State Laws Exotic Cats | Big Cat Rescue | Wild cats in the wild
The ability to legally possess a cheetah is now strictly limited to specific authorized entities: how to buy a cheetah
: Cheetahs are listed in CITES Appendix I , the highest level of international protection. Commercial international trade of wild-caught cheetahs is strictly prohibited. State Laws Exotic Cats | Big Cat Rescue
Buying a cheetah is in the United States and most other countries due to international and federal conservation laws. Historically, while some states had loopholes, the Big Cat Public Safety Act , enacted in December 2022, effectively ended the private ownership of big cats as pets nationwide. Legal Restrictions while some states had loopholes
For the rare entities (like zoos) that can legally care for a cheetah, the financial requirements are massive: