After watching the great videos on-line, my boyfriend and I decided to visit Big Cat Rescue - we were not disappointed! We got a wonderful private tour. Banjo, Zabu and Cameron, and Alex were some of the particular stars that we enjoyed seeing in person. Although we didn't get to see her in person, we sponsored Genie the Sand Cat before we left. This is a great facility with a great mission - not to be missed!
We had a wonderful time on our visit.
From a spectator's point of view, you can get so close to some really big cats, much closer than in a zoo. Such an awesome experience.
From an appreciator of animals, conservation issues, and ending abuses of animals, I really appreciate the work done by Big Cat Rescue and their volunteers.
A fabulous experience and organization. A great place to bring a child and to learn about how these animals are being or have been rescued.
This is the perfect place for big cats. Every cat here has a trust fund that ensures the cat is taken care of for life should something happen to the facility or its funding. They provide high quality care to the animals and try to mimic the wild as best as they can. 10/10 recommend.
It's not like a normal zoo or attraction. Their focus is on their rescued big cats and their happiness. They have tour groups you can join and they walk you through the rescue explaining the history of all the cats you see. It is a very informative tour and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Unlike most zoo's. This rescue doesn't force it's animals to be seen. The cats come out if they want and if not they have plenty of hiding places to live out the rest of their lives in comfort. It's also very affordable and all proceeds go to the needs of the rescued cats.
Well cared for and respected animals. They look so much happier that zoo cats.
Always a great place to visit as you see different large cats up close each time. They do a fantastic job of caring for the animals so donations to help with food and medical care is much needed. Definitely worth the visit.
Amazing organization dedicated to rescuing big cats.
This sanctuary deserves a 5 star if it were possible! I have been here three times. The very first time it changed my life. People really need to do their research before they actually believe ANY of the negative comments.
To the person who said their "cages" are small ..YOU have not been there to say such a thing. Just because most of the photos show the cats up close to the fence, does NOT mean they are in a tiny " cage"..Far from it..So that is a very unfair review . These animals are taken care of with the love and respect they deserve. Go to the BCR website and and see for YOURSELF..
Every single winter we go to Florida we visit here. I am so impressed with their love and care of the big cats, I have become a montly donor! It's beyond my imagination how there can be even ONE bad review..
Loved it. Not just for show. They truly care for these animals. Great educational and entertaining experience.
This is not a zoo. This is a rescue runned by passionate people who hope to one day be out of business when people owning exotic big cats, stop captive breeding, and stop destroying the homes of bobcats. Been here twice and will return again. Awesome place full of amazing people. Worth visiting!
There is a large array of beautiful animals here. The tour guides were fun and informative.
I don't know if they still do this, since I last went a few years ago, but I suggest going on a Monday. The reason being, these wild animals try their best to hide any illness from other animals but one thing that stands out is their appetite. Their Sunday meals are skipped. On Monday, these cats are very attentive to groups walking by. It really is something to see a tiger following you around just like my corgi does when I have a treat for her.
Since it seems the owner reads these and replies often, I do have a question. Why call everyone a liar just because they don't like your facility? I mean, I enjoyed myself there but I don't find it inconceivable that someone else might not feel the same way. Big Cat Rescue gets 5 stars for my experience there, but c'mon, take the high road with others' opinions. Even if they are trying to sabotage your business, as you claim, take the high road.
I really enjoyed the tour. As a cat lover i was really glad to see how many of these rescued cats gets a new home for a lifetime.
This place looks awesome! Unfortunately their tours were totally booked the day we were there but we're going to go back. They have all kinds of big cats with their own hospital on site. My tip: go online & make a reservation well in advance!
I've been watching their youtube videos for 7 years at least, and finally got to go visit. Awesome place and they do great work. Highly recommended to go and help their mission.
Always love visiting the big cats!! I've been visiting the cats since it was wildlife on easy street. The tours are always different, you never know what cat will be out in view for the humans. Each cat has their own enclosure, so they are free to do what they want. Come up close or stay way in the back.
