Big Cat Ownership Laws in Colorado: What Is Banned and Who Can Keep One
November 5, 2026
Big cat ownership laws in Colorado leave almost no room for private individuals. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says that despite other states allowing private possession of various wildlife, Colorado does not allow exotic animals unless a CPW regulation specifically authorizes it. Federal law adds a second layer on top of the state rules.
If you are wondering whether you can keep a tiger, lion, cougar, or even a bobcat, the short answer is no. This article explains what the law covers, who is exempt, what happens to grandfathered animals, and how cities and counties add their own limits. It also covers transport, enforcement, and recent changes.
The rules below come from CPW guidance, Colorado regulations, and federal law. Statutes and regulations change, so confirm any decision with CPW or a licensed attorney before you act.
Are Big Cats Legal to Own in Colorado?
For a private individual, no. CPW states that if an animal is not specifically listed as allowed without a license, it is not allowed to be imported or possessed in Colorado. Big cats are not on those lists.
The state’s baseline is simple: in general, it is illegal to own wildlife in Colorado, and you cannot remove a wild animal from the woods and take it home. Wildlife is treated as a public resource, not private property.
The only domestic cat category the state allows without a license is the domestic cat (Felis catus), including hybrids with wild felines. That detail matters for hybrids, which a later section covers.
Key Insight: Colorado works on an “allowed list” model. If a species is not named on the domestic or unregulated list, you cannot assume it is legal. Silence in the rules means prohibition.
Which Big Cats Does Colorado Law Cover?
State rules do not rely on a single “big cat” list the way federal law does. Instead, they restrict native wildlife and exotic non-native wildlife as broad categories, and big cats fall into both.
Native species include the mountain lion (Puma concolor), which is also called a cougar or puma. Mountain lions fall into the regulated-mammal category as native, non-domesticated wildlife. Non-native cats such as tigers and lions are covered by the exotic wildlife restrictions in the same statute.
Federal law is more specific. It calls big cats “prohibited wildlife species” and includes lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, jaguar, cheetah, and cougar, along with hybrids and alternate names like mountain lion and puma.
| Animal | Origin | Private Pet Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar | Non-native | Banned under state and federal law |
| Cheetah, snow leopard, clouded leopard | Non-native | Banned under state and federal law |
| Mountain lion (cougar, puma) | Native | Banned under state and federal law |
| Bobcat, lynx | Native | Banned under state wildlife law |
Is Private Ownership of Big Cats Banned in Colorado?
Yes. CPW regulations bar private ownership of species including big cats, bears, wolves, and most primates. A 2019 interview with a Wild Animal Sanctuary spokesperson in Yellow Scene Magazine described the rules as strict and nearly 40 years old.
The ban has roots in regulation, not just recent legislation. The state’s wildlife rules say that noncommercial (pet) possession of regulated mammals has been prohibited by these regulations since 1983. You cannot get around this by buying a cat in another state, because you also cannot remove a wild animal from its habitat and keep it at home, even if the species would be legal in another state.
A secondary source, the Big Cat Laws by State guide on Beastly Facts, groups Colorado with the states that ban a tiger or lion outright, with no window for new private owners.
Federal Big Cat Law and How It Applies in Colorado
The Big Cat Public Safety Act applies in every state, including Colorado. It was signed on December 20, 2022, and amended the Lacey Act to end private possession and breeding of big cats nationwide.
The federal law and Colorado law work together. Colorado already prohibited private possession, so the federal act mostly closed off the few remaining gaps, such as breeding for sale and cub contact. In practice, you must satisfy both. Meeting one does not excuse a violation of the other.
The federal act also limits what registered owners can do. According to the Beastly Facts state guide, which quotes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidance, pre-Act owners cannot acquire additional big cats after December 20, 2022, and only registered pre-Act big cats may stay privately owned.
For more on how Colorado treats other animals crossing the border, see this guide to pet import laws in Colorado.
