Province proposes ban on buying, breeding, selling exotic cats in B.C.

The B.C. government is proposing a province-wide ban on owning exotic cats.

If approved, all exotic and non-domesticated cat species would be added to the list of approximately 1,200 species already designated as “controlled alien species.”

The change would apply to servals, caracals, ocelots, European and African wildcats, Asian golden cats, and others.

The province says breeding, selling, or acquiring new outlawed species would no longer be permitted, but it would allow current owners to keep their exotic cats for the remainder of the animals’ lives if they apply for a free permit and meet basic care requirements.

“This change would provide consistent and enforceable guidelines to strengthen protections for communities, native wildlife, ecosystems, pets, and exotic cats themselves,” said a release Tuesday.

The province has not announced a timeline related to its proposal.

The penalties associated with breeding or releasing a “controlled alien species” in B.C. include fines, ranging from $2,500 to $250,000, a potential prison sentence under two years, or both a fine and a sentence.