The Catty Shack Ranch

Incredible big cat rescue. Beautiful tigers, lions, cougars. We went in the evening for feeding. Watching these huge animals taking raw meat delicately from the feeder’s fingers was something else. Don’t miss this place.

Wow! The Catty Shack is a must visit attraction! You can get up close to big cats. We’ve been several times over the years and it’s been awesome every time.

This is a real eye opening experience that anyone can appreciate! The volunteers are doing an amazing job of delivering a message and the awe of these unique animals!

This place is a MUST see and by far my favorite attraction in Jacksonville! The night feedings are a great experience and unique opportunity to see these beautiful big cats.

Educational, Fun and awesome! The Catty Shack Ranch definitely could use some upgrades. But its a nice place and the whole point is to see the animals! I had a great time and it was great to see the big Cats so close! Like I said the place for sure can use upgrades such as a non dirt walk way and other cats!

This was a really cool experience and I’m glad we stopped by on our way through Jacksonville. The animals seemed content and we went during feeding time so we got to see them being more active. This was a better experience than going to the zoo.

I cannot be more amazed with a non profit organization. All the volunteers were amazing and have been with organization for a long time. They know all the ins and outs of everything pertaining to these wonderful creatures. We arrived early and had an amazing tour and then we stayed around til 730 for feeding time. It was over 650 lbs of meat being fed. I loved that it didn’t feel like a zoo but like a rescue that love these cats. They couldn’t stress enough that this was that cats forever home. They have a emergency care unit on premises. We saw every volunteer love on these animals. A must see place in Jacksonville. .ticket sales and everything purchased in gift shop go straight to rescue and care for these animals. Please support them!!!

I loved Catty Shack! We took my niece here for her birthday. She’s a huge animal fan and loves the zoo. I had heard great reviews but wasn’t sure about what our evening would be like. We chose to go during the feedings. We were greeted by an employee who started our tour. She was very informative and personable. The whole staff was incredibly friendly and interactive with all of us.
The animals were very active. It was the closest I’ve ever been to tigers, lions etc ever. I learned a lot from the tour as well. It was amazing seeing them up close. I love animals and I’m very into their safety and well being in a «zoo» like setting. You could tell that they are treated so well. They seemed so happy there.
The ranch offers various events and volunteer opportunities. It’s a great place to bring the family, go on a date night, or just enjoy the animals on your own.

This was a great experience! The volunteer tour guides were amazing and very knowledgable about the animals at the sanctuary. We went on Friday night for the 7:30pm feeding tour. If you want the best experience this place has to offer this is it! You are 3 feet away from some of the most powerful animals on earth as the devour hundreds of pounds of meat. It was tremendously humbling seeing the power of these beautiful animals. I recommend for anyone of any age!

This was probably THE coolest experience! Waaaayyy better than any zoo! We had no idea what we were getting into when we headed outside of the city to a residence. We pulled up literally in the owner’s front yard… But once you round that corner, it was like entering Jurassic Park of the cat world! I loved every minute and so did the other 50 people enjoying the night feeding. The hair stood up on my arms the second I heard the first growl… Tal’s roar could scare the Jurassic Park dinosaurs, when the feeders pretend to take away his dinner! The sisters were the best! All 5 of them in a cage together during feeding– I was so scared for the others when that blood curdling growl came out! I wish I lived closer, I would volunteer every day! And I wish I could take my 3^rd grade class there! This sanctuary is an absolute MUST SEE!!! You won’t be disappointed!

What an amazing place! My wife and I lived in jax for over a year and didn’t know it was here. We went for feeding time and they give you a show but an educational one. Every volunteer is appreciative of everyone coming. The tour is informative to each animal. We will go again and I will encourage friends to go, with or without kids.

Voted #1 on trip advisor for things to do in Jacksonville. we went on a Friday night for their night feeding tour. There were plenty of People interested in this non profit wildlife sanctuary. Our tour guide was very knowledgable and said that this was like a retirement community for the animals. All animals were born in captivity. All animals seemed happy and ready to eat. They eat at 730pm and sleep all day. The wildlife ground was huge! You could either walk or ride their golf cart. Dress comfortable and wear sneakers. Overall great place to check out with the family.

We went to ChattyShack Ranch to watch the night feedings. It was a great experience! The staff was super knowledgeable and helpful with our disabled child. They utilized golf charts to take us all around the property. Since there was so many people after the feeding Billy took us back around and answered all our questions and introduced us to all the animals. I highly recommend taking a trip out and seeing the beautiful animals that have been recused!

I love this place because they provide excellent entertainment that you couldn’t get at a zoo while significantly improving the wellbeing of their rescued big cats.
Allow me to elaborate:
On the entertainment side, go to a night feeding. I have gone several times. The animals are energetic and love to play when it gets closer to feeding time. Then you get to see and hear the biggest cat species on the planet roar and pounce three feet away from you. They’re really that close.
On the rescue side, the man that leads the night feeding and feeds and interacts the closest with the big cats is the founder of the rescue. He is very humble and wears a volunteer shirt. His son, works right along side him. Between the two of them, they have an incredible bond with the animals and share mutual respect with all of them.
They do not buy, sell, or trade animals. Once the animals are there, they are there for life. They are a rescue center with a small vet facility on site. When you go there you will see some cats limping (like the cougars). Big animals can have chronic problems like arthritis and hip dysplasia. Catty Shack does their best with administering medicine to keep the animals as comfortable as possible. Thank you, Catty Shack, for doing what you do!