They do a great service and need your support
It was an amazing experience, very knowledgeable employees and volunteers. Would definitely go back and experience it all over again!
Have taken the tour 2 times in the past 6 years, whenever my small RV and I manage to get to Florida. I find Big Cat Rescue and its' staff a heartening and rewarding look at what human stewardship can be toward all life. The continuing imagination and commitment needed to produce these successes awes me. Translation....I'm one impressed old geezer!
Great experience, the guide very knowledgeable. She answered all of our questions!!
We had a lovely tour, the walkways were shaded and the cats were kept in large enclosures with enrichment activities like pools for swimming and ice pops. They even rotate the cats to a vacation enclosure which is several acres wide.
Very fun and educational place to bring kids or if you want to learn more about big cats and exotic type cats
Amazing facility, people and tour. Very informative and very passionate people for the cause to prevent big cat abuse.
This place should be a required stop for anyone visiting Florida. With all the animal exploiters in Florida (evil SeaWorld), it's great to have an educational and kind place for animals. As much as I like this place, I do hope, someday soon, they will have no more cats on display because laws will be in place so people can't acquire and keep these majestic animals.
My daughter and I visited and did the group tour today. It was a phenomenol experience. Better than I could of hope for. Definitely worth the price. It made us happy to see these cats so well cared for...large enclosures, free to roam around or swim. I'm grateful all the cats that were abused or mistreated ended up here. We never participated in attending circuses but it definitely makes me rethink zoo's now as well. Very educational. We learned alot. I cant wait to go back for the handlers tour next year. Now is a great time to go too because the weather is perfect and the cats are out and about. Thank you for all you do for these precious animals...Protecting God's creatures. Special shoutout to our tour guide Elizabeth...she was excellent. :)
We enjoyed our family activity. It was informational and the kids big and small enjoyed it. Many exhibits and we watched the feeding.
Awesome attention. My kids like the place. Planning to comeback
This is an excellent facility and I love their cause
Wonderful cats. Well informed staff. We did the keeper tour and got to watch the kitties play with cat nip
Seeing all of those awesome animals was supper fun and cool and my family definitely enjoyed it
Three years ago it was great. Now it seemed they have become just a money-making tourist trap. The tours are at terrible time 3pm when all cats are asleep. They rush you through, because next group is following. You listen to recording of the cats stories ( before was narrated by the guide and was much longer)
I have actually not been, but it's on my bucket list. I discovered this sanctuary through an article about Carole and her ordeals with "Joe Exotic" a man (could be described as a n animal himself) who promoter "cub petting".
After years of lawyers, defamation, and threats to her life, Carole managed to end this man's avarice and greed and saved more animals.
I don't care what she charges for babies - these animals deserve every penny.
I ve followed big cat rescue on Facebook and YouTube for a long time and finally I was able to go!! My mom and I had a blast!!! We learned so much and got to see so many big cats on the keeper tour!!! If your wondering if this is a good way to spend a vacation or day off, the answer is Yes!!!! This was a truly amazing experience!!
Beautiful facility. Staff was knowledgeable and helpful. Animals were healthy and playful .
I liked the initiative from this institution to help them from bad experiences but, also I would like to see improvement in this facility while every one of them live there such as increasing their space no matter if young or old cats and a good example is to implement equal surrounds like their vacation and funcation location.
Please reach out to Disney for sponsorship or further assistance.
Super nice place that does a great job of caring for big cats.
What an amazing experience. The feeding tour followed by the keeper tour is a great combo. We will be coming back as often as we can!
how much are the tickets? is there a appointment or something you have to make or do you just drive write in?
This is the most educational rescue facility I have ever been to. The people there are committed to helping the big cats( and small) from being kept as pets. They do an excellent job of showing and explaining how you too can help.
My girlfriend and I visited Tuesday and enjoyed our visit... The tickets while on the expensive side (IMO) were kind of worth it. We got to see some awesome cats in person and they looked like they were well taken care of and our tour guide was also nice and informative and didn't rush the tour (unlike what others have said below).
I only give two stars because of some of the info that was said on the tour as well as on BCR's website I completely disagree with. Before going I read the hybrid cats page and was completely and utterly furious after reading it the night before. So fast forward to the day of the tour, I tried my best to go into BCR with an open mind and enjoy my experience there after my less than impressive opinion of what you said on your hybrid page. Some information yes did indeed was the truth however (BCR) try fear tactics in order to tell you hybrid cats are not fit at all to be pets. I mean y'all were taking clear aim at the Bengal breed... come on now. The fear tactics were even spread during the tour by our guide trying to sway people away from these awesome cats. While yes some people are not fit to be good true owners (I'll give you that) that doesn't mean you have to put the fear of god into people. There are tons upon tons of people who have Bengals and other hybrid cats that love and care for them giving them everything they need but yet you all even condemn those people and the breeders (and yes the cats themselves). That's where I have a problem... Don't condemn these amazing and beautiful cats cause of the actions of a handful of careless owners. Until these fear tactics are gone I refuse to visit again and refuse to put in a good word for you with any friends or family. Your facilities might be nice however your fear spreading and twisting of information got you the 2 stars and not recommended to others.
Went to big cat rescue because my parents who are huge cat lovers told me it s a great place to check out in Florida. I thought the guided tour was very informative and seeing all the cats that have been rescued was a great thing. The only reason I did not give it a 5 star is because they made me pay full price for a 2 month old. I m sure the money will go to good use but paying full Price for a 2 month old is pretty outrageous and they should really consider changing that policy. Other then that great place to visit in Florida
Such a great experience!! Definitely interested in coming back
Amazing kitty's. The woman we had was super smart and really cares for her job and these cats. It was an overcast cold day but we were definitely taken care of. Very happy to go visit and support the cause at the same time.
I visited BCR on 10/30/19 while on vacation in Florida and was blown away by their whole operation. The cat residents are so well cared for, and in a manner that is extremely respectful to them; the keepers do not touch the cats or infringe on their territory, but admire from afar while doing their duties. Each cat has a spacious enclosure with all the toys, ponds, trees, platforms and snackage they could ask for. Each cat is also entitled to "vacation" in a TWO ACRE enclosure, alternating every few weeks. They truly are given the very best considering their circumstances.
Our guides, who were all volunteers, were very knowledgeable of each cat's story and were very friendly answering everyone's questions, but they were still very firm in the rules, which include not pressing your face against the enclosures, keeping up with the tour, respecting each resident's privacy, etc. If they don't want to be seen, they won't be seen. Period. The guides made this very clear from the beginning and made sure we all knew this tour was a privilege, not a right, as it should be.
There is much more I could say about this place, but all I am going to say is please support them by paying a visit. Your donation will go a very long way. This sanctuary means business and I intend to be a lifelong supporter of their hard, and often dangerous, work going forward.
Such a happy, humane habitat for these beautiful rescue cats!
The first thing you need to know before you get here is this place is not Zoo it is a sanctuary.
An AZA accredited zoo has a primary goal of educating the public about conservation through animals who are already in captivity and not suitable for placement back into the wild.
BCR focuses primarily on exotic animal ownership and teaching the public about why ownership and the trade is bad for the animals. They also house rescued cats for the term of their life.
Otherwise, I noticed the large majority of the big cats they housed were happy with where they were. I was surprised with just how large some of the enclosures were as well. They also have some very motivated and good staff.
We did both the feeding tour and the day tour. It was such a great experience. Not only was it a fun time, it was also a great learning and eye opening experience as well. Great job by the staff as well.
I enjoyed the tour even though it was hot. Got to see quite a few cats. Interesting storys
The staff is very knowledgeable and have the cats best interest in mind as well as the safety of the visitors. Only small groups are taken on the tours and they ask that talking is minimal so as to not disturb the cats. The cats are well cared for and seem content in their enclosures. I'll definitely visit again the next time I'm in town.
I d been a fan of the work BCR does for a long time so it was very cool to finally visit. The tour guide was great and even let our group linger a little in some spots. At one point our group and a feeding tour overlapped and they were really cool and let our group watch even though it wasn t included in the price. The end of the tour is equal parts awesome and sad as you see the wall of plaques of the cats who have passed away and learn about the cage sizes and how we can get involved by calling our representatives. There s a great gift store with something for everyone, as well. Keep up the great work, ladies and gents!
