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L. COHAN @2007
Katya rests her open enclosure at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch. |
Katya, a mountain lion, has spent most of her life as a captive animal. She was once part of a live animal attraction at a now-defunct roadside zoo, where she shared a small enclosure with her mate, Sergei. Whether bred into captivity or removed from her family and natural habitat at an early age, she likely arrived at the menagerie after first being raised as an exotic pet.
Because she was raised in the captive wildlife industry, was de-clawed, and became accustomed to people, she could never survive being released back into the wild. She has resided at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Tex., since the roadside zoo closed in 1998. Katya is destined to live her life in captivity, because of the abuse and exploitation she has suffered, but we are committed to making her life as happy and comfortable as possible.
Currently Katya is the only mountain lion at the ranch. She is a magnificent beauty with large green eyes, a long graceful tail, and tawny colored fur. When she came to the ranch she was eight years old, and her partner at the zoo, Sergei, arrived at the same time. A new enclosure for the pair was constructed with familiar looking rock outcrops, high perches for climbing and resting, and a drinking pool formed of rock.
It is unknown at what stage of her life Katya was de-clawed, but ranch staffers suspect that it may have occurred while she was kept as a pet before she arrived at the zoo. This painful procedure renders any cat—regardless of size—unable to defend herself or catch and kill prey. It also thwarts the animals’ innate need to climb.
After five healthy and happy years at the ranch, in the late summer of 2003, Katya developed a debilitating medical condition—she was barely able to walk. The veterinarians at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences found a growth on, or injury to, her spine. Surgery was performed, but doctors gave Katya a poor prognosis for sustained mobility. If she were ever to walk again, the veterinarians warned that she would require intensive physical therapy for months.
Ranch staff began her physical therapy, determined to give Katya the best possible chance for a full recovery. Despite her injury and painful healing, Katya’s gentle, cooperative nature allowed staff to place a towel under her hindquarters for support and a collar and leash around her neck to gently encourage the excruciating—but necessary—process of trying to walk. Slowly, her hind legs began to move, and then she began putting a little weight on her legs. After a few months of therapy, Katya exceeded veterinarian expectations and began to walk independently.
Unfortunately, nearly a year after the onset of Katya’s degenerative mobility, Sergei suddenly died of natural causes. Though now without a partner, Katya still remains active and mobile. She receives glucosomine supplements daily in her food, and her shelter is furnished with a rubber-padded floor for comfort. Games of kickball encourage her to run for short bursts, and she sometimes plays with the ball by herself. She enjoys having her back and neck scratched and purrs loudly with the attention. She especially appreciates visits on moonlit nights when the ranch is cool and quiet.
Despite the loss of her claws, the cramped quarters of her pen at the zoo, and finally the death of her mate, Katya remains healthy and in good spirits. No doubt she’ll enjoy the comfort of the ranch for the rest of her life. She is a constant reminder for us that wild animals should never be kept as exotic pets or confined in roadside menageries.
About Mountain Lions
Mountain lions (species name Felis concolor) are large cats also known as cougars or pumas. Native to North, Central and South America, in the United States they are found primarily in the west and southwest. As adults, mountain lions are solitary animals especially agile at climbing, using their long tails to help them balance and jump. Mountain lions use rocky outcrops, caves, or other naturally occurring shelters to rest. As large predators, they typically hunt at night but may search for food during the day if no humans are present. Federal government agencies kill mountain lions with cruel methods such as traps and poisons, as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers. Trophy hunting of mountain lions is legal in several western states, including the chasing of mountain lions with packs of radio-collared dogs.
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Published August 15, 2007
