[breadcrumb]
Carolina Tiger Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit wildlife sanctuary whose mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild.
An animal’s diet can greatly impact their quality of life. We pride ourselves in providing our animals with a diet that mirrors what they’d be eating in the wild. Each species is different, and there are several things, like activity level and age, that must be taken into consideration when creating a nutrition plan and feeding schedule.
Wild Cats
All our cats are fed a whole carcass diet. That means that they are fed bone-in meals. While they are occasionally fed boneless items that have been donated or cut from larger pieces, most of their diet is bone-in. The food we purchase for them is chicken quarters (leg and thigh) and their diets are based on whole chickens. Our largest tiger, Caprichio, eats about 110 pounds of food per week.
Meds Meat
Some of our animals require medications for various reasons on a daily basis. A handful of our older animals receive medications for stiff joints, while others require fish oil to help better their coat conditions. Much like your animals at home, some of our animals are reluctant to take their medications, so our keepers have to get creative and accommodate their ever changing preferences.
Fruit Eaters
We are are currently home to four kinkajous and a coatimundi whose primary diet consists of fruit and vegetables. Food prep for these animals requires more work and more variety. Their food does not have a long shelf life, so our team is regularly purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables to meet their nutritional needs.
Nakobi Cougar
Nakobi is one of a few our animals that have digestive sensitivities. He requires a specialized diet, unique to his needs. Nakobi’s digestive system is unable to break down larger pieces of food, including bone and pelt, so he is fed a diet of ground meat. We have a meat grinder, to ensure he is not restricted to the meats that are commonly found at the grocery store.
How You Can Help
It costs us more than $80,000 each year to feed our amazing animals. You can help offset these costs by donating to the Food Fund! Your donation helps us provide the highest quality of care to our deserving animals.
