Big Cat Ownership Laws in Tennessee: What Is Banned and What Is Allowed
November 7, 2026
Big cat ownership laws in Tennessee are strict, and the short answer is no: you cannot legally keep a lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, or cougar as a pet. The state has not issued a new personal possession permit for these animals in decades, and a federal law passed in 2022 closed most of the remaining gaps.
This article tells you what the state classifies as a big cat, who is still allowed to hold one, what happens to people who break the rules, and where smaller wild cats like bobcats and servals fall. Read it before you buy, move, or transport any wild cat.
Important Note: This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Statutes, TWRA rules, and local ordinances change, so confirm current requirements with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency or a licensed attorney before acting.
Are Big Cats Legal to Own in Tennessee?
For a private individual, no. Tennessee sorts live wildlife into five classes, and big cats sit in Class I, the most restrictive group. According to the Tennessee Code at FindLaw, Class I covers all species inherently dangerous to humans, and those species may only be held by zoos, circuses, and commercial operations.
The TWRA’s own application form leaves no room for interpretation. Its possession permit application states that Class I wildlife cannot be possessed in Tennessee under that permit, and that no new Class I animals could be added under a personal possession permit after mid-1991.
You may see older websites that say you can get a Class I permit as a pet owner. That was true once. It is not true for a new owner now.
Which Big Cats Does Tennessee Law Cover?
The statute names its target species directly. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-403, the carnivore list in Class I includes lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars, and the law applies to all species of each.
That means subspecies such as Siberian tigers, African lions, and snow leopards are all covered. The same Class I list also covers wolves, bears, great apes, and several other large animals, so a big cat is never treated as a special case.
Hybrids matter too. TWRA rules say hybrids resulting from a cross of two Class I species are added to the Class I list, according to the Rules of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
| Animal | Tennessee Class | Private Pet Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar | Class I | Banned |
| Cheetah, cougar | Class I | Banned |
| Bobcat and domestic cat hybrid | Class III | No state permit required |
Is Private Ownership of Big Cats Banned in Tennessee?
In practice, yes. The law does not use the word “ban” in a single sentence, but the effect is the same. Class I species are limited to zoos, circuses, and commercial facilities, and private individuals cannot get new possession permits for them.
One legal summary from LegalClarity describes Class I animals as off limits to individuals, with a narrow exception for people who legally owned them before 1991. Big Cat Rescue’s state-by-state chart also tracks which states ban or license big cats, and it reports that 35 states ban keeping them.
You might wonder whether a backyard enclosure changes anything. It does not. The classification applies no matter how the cat was raised or where it came from.
Federal Big Cat Law and How It Applies in Tennessee
Federal law sits on top of the state rules. The Big Cat Public Safety Act was signed on December 20, 2022, and it makes private possession and breeding of big cats illegal while also banning public contact with cubs, as summarized in this NewsBreak report on cougar law.
People who already owned lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars, or hybrids had to register them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The same report gives the registration deadline as June 18, 2023.
The practical result is two layers of compliance. Our cougar ownership guide for Tennessee makes the point that a state permit alone no longer satisfies every legal obligation for a lawfully held big cat.
Pro Tip: If you inherit or take over care of a big cat, do not move it until you confirm both its Tennessee permit status and its federal registration. Missing either one can put you in violation on day one.
Big Cat Permit and License Requirements in Tennessee
If you are looking for a permit that lets a private person buy a new big cat, there isn’t one. Permits that exist are for existing animals, exhibitors, and propagators.
State law sets annual fees for personal possession of Class I wildlife at $150 per animal or $1,000 per facility, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center’s copy of the statute. Those fees apply to people who held animals under the old system, not to new buyers.
Facilities must also meet caging standards. LegalClarity reports that big cat and bear enclosures need nine-gauge steel chain link or equivalent with a covered top, with narrow exceptions for open-top designs that use walls at least eleven feet high and an inward-angled top section.
- Documentation of the animal’s supplier and date of acquisition is required for Class I and II wildlife.
- Before any Class I transfer, the new owner must show an approved holding facility.
- Permits are tied to the facility and the specific animals listed on them.
Who Is Exempt From Tennessee Big Cat Laws? (Zoos, Sanctuaries, Exhibitors)
Zoos, circuses, and commercial operations are the groups the statute names as eligible to hold Class I wildlife. Exhibitors need their own permit. The TWRA’s exhibitor permit application says anyone exhibiting Class I or II wildlife must hold an Exhibitor’s Permit, and nonresidents who enter the state to exhibit also need one.
Temporary exhibitors face a timing rule. The application, itinerary, and fee must reach the TWRA at least 21 days before the first scheduled exhibition.
The same form says Class I wildlife cannot be brought into direct contact with the public, with an exception only for trained elephants. That rule rules out cub petting and photo sessions.
The statute also lets the TWRA executive director authorize possession by letter for approved research or temporary holding in the interest of public safety. That is not a loophole for private owners, and approval depends on a written safety plan.
Grandfathered Big Cats and Registration in Tennessee
Tennessee’s grandfather window closed in 1991. The TWRA application says no new Class I animals could be brought into possession under a personal possession permit after June 25, 1991, and its heading cites a July 1, 1991 cutoff for new animals under that permit.
