The problem with keeping tigers as pets is not that the tiger is going to attack and eat the people who raised it. They are capable of bonding with people just like a house cat is, BUT — my house cat likes to wrestle my arm, pounce on my leg, and be playful in general. She’s usually gentle, but sometimes when she gets really into it the claws come out. Cats never really grow out of playing, and that’s part of how they bond. And big cats are just too, well, BIG. They don’t realize how strong they are, and what they’re capable of when they’re just being playful. And they can hurt someone they’ve bonded with, without trying to. Tragic for both the cat and the human. When Roy (of Siegfried & Roy) was injured, the tiger was trying to drag him to safety by the scruff of his neck, the way a mother tiger carries her young. Very sad.
That’s what I was thinking, the children have more sense that the adults. Since the pic is so long ago, hopefully they grew out of having tigers as pets.
I don’t think it looks stuffed to the kid on the lap who looks absolutely terrified, while the kid in back is starting to shift his interest pretty quickly from the snack to the fact of a tiger in the living room.. meanwhile Dad(?) finds it pretty amusing. Must..hear..story
Yes, a young tiger like that usually can ingest only two small children and one idiot adult male at one feeding. Wild animals for pets drives me crazy.
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afp
The problem with keeping tigers as pets is not that the tiger is going to attack and eat the people who raised it. They are capable of bonding with people just like a house cat is, BUT — my house cat likes to wrestle my arm, pounce on my leg, and be playful in general. She’s usually gentle, but sometimes when she gets really into it the claws come out. Cats never really grow out of playing, and that’s part of how they bond. And big cats are just too, well, BIG. They don’t realize how strong they are, and what they’re capable of when they’re just being playful. And they can hurt someone they’ve bonded with, without trying to. Tragic for both the cat and the human. When Roy (of Siegfried & Roy) was injured, the tiger was trying to drag him to safety by the scruff of his neck, the way a mother tiger carries her young. Very sad.
I think the tiger looks just as distressed as the child does.
well, having a tyger as a pet is just not cool. There are only few in wild, partly because of people wanting them as pets. Shame.
Recent events in Ohio make this picture seem even sadder. When will people learn?
Well since this picture appears to be about 20 years old I’m hoping Dad has since “learned”.
I love how the 2 year old has more terror (thus more sense in his tiny head) than the dad. That poor tiger, that is no kind of life.
I agree, meri. I hate to be a killjoy but the first thing I think when I look at this is that poor animal.
That’s what I was thinking, the children have more sense that the adults. Since the pic is so long ago, hopefully they grew out of having tigers as pets.
Hope it’s stuffed.
I don’t think it looks stuffed to the kid on the lap who looks absolutely terrified, while the kid in back is starting to shift his interest pretty quickly from the snack to the fact of a tiger in the living room.. meanwhile Dad(?) finds it pretty amusing. Must..hear..story
Yes, a young tiger like that usually can ingest only two small children and one idiot adult male at one feeding. Wild animals for pets drives me crazy.
It’s no longer wild if it’s a pet.
I beg to differ, the wild part never leaves and no such animal ia really and totally a “pet”
The kiddo on the left is thinking … “well – with Dad AND Junior between me and Tony the Tiger … I’m feelin’ grrrrreat!”
This photo is g-r-r-r-e-a-t-t !!!
Calvin and Hobbs!!
You can’t just put up that picture and not tell us the story! Must … hear… story…