The Friendliest Big Cats To Humans

Cats have a reputation for being aloof and independent, but some of the bigger cat species can actually be quite friendly with humans when properly socialized. In this article, we’ll explore some of the friendliest big cat species that make the most bonding companions when raised with proper care and attention.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Lions, cheetahs, and some tiger subspecies can be very affectionate and docile when hand-raised from a young age.

Lions

Docile when hand-raised

Lions that are hand-raised by humans from a very young age can be surprisingly docile and affectionate (Zimmermann, 2017). There are amazing stories of people who have raised lion cubs that behave much like oversized house cats – wanting to cuddle, play, and even sleep in bed with their human caregivers.

However, extensive training and precautions are still required.

Require extensive training and care

Even friendly pet lions require constant diligent supervision, training, exercise, enrichment, and proper nutrition (Born Free USA, 2022). Their powerful size and strength need strong enclosures. Without proper care and training, they can still be unpredictable and dangerous.

• Enclosures need reinforced fencing, housing, and spaces for exercise.
• Daily walks on leashes and playing is essential.
• A nutritious raw meat diet must be provided.
• Vet care expenses are higher than average house pets.

Dangerous wild traits remain

However docile they may seem, lions retain their wild instincts and can be unpredictable (Zimmermann, 2017). If they feel startled, threatened, or hungry – their attack reflexes can kick in. Maulings and even deaths have occurred with captive lions.

Many experts advise against keeping them as pets both for human safety and the well-being of the lions themselves.

While lion cubs may seem cute and fun, they grow much larger and stronger. Losing one’s life savings, getting mauled, or seeing the lion euthanized are very real risks.

Cheetahs

Eager to bond with humans

Of all the big cats, cheetahs are the most amenable to bonding with humans. In captivity, cheetahs have been known to develop strong connections with their handlers, seeking out affection and companionship. This is likely due to their biology and evolution.

Cheetahs are built for speed, not brute strength like lions or tigers. As a result, they tend to be more timid and prefer to flee rather than fight when threatened. This makes them more open to friendly interactions with humans.

There are many accounts of cheetahs thriving when paired with a canine companion. The dog provides confidence and modeled behaviors for interacting positively with humans. Baby cheetahs especially do well when paired with a puppy friend.

Their play mirrors the interactions between littermates and facilitates natural development. Some zoological facilities will even use dogs as ambassadors to introduce cheetahs to the public and enable positive interactions.

The cheetah’s capacity and eagerness to form interspecies bonds allows for unique opportunities to educate the public and change attitudes about these vulnerable cats.

Less dangerous than other big cats

Statistically, cheetahs pose far less danger to humans than leopards, lions, tigers, and jaguars. While they are still powerful predators, cheetahs are quite timid compared to other large felines. Most direct attacks on humans have occurred when the animal feels cornered or when a person gets too close to a mother with cubs.

Here are some key reasons why cheetahs are less dangerous:

• Light build – Cheetahs have a lighter, leaner build than other big cats, designed for running over brute strength. Their jaws and claws are not as powerful.
• Non-confrontational – Cheetahs will flee rather than fight when threatened. They do not defend territories.
• Tameability – Cheetahs can be tamed and do not resist human interactions like other big cats.
• Low aggression – Cheetahs are not territorial and less aggressive than big cats like lions, tigers, and leopards.
• Rarity of attacks – Attacks on humans are very rare according to big cat incident statistics.

While caution should still be taken, cheetahs are among the most docile and safest big cats to interact with when proper precautions are taken.

Require lots of exercise and enrichment

In order to thrive in captivity, cheetahs require specialized care that addresses both their physical and psychological health. As the fastest land animal, cheetahs need ample space to run and engage in beneficial exercise.

Facilities should provide large naturalistic enclosures and access to grassy fields and running tracks. Enrichment activities that encourage natural behaviors like chasing prey dummies are also important.

Here are some key ways to keep cheetahs happy and enriched in captivity:

• Space to run – Large enclosures measured in acres, not feet, and access to open spaces.
• Environmental enrichment – Novel scents, puzzle feeders, new objects to investigate.
• Exercise routines – Lure coursing, running alongside handler vehicles.
• Training – Cognitive stimulation through operant conditioning behaviors.
• Socialization – Interactions with conspecifics, canine companions, and positive human handling.

