Felidae does not support bringing live cats to events for commercial or entertainment purposes, nor do we support breeding or private ownership of wild felids.

In some cases large felids are rescued and, for different reasons, cannot be released back into the wild. Under ideal circumstances these cats should and would be living as nature intended. When this is not possible, a facility set up with appropriate space and habitats is the best option. In some cases, rescue cats living in such facilities are brought to events to be displayed, either for commercial or educational purposes.

Felidae believes that the transport and display of rescue cats is almost always disruptive, stressful and ultimately harmful for the animals. If the motivation is purely commercial, such as to entertain guests at a corporate event or party, that is a case of pure exploitation at its worst.

In an educational scenario, such as a school event or conservation fundraiser, there may be some valid benefit for felid species that results from the display of cats. Felidae believes that these worthwhile cases should be applied only very rarely, and only in circumstances where there is a strong certainty that there will be no disruption and harm to individual animals. This position is based not merely on an abstract principle, but on direct experience. In the past when Felidae has brought in ambassador cats to events, in some cases we have personally seen and felt the inappropriateness of subjecting these magnificent beings to public display, and in others we have found the experience to be fully comfortable and natural for both human and felid participants. It is a rare combination of factors that produces a truly positive experience for all, and for that reason we do not support widespread or common use of ambassador cats even for the best of motivations.