Small Town, BIGKitties Magnolia admires Tal the Lion. Photo by Sarah Justice.


can see at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization here on the First Coast that is the “forever home” of more than 40 endangered wild cats.


L Executive Director and Curator Curt


LoGiudice created Catty Shack nearly 30 years ago as part of his mission to protect wild animals. In 2004, the ranch was opened to the general public. Admission for tours is a donation ranging from $5-$15 per person, which is used entirely for the benefit of the animals—the park receives no state or federal funding. Te entire staff, including Curt and several veterinarians, are unpaid volunteers who donate their time out of love for the cats.


Lisa Allen is a volunteer who began


working at Catty Shack in July 2012. “I’ve always been an animal person, I have a whole bunch of them at home,” she says, “but this is the first wildlife I’ve ever worked with.”


ions and tigers and…leopards, and bobcats, and cougars, oh my! Tese are some of the beautiful animals visitors


By Aloise Schmitt


Adult Siberian tiger. Photo by Sarah Justice.


During a tour, Lisa educates her audience about the cats and their histories, while affectionately sharing anecdotes about the animals, who seem more like her friends. She smiles at Freddy, one of the ranch’s three African lions—“He’s a ladies’ man!”—and introduces Nero, Catty Shack’s largest Siberian tiger—“He’s our gentle giant.”


At Catty Shack, guests get the unique


opportunity to see these exotic creatures up close in a safe environment, as guests and volunteers alike always stay outside the fence when interacting with the cats. “We call it safe love,” Lisa says. Guests learn about the species themselves, their plight in the wild and the dangers of keeping big cats as house pets— many of Catty Shack’s residents had private owners when they were rescued. Visitors even have the option of coming to observe a nighttime feeding, when the cats are especially active.


Assistant Director and Volunteer


Coordinator Kim Kyle has been volunteering at Catty Shack for 17 years and says her furry friends always cheer her up in times of stress. “It’s definitely my therapy, that’s for sure. It’s big cat therapy. Tey just make you feel better, they’re always happy to see you.” Kim hopes to share her love and respect for the residents of Catty Shack with every visitor that comes through. “We want everyone to learn something, both adults and kids,” she says. “Tey need to know these [cats] are endangered.”


Lately, Kim spends a lot of her time caring


for three little tiger cubs—some of Catty Shack’s newest additions. Te adorable cubs are part of the family-friendly tours that


provide an excellent learning experience for young children interested in wildlife. Te playful kittens are the talk of the town at Catty Shack, especially for Aidan, 8, whose favorite part of the tour was watching the cubs wrestle—“I had fun!” he says of the tour.


Eight-year-old Megan agrees. “Tis is


what I want to do when I grow up. Now I know!” she says after observing Kim with the cubs. “I always like mostly big animals, because they’re really pretty.” Megan says she loved her first trip to Catty Shack, praising the aunt who took her there for her excellent field trip choice.


Magnolia, a toddler, was also awed by the


animals. When asked which cat was her favorite, she answered, “Te mommy ones!” Her own mother, Norah, says her whole family loved their first trip to this hidden gem. “It’s really fantastic….I was just talking with a friend of mine who’s lived in Jacksonville all her life, and she heard about this and was like, How did I not know this was here?”


With its educational mission, friendly and


knowledgeable staff and, most importantly, beautiful, lovable residents, Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary provides an experience that everyone in the family can enjoy.


For more information, visit cattyshack.org. Siberian tiger cubs resting. Photo by Sarah Justice.


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