has banned the breeding, selling, and future ownership of non-domestic and non-native cats under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation (CASR).
They said that non-native cat species can create a risk to public safety, pets, and wildlife. Further, they are not often safely or humanely cared for.
Because exotic cats are good hunters, they can hunt and kill native wildlife, like birds, small mammals, and reptiles, as well as disturb vegetation, nesting areas, and other wildlife spaces.
The BC SPCA celebrated the news, saying it came after decades of them campaigning “against the suffering of exotic cats in captivity.”
“It is nearly impossible for exotic cats to express their natural, wild behaviours in captivity,” said Sara Dubois, the senior director of animal welfare science and standards at the BC SPCA, in a release.
“When exotic cats are not free to express their natural behaviours, they may become depressed, destructive or resort to self-mutilation.”
Several new species are now considered ‘controlled alien species’ under B.C. law, including:
- servals
- caracals
- ocelots
- European and African wildcats
- Asian golden cats
- fishing cats
- jungle cats
- marbled cats
- hybrid cats within four generations.
If you already own an exotic cat, you can apply for a free permit for your cat before May 1, 2027.
“In addition to not breeding or buying new exotic cats, permit holders must agree to restrict public contact with their animals. Cats may not be displayed or allowed to interact with people outside the owner’s household,” reads the government release.
They added that large exotic cats, like lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and cheetahs, were already regulated under CASR. They were banned in 2010.
If you own a recognized domestic hybrid breed, like Savannah, Bengal and Chausie cats, you can still keep them without a permit.
But you will need a permit for hybrid cats that aren’t part of a recognized domestic hybrid breed and have a wild ancestor within four generations, because they are now considered controlled alien species.
People who violate CASR could incur fines ranging from $2,500 to $250,000 or imprisonment.