Unbelievably awesome!!! You’ve gotta see the feedings nightly! Absolutely worth the 15 bucks for admission!

Good work and a very educational visit. We went at night and all the animals were awake and in great spirits. Good for the whole family and benefits a good cause!

Some people might write less than a five star review because at first glance, one would feel «sorry» for these animals living in a limited sized area given their wildlife nature. But I’m thankful places like this exist to give domesticated wild animals a home and a place to live rather than being put down by humans or shredded alive by other wild animals who spent their lives in the wild. People have to remember that it’s our fault these animals have to spend their lives here. because they were purchased as exotic pets and later given up due to the liability and responsibility of ownership or because they were bred and raised in captivity for human entertainment purposes only (such as zoos). Even if it is essentially our fault they are here, at least places like the Catty Shack Ranch exist to let them live out their natural lives. They get fed every day and they have a place to call home.
Experiencing The Catty Shack Ranch made me develop a new respect for what «exotic pet ownership» really means. You see it in the eyes of the few who come here to pay their respect and you see the heartbreak in their eyes of what we have taken away from these animals and how we are trying to repay our debt to them. They didn’t ask for this life, but we’re doing what we can for them. Volunteering for a big cat rescue has always been a dream of mines, and finally flying here to Florida to visit The Catty Shack Ranch has officially put this on my top ten bucket list of things to do in life.
The only negative thing I saw during my experience here was the endless flash on cameras during the night time feedings and the little kids running around making the tigers run from end to end after the kids. The big cats are already hungry at night, pacing back and forth. Watching the feeding should be for educational purposes, not amusement. Flash should be restricted especially when there are 10 – 20 different flashes going off all at once on one tiger and little kids should not be allowed to run screaming in front of the big cat cages. especially during night feeding.
Other than that, every single volunteer member was super friendly and I had a fantastic experience. Thank you Catty Shack Ranch.

By and far the best place to visit in Jacksonville!
From what I understand, Catty Shack Ranch was created to solve a problem: there were a number of felines that people kept as domestic pets and well they out grew their homes (as wild cats tend to do) as well as the fact that zoos sometimes did not have room for felines as well and donated them to Catty Shack.
With a number of cats from lions to tigers to panthers and mountain lions, all of these animals seem well cared for by the employees and volunteers.
We visited at night, during the once a week night time feeding (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to see!). There were tons of people there waiting to see the cats being fed. We arrived just a bit later, right as they started to feed the lions. We waited by a group of about 5 tigers and it was really something you have to see – the tigers knew the food was coming and were pacing back and forth and growling at one another. When they saw their food coming they got a bit aggressive with one another (not overly so, just as I would expect wild animals to do). Probably the coolest thing is that you are able to see these felines in action – something you never get to see in the zoo when you visit during the day. It is a bit crazy how friendly some of the volunteers are with the cats (some they will pet/​nuzzle face-​to-​face even before feeding) – not sure I would do the same!
After following some of the feedings, we took some time to look around at the cats and they are all so beautiful to see.
I highly recommend coming here when in Jacksonville! Even though it’s pricey ($ 20 per person) it is definitely worth it!

I have mixed feelings about the place. It has a history of being apart of the problem that they are trying to educate the public on and it’s hard not to question their underlying economic incentive with their current operation.
The cages are small and I spent the entire time feeling so sorry for the animals there. Some of them are in such tiny cages. I like that they do what they can for the animals, but I think they can do more.
I also did not feel that it was very educational. I hardly learned anything about the animals or as much about the organization as I was hoping.

Katy Perry should have filmed Roar here. Not really! The animals are pretty timid during the day. That worked perfectly fine for my first visit where we followed a well informed tour of the grounds. You know when you get here by the smell. The dirt path leads you but just keep following your nose. At one point you forget the smell anyway.
Beautiful big cats are free to move and play in the big cat sanctuary dedicated to their permanent care. Some animals were rescued from personal zoos (it boggles my mind that someone would think they could keep animals like this for pets). But Florida is just the real Jurassic Park.
I’ve gotta go back to check out a night feeding! Was told by the guide that animals are a lot more active. Most of the animals we saw on my first visit were sleeping or lounging, outside of three small clubs that wrestled the whole time. For a second, it’s like a stuffed animal has come to life. They are adorably cute as they roll around in the dirt kicking and pawing at each other. Then you see one slap the mess out of another (like DAMN) and realize just how much strength they have even being so little. And you think about those sharp claws growing and remember When Animals Attack. And take 6 feet back.
So I have to build my way up to the night feeding but I’m definitely going.