That means a grandfathered owner is someone who held the cat before that date, kept the permit current, and has not replaced the animal. A cat bought later does not inherit that status.
- Keep the state personal possession permit current and renew it on schedule.
- Keep records proving legal ownership, including supplier and acquisition date.
- Confirm federal registration under the Big Cat Public Safety Act.
- Do not add, breed, or replace animals under the old permit.
Our guide to exotic pets in Tennessee lays out how the other wildlife classes compare if you are sorting out a mixed collection.
Can You Own a Big Cat Cub or Hybrid in Tennessee?
No. Age does not change the legal class. A cub of a Class I species is still Class I wildlife, and the NewsBreak summary notes the classification holds whether the animal was captive-bred out of state or acquired as a cub.
Federal law adds a second barrier. The Big Cat Public Safety Act prohibits public contact with big cats, including cubs, which closes the door on paid cub-handling attractions.
Hybrids need careful reading. A cross of two Class I species is Class I under TWRA rules. A bobcat and domestic cat hybrid is a different story and falls in Class III, which the next section covers.
Also note that the federal act refers to hybrids of the named big cats, so a lion-tiger cross is covered under both state and federal rules.
Can You Own a Bobcat, Lynx, Serval or Caracal in Tennessee?
Here the rules split by species. Bobcats are native to Tennessee, and native species are Class II unless the law designates otherwise, per the TWRA rules. A Class II animal needs a possession permit, and you must have papers showing the supplier and date of acquisition, according to FindLaw’s exotic animal guide.
A bobcat and domestic cat hybrid is treated differently. The statute classifies those hybrids as Class III, and Tenn. Code 70-4-403 says no state wildlife permit is needed for them, as LegalClarity explains.
I did not find a source in my research that lists lynx, serval, or caracal by name in the Tennessee classification. Confirm the current class of each species with the TWRA before you buy one, because a native species like the Canada lynx or a protected one can bring separate state and federal rules.
Important Note: A species being absent from the Class I list does not make it legal everywhere in the state. Local ordinances, landlord rules, and federal endangered species law can still apply.
City and County Big Cat Rules in Tennessee
State law is a floor, not a ceiling. Cities and counties can add their own restrictions on exotic animals, and many do. The Animal of Things report on outdoor cat laws in Tennessee shows how much animal control rules vary by location, noting that Memphis, Nashville-Davidson County, and Knoxville each run their own regulations.
Check three places before you consider any wild cat: your city code, your county animal control office, and any homeowners association or lease terms. Local rules can be stricter than the state class system, even for animals the state treats as Class III.
For related local questions, such as what happens to a pet when its owner dies or separates, see our overview of pet custody laws in Tennessee.
Moving or Transporting a Big Cat Into or Through Tennessee
Bringing a Class I animal into the state is not something a private person can do. The TWRA rules require permits for importation, and the wildlife propagation permit application says any nonresident who enters Tennessee to sell Class I or II wildlife needs both a Propagation Permit and an Importation Permit.
Exhibitors traveling through the state follow the exhibitor rules covered earlier, including the 21-day advance filing and the ban on direct public contact.
Keep your paperwork in the vehicle. TWRA rules say anyone exhibiting wildlife must have records proving legal ownership, and shipping papers for imported wildlife must be kept as the permit requires.
Release is never an option. The propagation application warns that releasing Class I, II, or III species into the wild is illegal, and released animals become part of the state’s wildlife rather than personal property.
Who Enforces Big Cat Laws in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is the lead enforcer. It issues the permits, reviews facility inspections, and handles Class I and Class II wildlife, as described by AllowedHere’s Tennessee summary.
One secondary source says the TWRA can conduct unannounced inspections under Tenn. Code Ann. 70-4-421 when it suspects prohibited species. I could not confirm that section against the statute text, so treat the claim as unverified and ask the agency how inspections work in practice.
Penalties start with the permit fee structure. Anyone holding a Class I animal without a permit faces a $150 fine per animal or a $1,000 fine per facility, according to the Animal of Things cougar law report. Other sources cite misdemeanor charges with fines up to $500, so the exact penalty depends on the charge.
Federal agencies, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, enforce the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Local animal control handles complaints and escapes in most cities.
Recent Changes to Big Cat Laws in Tennessee
The biggest recent change is federal. The Big Cat Public Safety Act became law in December 2022, and its registration deadline passed in June 2023. Since then, big cat owners in Tennessee have had to satisfy both state and federal requirements.
On the state side, one legal summary dated 2026 lists no pending legislation on exotic pets in Tennessee. That is a snapshot, not a guarantee, so check the TWRA website and the Tennessee General Assembly before you rely on it.
The TWRA rules I reviewed were last revised in January 2022. If you hold any Class I or II animals, ask the agency whether newer rule changes affect your permit.
The safest summary is simple. You cannot buy a lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, or cougar as a private pet in Tennessee, and anyone who already has one must meet state and federal rules at the same time. If you are thinking about a smaller exotic, our hedgehog ownership laws in Tennessee and goat ownership laws in Tennessee pages show how the state treats those animals.