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Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a federally and state licensed non-profit 501(c)(3) rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven for unwanted and abused exotic cats. It is a NO KILL facility that allows cats in their care the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment.

Their facility is a permanent home. They do not sell, transfer or give away the wild animals that they rescue, and they are not used for breeding; they simply protect them from harm. The highly trained staff ensures that their medical, nutritional, and emotional needs are well met. With help from supporters like you, they are able to provide permanent habitats for these animals on their 450-acre compound.

Turpentine Creek is currently caring for over 150 exotic animals, of which over 100 are large cats.  They receive multiple calls and requests to rescue cats and other animals.

They continue to build natural enclosures for their animals, which gives them the room to run, play  and explore like never before.

MISSION – Their goal is to provide a safe haven for rescued cats and to educate the public about the growing population of abandoned and unwanted exotic animals and where they come from.

HOW MANY - We estimate that there are about 10,000 exotic cats living in captivity in this country, bought and sold through this exotic animal trade.—and remember, only about 5,000 are left in the wild!

    *** More wild tigers now live as pets and in roadside zoos, fairs, breeding kennels, and privately-run wildlife attractions in the U.S. than in their native Asian habitats, according to certified zookeepers and wildlife conservationists.

ABUSE - Many people do not realize that in many US States a baby lion or tiger can be bought just as you would buy a pet dog or cat.

What starts out as a cute and cuddly little 10-pound cub—soon turns into a 500 pound wild animal that is too large to have in your home. It cost thousands of dollars yearly to take care of and because of its size can, even while playing, it can be dangerous.

BREEDERS - An exotic animal breeder in too many cases is an unscrupulous breeder, only out to make a buck. The rampant cross-breeding of species and mating parent-child pairs has degraded the gene pool of the 5 (five) purebred tiger species in the world.  This has resulted in the U.S. wildcat population becoming a “genetic cocktail” that is entirely unfit for ever returning to the wild or in even worse cases creating a lot of horribly deformed and mutant cubs as they try to get the “perfect cat”.

LAWS – There are only Fourteen states that have comprehensive laws banning private ownership of wild and exotic animals; nine have partial bans; 13 have some form of regulations; and 14 states have NO relevant legislation, according to Nicole Paquette, the director of legal and government affairs for the Animal Protection Institute, in Sacramento, CA.  

These unwanted or abused Big Cats can live 20 years or more.
They won't make it in the wild, can’t take care of themselves, & can’t
control their environment. 

Don’t they deserve a secure and happy lifetime home?

“The Greatness of a Nation and its moral progress
can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
    ..........                            Gandhi