Big Cat Permit and License Requirements in Colorado
There is no permit that lets a private person keep a big cat as a pet. Because bobcats are prohibited as pets for private individuals, there is no standard permit pathway for personal ownership, and the same logic applies to larger cats.
The permit that does exist is the commercial wildlife park license. According to the Big Cat Rescue state law summary, Colorado issues commercial wildlife park permits, and wild felines must be possessed for commercial purposes only. That source is an advocacy group’s summary, so check the current rule text before relying on specifics.
The same summary says applicants must meet specific requirements to qualify as commercial, including showing a plan to profit, having experience, keeping business records, and hiring and training employees. It also reports that any animal exhibited out of a cage requires a $500,000 liability policy. The Big Cat Rescue page is a dated summary, so verify these figures with CPW.
Enclosure standards are written into the regulation itself. For felids, the Colorado Code of Regulations, Chapter W-11 requires a minimum height above ground of 8 feet with a top cover over the entire enclosure, or 10 feet with an inward cantilever having two 16 gauge electrified wires on top.
Important Note: A wildlife park permit is a business license with strict conditions. It is not a loophole for keeping a “pet” tiger on your property.
Who Is Exempt From Colorado Big Cat Laws? (Zoos, Sanctuaries, Exhibitors)
Exemptions are narrow and tied to licensed, commercial, or educational operations. Under the state’s wildlife park structure, the people who can legally hold a big cat are permitted wildlife parks and similar facilities, not hobbyists.
The federal act has its own exemption list. It covers accredited zoos, wildlife sanctuaries that meet federal criteria, certain research and veterinary facilities, and wildlife rehabilitators. Sanctuary status under the federal law generally means no breeding, no cub handling, and no public contact.
Colorado is home to a well-known sanctuary operation. The Wild Animal Sanctuary’s spokesperson told Yellow Scene Magazine that the sanctuary purchased a 35-acre refuge in Southern Colorado where two “Tiger Brothers” and a lion were released. That article is from 2019, so treat the acreage as dated information.
- Licensed commercial wildlife parks operating under CPW permits
- Accredited zoos and qualifying sanctuaries under federal criteria
- Research, veterinary, and rehabilitation facilities with proper authorization
- Government agencies handling wildlife for management or conservation
Claiming to be a “sanctuary” on a website does not make you exempt. You must meet the legal definition and hold the right authorizations.
Grandfathered Big Cats and Registration in Colorado
Federal law created a narrow grandfather clause. Private individuals or entities who owned big cats before the law’s enactment could keep them, provided they registered each animal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service no later than June 18, 2023.
That window is shut. Registration is no longer available, so anyone who did not register a cougar by that deadline has no legal path to keep one under federal law. The same reasoning applies to every other covered species.
Federal registration does not override Colorado law. Because the state prohibits noncommercial possession of these animals, a federally registered cat still has to comply with state rules. If you hold or know of a registered animal in Colorado, contact CPW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to confirm what applies to that specific situation.
Can You Own a Big Cat Cub or Hybrid in Colorado?
You cannot own a big cat cub. Age does not change the legal category, and the federal act also bars private breeding and public cub handling. Cubs become adult tigers or lions quickly, which is a major reason regulators ended the cub-petting trade.
Hybrids are less clear at the state level. The Big Cat Rescue summary says hybrids are not noted as illegal in the statutes, but they are illegal in the City of Denver and other Colorado cities. Federal law separately lists hybrids of the covered big cats as prohibited.
CPW’s domestic list includes the domestic cat, including hybrids with wild felines. That language leaves room for debate over how far back in a hybrid’s ancestry the exemption reaches, and a first-generation cross with a large wild cat would raise federal and local problems regardless. Ask CPW in writing before you buy or breed any hybrid.
Can You Own a Bobcat, Lynx, Serval or Caracal in Colorado?
Bobcats and lynx are native wildlife, so they are off limits. Bobcats are classified as a furbearer species under Colorado law, and because bobcats are a regulated native species, private pet possession is not an available option. Lynx are even more protected: hunting lynx in Colorado is already illegal, since the federally threatened species was reintroduced in 1999.
