Big Cat Sanctuary in Sarasota

This has been a week of playing tourist here in Sarasota because my daughter has been visiting. She's the one who told me to watch The Tiger King on Netflix, so I figured she'd enjoy a trip to see a tiger rescue. If you've watched that show, you know that not every roadside attraction treats the animals well. Fortunately, Big Cat Sanctuary is a happy place for all its inhabitants.

Tickets are $20 per adult and $10 per child, but we scored a Groupon and got in for half price. As soon as we passed through the gates, it was clear that this place is well run. The enclosures appear secure, clean, and safe for both animals and visitors. The animals look happy and healthy, well fed and cared for. The enclosures have shade, grass, pools, and many include waterfalls.

The Big Cat Sanctuary takes in all types of exotic creatures, not just felines. Yes, there are lions and tigers, plus combinations called ligers and tigons. But you will also see bears, lemurs, monkeys, macaws, goats, emus, koi, and a Florida panther. Volunteers are situated in front of many cages where you can pay extra to feed a tiger or a bear. (The food is placed on the end of a pole and inserted through the chainlink fence.) This is a nice addition as it brings the animals to the front of the cages for better viewing.

There are two demonstration shows included with admission. The first featured trained birds doing tricks like rollerskating and playing basketball. If you have visited Jungle Gardens, you have seen a similar show with many of the same tricks. The birds are beautiful and the show is fun. 

But the second show was truly awesome. Lemurs did a few simple tricks to start us off, but the impressive part features a beautiful female liger and a stunning white Bengal tiger. The big cats were cooperative and very well trained. To see them up close, performing tricks and responding to cues, was truly a thrilling experience.

The 2 shows are held in an indoor air-conditioned arena. The metal bleachers are not particularly comfortable, but the fans and A/C made up for the hard benches. On a summer day in Florida, it was fantastic to sit down in the cool space and watch the shows in between exploring the grounds.

It took us about 3 hours to see the entire place. If you wanted to hang out longer, Big Cat Sanctuary is open from 12-4pm Wednesdays through Sundays. There's a snack bar, diaper-changing stations, and plenty of shady areas. I would highly recommend a visit!