Due to their active nature and vulnerability to stress, providing appropriate care and enrichment for cheetahs requires time, resources, and expertise. Zoos aiming to house cheetahs should ensure they can fully meet the needs of these animals. Private ownership is strongly discouraged.

When cared for properly, captive cheetahs can live happy and enriched lives as ambassadors for their wild counterparts.

Tigers

Some subspecies are more docile

Of the nine subspecies of tiger, some tend to be less aggressive than others. For example, the Sumatran tiger is considered to be more even-tempered compared to the more aggressive Siberian tiger. This may be partly due to lower testosterone levels in Sumatran tigers on average (237 ng/ml vs 315 ng/ml in Siberians) ^[1].

Additionally, their prey tends to be smaller and less likely to fight back aggressively, unlike the large bears and deer targeted by Amur tigers, for example.

Hand-raising can increase tameness

Tigers that are hand-raised by humans from a very young age tend to be more comfortable and docile around people later in life. For example, tigers raised by animal trainer Bhagavan “Doc” Antle at The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.)

are exceptionally tame and affectionate with him due to being bottle-fed from birth (docantle.com). However, they can still be unpredictable at times despite being more socialized to humans.

Still very powerful and unpredictable

While individual genetics and rearing can influence a tiger’s disposition, it’s important to remember that they are still powerful apex predators capable of killing a human being easily. Their tolerance for people should never be taken for granted.

Statistics show that at least 373 people in the USA alone have been attacked by captive tigers from 1990-2012, with about 20 people killed ^[2]. So even hand-raised tigers should be treated cautiously and their behavior constantly monitored.

Other Big Cats

Leopards

Leopards are stealthy, solitary big cats that live mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. They are excellent climbers and swim well. Leopards are mostly nocturnal, resting during the day and hunting at night. They prefer habitats with dense bush and rocky terrain that provide cover.

Leopards are not typically aggressive toward humans, but they are still dangerous wild animals that should be given space and respect. There have been some rare cases of leopards attacking or killing humans, often when provoked or if the animal is sick or injured.

But in general, leopards tend to avoid interactions with people when possible.

Some key facts about leopards:

• Lifespan in the wild: 12-17 years
• Weight: 30-90 lbs for females, 80-150 lbs for males
• Length: 4-6 feet from head to body, with a 2-3 foot long tail
• Diet: Antelope, deer, primates, birds, reptiles, amphibians
• Population Status: Vulnerable, with decreasing populations due to habitat loss and poaching

While leopards face threats from human activities, they are not overtly aggressive toward people. With proper precautions, humans can coexist with these majestic big cats.

Jaguars

The jaguar is the largest cat native to the Americas. These powerful predators have muscular bodies, spotted coats, and very strong jaws and teeth for killing prey. Jaguars typically inhabit forests and swamplands, with a range stretching from Mexico to Argentina.

Some key facts about jaguars:

• Lifespan in the wild: 12-15 years
• Weight: 100-250 lbs
• Length: 4-6 feet from head to body, 2-3 foot tail
• Diet: Deer, peccaries, capybaras, caimans, turtles, fish
• Population Status: Near Threatened due to habitat loss and poaching

With conservation efforts and habitat protections, people and jaguars can exist together. These majestic big cats play important roles as apex predators in the ecosystems they inhabit.

Cougars

Also known as mountain lions or pumas, cougars are solitary big cats found across much of the Americas. They have powerful hind legs that make them excellent jumpers and hunters of deer, elk and other prey.

Cougars are reclusive animals that will usually flee from humans. But attacks on people do sometimes occur, especially as human development expands into cougar habitats. Children and solitary adults are most at risk.

But overall, fatal attacks are quite rare compared to the number of human-cougar encounters.

Key facts about cougars:

• Lifespan in wild: 8-13 years
• Weight: 75-150 lbs
• Length: 5-9 feet from nose to tail tip
• Diet: Deer, elk, small mammals, occasionally livestock
• Population status: stable, not endangered

Cougars are not out to hunt people. With some basic precautions like not hiking alone, giving them space, and keeping pets indoors, we can safely coexist with these wild cats even as human expansion encroaches on their territory more and more.

Conclusion

While big cats can be incredibly affectionate when hand-raised, they require extensive care, training, enrichment, and caution for both the animal’s well-being and public safety. Breeding big cats as pets is widely condemned.

But sanctuaries and zoos that responsibly care for these magnificent creatures can foster incredible bonds by socializing them positively with humans from a young age.