Today, April 30, the Government of British Columbia announced a ban on captive breeding, transport and future ownership of all exotic cats, including servals, caracals, leopard cats, ocelots and any other non-native, non-domestic cat, as of May 1, 2026.
This important announcement comes after decades of campaigning by the BC SPCA against the suffering of exotic cats in captivity. To date, more than 16,000 British Columbians have also expressed their support for this important regulatory change, which is widely seen as a fundamental shift in how we value the lives of exotic animals.
“It is nearly impossible for exotic cats to express their natural, wild behaviours in captivity” says Dr. Sara Dubois, senior director, Animal Welfare Science & Standards at the BC SPCA. “When exotic cats are not free to express their natural behaviours, they may become depressed, destructive or resort to self-mutilation.”
The heartbreaking 2019 cruelty investigation of a serval breeder near Kamloops is just one of many animal protection investigations the BC SPCA has undertaken related to exotic animals kept in captivity, witnessing the devastating consequences of a lack of regulations. The 2008 changes to the provincial Wildlife Act created a Controlled Alien Species (CAS) Regulation to address concerns related to large exotic cats that posed public safety risks. However, this new extension tackles the root cause by phasing out future private ownership of all non-native and non-domestic cat species as pets, in essence, creating a “positive list” where only domestic cats can be kept as pets.
Exotic cats currently kept as pets will be allowed to stay with their guardians for the remainder of their lives, provided that their guardians obtain a free personal possession permit and abide by basic care and safety requirements. Additionally, permitted exotic cats cannot be displayed or allowed to interact with people outside the owner’s household. The ban is intended to ensure that no more exotic cats are brought into captivity and forced to live as pets where their needs cannot truly be met. Under the regulations, the BC Conservation Officer Service will now have the authority to investigate escaped exotic cats, a situation that happens all too often. Releasing exotic animals into the environment is also prohibited.
A Message of Gratitude
The BC SPCA would like to thank the Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, for moving this change forward. We invite every British Columbian who supports the decision to add their name to a letter of thanks, letting the Minister know that making this ban a reality over the coming year is very important to animals and people in B.C.
For more information about the ban and to show your support, please visit the BC SPCA website https://spca.bc.ca/programs-services/wild-animal-programs/exotic-animals/exotic-pets/exotic-cats