What an informative, relaxing Big Cat adventure! If you LOVE Cats of all sizes, this is an experience you will want to participate in. Due to the limited group size and timed admissions, we made our reservations online so, we were guaranteed admission. Staff great you in the parking lot to verify your reservation. I recommend getting there a few minutes early so, you can browse the Gift Shop.
Big Cat Rescue is a Sanctuary for Lions and Tigers which are in retirement phase or have been rescued due to abuse. The tour begins with a brief explanation of the facility and film clip. You are then lead along a path to view the animals in their private and semi private cages. Do not expect to pet any of the animals, they are considered wild and not domesticated.
Big Cat tries to duplicate the animals natural habitat. Something unique to Big Cat, they rotate their Lions and Tigers to go on a "stay cation" within their Reserve. They allow the animals to roam naturally for 2 weeks and not be secluded in a cage. This allows the animals creative freedom. Cats are VERY territorial and need their space, that is why they allow only a few Cats to roam compatibly together for a few weeks and then return then to their private cages. Some Cats have been so abused, they do not want contact with Humans, respecting their privacy, you will not see these Cats on the tour.
To see these majestic animals up close, is AWESOME! Can you tell I'm a Cat Lover?
I took the more expensive Keeper tour, because I wanted to contribute to the care of the cats. While the tour itself was probably not that different from the regular tour, we got to see the cats much closer. The 'treats' we made for them were not much, but the Keeper with us had a cart with chunks of raw meat as well and all the kits know what the cart sounds like! Both the senior keeper and the intern did a great job!
This place is amazing! Its calm, beautiful, and has lots of cats! I really love the work they do here and how they respect and treat the cats its quite a cat heaven! We took the feeding tour here for my birthday and it was a great time. We learned a lot about many different types of big cats, what they eat, and where they came from. I would highly recommend this place and supporting it!
Awesome experience...friendly, knowledgeable guides...a must see!
Perfect. Visit. Nice. Guide. Clean. Ans. Respectul. Of. All animals
Loved seeing the Bengal kitties from a safe distance
Amazing what these people do for animals. Well worth the visit
This sanctuary is a haven for all of these beautiful cats that have gone through all the torment in their past lives. I will never get the opportunity to go to BCR because their is an ocean separating us but I still continue to watch the videos and I love catching up with the kitties via YouTube. It's still sad that sanctuaries like this have to exist though, if they were never abused like they were, in the circus etc, they could have been frolicking in their natural habitat. But still I send a huge roar of apurr-oval to these incredible people who have sacrificed their time to take care of these cats. I send my gratitude and I hope that you awesome people continue to save these kitties!
Staff was extremely friendly and informed. They put in so much effort into keeping the animals happy and healthy, it's great to see people so dedicated to their work. Best part of our vacation!
Wonderful experience seeing these beautiful cats on a great outdoor setting
Great tour guide.My grandkids had fun and so did I.Very informative staff.
Very knowledgable and helps stop people from adopting/buying big cats. I loved being able to see that the cats are being taken care of in the best way possible so they can live happy and healthy lives! They do treat with birthdays and feed them in different ways to keep their brains active that way they don't get bored. They have "vacation" spots for them that they rotate too. I loved being there to support what they do!
The two times I have visited Big Cat Rescue have been two of my most enjoyable and memorable days of my life!
Everyone is knowledgable and patient with the groups, explaining about why some of the cats were not visible at the time of the tour.
The cats, of course, were the stars of the day. It is awesome to see these wonderful creatures up close and see how well they are taken care of each and every day of their lives.
If I could, I would move down to Tampa to live near the rescue so that I could volunteer my time and be with the big cats more often. As it is, I must wait until my next trip to Florida!
Just amazing to see these wild cats being peaceful but active. Usually most zoos don't provide the insight of human impact on these types of cats. Great place for the family.
