Where The Wild Cats Are

There is nothing like coming face to face with an exotic cat, especially one that doesn’t want to eat you. That’s the incredible experience Rob and Barbara Dicely of Leopards Etc. deliver every time.

I attended the annual Leopards Etc. Big Cat Party in Los Altos benefiting their nonprofit Wild Cat Education & Conservation Fund. I ended up adopting Mischa, the Siberian Lynx. Who could resist a Russian exotic cat named after the world’s greatest ballet dancer? Not me.

If you want to wow your company, school, or party guests, call on Leopards Etc. to bring their wild cat ambassadors and inspire the crowd. Leopards, cheetahs, and other magnificent friendly creatures from the animal kingdom.

Wild cat conservation is one of my great loves. Tigers, leopards, cheetahs, and more. I worry about these felines as their numbers dwindle. The good news is that there are star organizations dedicated to saving these magnificent beasts.

In cheetah and snow leopard country, protecting the locals’ livestock from a prowling cat is very important. A new livestock enclosure or a trained dog can do wonders. In tiger country, it is essential both to prosecute illegal poachers/dealers and to decrease demand for tiger parts in China. How about some viagra instead? That should work better.

Here are some of my favorite wild cat organizations. I can’t catch a poacher myself (although I’d sure like to try), but I can support these remarkable conservationists:

Leopards Etc: They increase public awareness of the plight of vanishing wildlife species on our planet. And they have some gorgeous cats.

Cheetah Conservation Fund led by Laurie Marker

Cheetah Conservation Botswana run by Rebecca Klein

Snow Leopard Conservancy led by Dr. Rodney Jackson

WildAid: They focus on eliminating the illegal wildlife trade and leveraging celebrities to quell exotic animal demand in Asia.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Pandas, tigers, and no wrestlers in sight

A shout out to my friend Sarah Granger at www.sairy.com who attended the party with me. She has 4 (or is it 5?) cats at home.