Servals and caracals are non-native, so they fall under the exotic wildlife rules. Because Colorado only allows animals that appear on its domestic or unregulated lists, a serval or caracal that is not listed cannot be imported or possessed. CPW’s wording is that any species not specifically listed is not allowed.
The state’s bobcat guidance carries an important warning. Even if you legally owned a bobcat in another state, bringing it into Colorado would still violate state law, because Colorado does not honor out-of-state possession arrangements for regulated wildlife.
The bobcat ownership breakdown and the cougar ownership guide cover each species in more depth.
City and County Big Cat Rules in Colorado
Local governments can add restrictions on top of the state ban. Colorado is a home rule state, so cities and counties set many of their own animal rules. Because Colorado is a home rule state, local municipalities have the power to enforce rules differently than the state.
Denver is the clearest example for hybrids. As noted above, hybrid cats are reported to be illegal in the City of Denver and other Colorado cities. Local codes also commonly limit the number of pets per household, and Fort Collins limits households to three dogs or cats unless the owner holds a kennel license.
If your question involves any wild or hybrid cat, call your city or county animal control before you do anything. Local rules can be stricter than state law, never looser. For help with other local pet rules, see these guides to dog leash laws in Colorado and pet custody laws in Colorado.
Moving or Transporting a Big Cat Into or Through Colorado
You cannot bring a big cat into Colorado as a private owner. CPW’s rules prohibit importation of wildlife that is not on the allowed lists. The state’s own regulation says Colorado law generally prohibits the importation, live possession, sale, barter, trade, or purchase of any species of wildlife native to Colorado.
Moving a cat between licensed facilities is a different matter, but it still requires authorization. The regulation allows live possession only under the exceptions noted, and certain imports require that the source state’s wildlife agency has determined the animal to be habituated and non-releasable. Federal law also restricts interstate transport of prohibited big cats under the Lacey Act.
- Confirm the receiving facility holds the right CPW permit.
- Contact CPW before any import or transit through the state.
- Check federal requirements with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Get written authorization before the animal moves.
Do not assume that passing through Colorado on a highway avoids the rules. Ask first, because a seizure at a traffic stop can happen with no warning. For related border rules on domestic pets, read the Colorado pet import laws page.
Who Enforces Big Cat Laws in Colorado?
CPW is the lead state agency. It is the department responsible for all wildlife management, and its wildlife officers handle possession, importation, and permit violations. Local animal control and law enforcement enforce city and county ordinances. At the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces the Big Cat Public Safety Act and the Lacey Act.
The penalties are real. Illegal possession of wildlife is a misdemeanor, with fines, imprisonment, or both that scale by species, and confiscation of the animal is standard. Federal violations carry separate penalties, which can include fines and prison time.
| Agency | What It Enforces |
|---|---|
| Colorado Parks and Wildlife | State possession, import, and permit rules |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Big Cat Public Safety Act and Lacey Act |
| City and county animal control | Local ordinances, including hybrid bans |
If you see someone keeping a big cat illegally, report it to CPW rather than approaching the animal or owner.
Recent Changes to Big Cat Laws in Colorado
The biggest recent change is federal. The Big Cat Public Safety Act took effect after its signing on December 20, 2022, and the registration deadline passed on June 18, 2023. Colorado’s own ban on private possession did not need to change, since it already prohibited it.
One ballot measure is easy to confuse with ownership law. Proposition 127 in 2024 concerned hunting, not pet ownership. It failed, with only 45% of voters supporting the measure. Hunting lynx remains illegal in Colorado regardless of the result.
Because the Big Cat Rescue summary and some other sources predate recent updates, always check CPW’s Wildlife Aren’t Pets page for current guidance. If you are researching other animal rules in Colorado, the guides on backyard chicken laws, beekeeping laws, and goat ownership laws cover legal animals in Colorado.
The bottom line for you: do not buy, breed, import, or accept a big cat in Colorado. If you already have one, stop and call CPW and a wildlife attorney first.