Big Cat Rescue is a fantastic visit. Skip Busch Gardens and come here instead.
This place is by far the best. It's been many many years (20ish) since I visited. I tried to make it there this summer, but I-4 traffic was not working in my favor. Next summer for sure!
I love how they have learned and grown as time goes by and made the appropriate changes. If only more people could do that!
Carole took the time out of her busy day to let my, then 9 year old, daughter interview her via Skype for a school project about big cat abuse, which was selected for district showcase! She spent a good 20 minutes on Skype with her. It was so special. My daughter will always remember that.
I will always sign any petition, call elected officials, or whatever is needed to help these amazing creatures.
The bobcat rescue is possibly my favorite thing. I love that you guys are doing so much to help these wild babies. Without you, a lot of bobcats would either be dead, or in cages somewhere because no one tried to rehab and release them.
Thanks Big Cat Rescue! What you do matters...a whole helluva lot to the lucky cats who call your sanctuary home and to those unfortunate cats still being exploited. These laws will get passed one day and this abuse will end!
The animals are well taken care of by amazing volunteers. Great keeper tour
Not a zoo experience! You are given the privilege to walk through this rescue area with a chance to see the cats acting as natural as they can. Some chose to not come out, others were upset so we had to move on, but most were out and about doing cat stuff. A bit pricey, but the cost goes to help the animals so it's almost like an experience and donationall in one. Definitely worth at least seeingonce
I loved being able to see these cats up close, they are well taken care of.
I don't understand why people have given this place a 1 star and then slated it. The only reason I can think of is that they are the reason why the sanctuary has to exist. Well worth visiting. Well worth the money and the cats are easily looked after than you'll see at some zoo.
Very interesting, educational, and they do excellent work saving these big cats. Tours are fantastic!
Visit the rescue in spring hill. They are non profit and only accept donations. Such a better organization honesty.
The Wildcat Walkabout is a bucket list item. MUST DO!
Loved it, wish we had more time to view the Cats we felt a little rushed through the guided tour. Totally recommend though it was quite amazing.
Went years ago, love what they're doing, donated & received 2 free passes but don't think I can use them now that all tours must be purchased online?
Excellent nonprofit with a wonderful mission! I am so glad they exist to rescue and rehabilitate all kinds of exotic cats. The tickets for the tour are pricey but totally worth paying for, not only because the tour was great, but also because all purchases made at BCR are what make the entire organization possible! I was surprised to learn that there are over 100 volunteers doing most of the work with the animals. Thank you Big Cat Rescue for everything you do! I was happy to call Senator Leahy's office afterward to encourage him to support the Big Cat Safety Act.
Be warned: the tour is 90 minutes in length, on foot, in the Florida heat! There are water stops along the way, but wear good shoes and use the restroom BEFORE it starts (arrive early if possible). I didn't have any problems but these thoughts ran through my mind as the tour progressed.
The tour was great! Very informative! The cats are well looked after!
Last week I went on a Private Tour at BCR and I couldn't have been more pleased. To see what they are doing there to educate people on the abuse and abandonment that occurs and giving those precious cats a safe, happy, healthy way of life for the rest of their years, was awesome. I loved hearing about the stories of all the cats, and the volunteers there were SO knowledgeable, I actually learned some new things. It was well worth travelling over 4000 miles to get there!! Can't wait to visit again!!
They should sell the tickets in the place and not by website
This place is AWESOME and I highly recommend a visit. They are run primarily by volunteers, and everyone is incredibly passionate and dedicated to the animals. I have learned so much during my visit, and, being inspired by the people at Big Cat Rescue, I will be a lifelong supporter and advocate.
Great tour,,if you are not in shape or are in physical discomfort ask about the golf carts,,given a little heads up and a nominal fee of 20 dollars I think,,,they will make sure you still get the full experience!! And it is great!!
Amazing place. The cats are so well cared for and the people caring for them are so knowledgeable and loving.
Such a beautiful place, I loved it there. I wish I had time to volunteer I would... And I definitely recommend going, it's an experience you won't regret
bigcatrescue.org
