South African Couple Keeps Loving Cheetah as Pet

I certainly hope she didn't serve that chicken that Jolie was slobbering over. yuck

Many 'wild' animal species can be tamed very well and are not at all dangerous if raised with people. The word 'wild' simply means that the specie in general is not considered a pet by the majority of people and live in their groups without people. Most animals indigenous to each country are considered 'native' wildlife and as such are generally protected and not allowed to be household pets. Interestingly, these animals in another country that they are not indigenous to call them 'exotic' animals and often it is legal to have them as pets. Cheetahs are one of the 'exotic' animals that easily tame and even train and are loyal pets if raised correctly with love, affection and rules, by the 'right' owners. They are no larger than a big dog, and they love to play fetch like a dog. A smaller version of the cheetah is the Serval (no relation, but looks like them) These cats too, are often kept as pets, and are the ones crossed with the domestic cat to create the Savannah cat. The most important thing for anyone to do who entertains having any animal as a pet, even a dog or domestic cat, is to do your homework first and not act on any impulse, or you may be one of the millions of people who end up turning your pet over to a rescue because you can't afford it, can't handle it, can't spend the time with it, don't like it around your children, don't know how to train it, or have a personality clash with it. Take your time, do your homework, talk to the experts, not just the breeders (they are sometimes only interested in your money and will often not tell you the truth about the species or breed), prepare your home accordingly, learn how to train the animal BEFORE you take it home. Don't try to play 'catch-up' with training after you get it. Once you see what it takes to train it in time and expertise you may decide not to get the animal after all. Once you see how much exercise it needs and what it chews on and jumps on, you may decide you don't want that species after all.. Find out all the negative points about the specie, not just the fun things. Homework, homework, homework.

That cat is stuffed!!!

I love animals I really do... but this is not right! So far this big cat has been alright with being cooped up and following the way that it has been trained... but you cannot change the fact that genetically it is a wild cat! Beautiful but dangerous at some point in time! Why must humans think they are special and the animal will never turn on them... how many stories have we heard and read about where someone has had an animal they thought was domesticated and it turned on them and or someone else... I believe the cat should be in a sanctuary where the habitat will be as natural to its needs as possible!!!

Cheetahs are NOT like lions or tigers; they're really odd, in that they act a lot more like dogs in terms of being tamed, and trainable, bonding with humans, etc. They've been trained for hunting to bring down game, just like dogs or falcons, for literally thousands of years, from the days of the pharaohs. Have you ever known someone with a cat that acts like a dog -- comes when you call it, etc., and how delightfully odd it is for a cat? That's what cheetahs are like, just bigger.

Exotic animals like the cheetah belong in the wild!! I think a picture like this just promotes the wrong idea that people think they can raise and domesticate a big cat. They never will be domesticated they are wild and belong in their natural habitat!! I support the Big Cats Times in Florida!!

This wild cheetah belongs in the "wild" as it was intended to live. People think harboring wild animals is cool, but not really.

there is no way in the world that kind of animal should be in no ones home people have not learned yet trying to live with wild animals yet i dont care how cute that thing look it need to be in the wild not in someones home thats crazy any wild animal will turn cause it wants to be free to run around not treated as they damn child

ignorant is, as ignorant writes......cheetahs have been domesticated for thousands of years and are no more dangerous than a dog. Having said that, I do not approve of any normally "wild" animals being kept s pets ......

its America so if you want a dam cheetah as a pet then you get a dam cheetah ... plus if you put that thing in the wild itll die bc it wont be able to fend for itself -- Boom !!!!