ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE ALL HAD WITH TONY BEING AT TIGER TRUCK STOP BESIDES THE OBVIOUS :
THE LOCATION OF HIS ENCLOSURE, THE NEGLECT HE HAS HAD TO ENDURE SINCE HE HAS BEEN THERE.
THE NEED FOR TONY TO HAVE A NEW POOL (ONE THAT HE WILL ACTUALLY GET IN AND ONE THAT HE IS NOT SCARED OF LIKE THE TROUGH HE HAS NOW.
SHADED TREES NEEDED TO BE PLANTED IN HIS SMALL GRASS AREA. NOT SHRUBS, BUT TREES THAT ARE PLANTED THAT ARE OF A GOOD SIZE, THAT WILL GIVE TONY SHADE FROM THE LOUISIANA SUN.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, TONY IS A TIGER NOT A LION.
TIGERS DO NOT ADJUST TO THE HEAT LIKE LIONS DO, BECAUSE OF THEIR ORIGIN AND TIGERS (TONY) OUT OF ALL BIG CATS ARE KNOWN TO SWIM THE MOST AND ENJOY THE WATER MORE THEN ANY OTHER EXOTIC CAT.
TONY NEEDS A NEW POOL. ONE THAT HE ACTUALLY WILL SUBMERGE HIMSELF INTO.
SUCH LITTLE THINGS ADDED TO HIS CAGE COULD HAVE GIVEN TONY A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THINGS LIKE ENRICHMENTS THAT ARE NOT EXPENSIVE, THAT TAKE SO LITTLE TIME TO MAKE OR PREPARE FOR THIS TIGER.
IN TONY'S CASE THE FACT THAT HE HAS NO COMPANIONS OF HIS KIND NEAR HIM, HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EVER MATE WITH ANOTHER TIGER(due to the fact that he was born in Captivity- but captivity or not, This would not omit the Strong Natural Instincts of a Male Tiger). IS EVEN MORE OF A REASON THAT HIS CAGE SHOULD BE FILLED WITH MANY ENRICHMENTS SO TONY NEVER GETS BORED AND HE IS KEPT STIMULATED.
WHAT IS ENRICHMENT~ THE DEFINITION FOR ENRICHMENT IN ANY DICTIONARY IS " THE ACT OF MAKING FULLER OR MORE MEANINGFUL OR REWARDING"
WHEN RESEARCHING SOME OF THESE ENRICHMENTS, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.
THE CREATIVE WAYS TO KEEP CATS IN CAPTIVITY FROM FEELING BORED AND MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY STIMULATED GO ON AND ON AND ON.
SO WHY HASN'T TONY BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE ANY OF THESE????
A FEW EXAMPLES THAT COULD GIVE TONY MORE THINGS TO OCCUPY HIMSELF RATHER THEN PACING BACK AND FORTH CONTINUOUSLY. GIVING HIM SOMETHING THAT WOULD MOTIVATE HIM OR INTEREST HIM , INSTEAD OF HIS DAILY ROUTINE OF BOREDOM.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SIMPLE STEPS IN DOING THIS CAN INCREASE THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY AND MOST*IMPORTANTLY GIVE THEM A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THERE IS NO REASON WHY TONY CANNOT EXPERIENCE THESE LITTLE FORMS OF CONTENTMENT.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO INSIST ON OWNING A TIGER AND KEEP IT HELD CAPTIVE~THEN WHY DON'T YOU PROVIDE IT WITH THE BEST ENVIRONMENT/HABITAT POSSIBLE??????
BIG CATS PREFER SCENTS , TREATS, AND MENTAL STIMULATION.
SUCH THINGS TONY SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING:
CHICKEN SICKLES-
(uncooked, small pieces of chicken — meat only — that are frozen in chicken broth in small containers and given like pop-sickles)
WILLOW BRANCHES WITH VARIOUS SCENTS ON THEM-
(lavender or Vick’s Vapo Rub are favorites for the large cats) Big Cats LOVE LAVENDER!!!!! Simply putting Lavender on different toys of Tony's would be so good for him....I would love to see his Reaction to this for the first time.
A few dabs of Vicks or Lavender on branches, trees or Burlap Sacks, make Cats rub themselves on it..they are in Cat Heaven when they experience this, and have been known to rub themselves up against this while closing their eyes and then rolling around and around lying there with their bellies up in the air :)
BURLAP SACKS AND CARDBOARD BOXES FILLED WITH HAY-
Another great form of stimulation as Big Cats will play and pounce on these toys, shredding them apart as if they would their pray. and NO hay is not harmful to Tony.....Even a simply Card Board Box would give Tony some enjoyment. Such simply things to "Keep his Mind and Body Stimulated"....
HARD BOOMER BALLS ATTACHED FROM A TREE-
We all know that Tony has a few of these Balls but it would be Wonderful if he had some hanging from a Tree or some other high attachment with a hook, a giant spring covered with PVC pipe to which they could attach a hard plastic Boomer Ball® or burlap sack. The tigers attack and tug at the unyielding item as if it were struggling prey.
BIG BONES WITH MEAT ON THEM-
For most healthy cats this is the Perfect Way To Encourage "Natural Crushing" and also the best way to Keep a Cat's Teeth Clean...Tony's teeth are very yellow from years of not having enough Bones to Chew on to Remove all the Build up he has on them..I hope they do not give him problems..
TREE TRUNKS-
Absolutely costs not one cent, and again would be Great for Tony to Scratch on and also mark his Scent~as that is what Tigers love to do.....A few (FRESH) Tree Trunks tossed in his Grassy Area would be a Huge Welcome to Tony for sure!
FORAGING ENRICHMENT-
Not always putting Tony's food out on the ground or his feeding dish. Putting some of his food in Hidden Areas such as in Carved out Pumpkins or again Burlap Sacks , causing him to tear and shred at them as if they were prey~would be an Excellent Stimulant for Tony as he searches to get his Food.
STRONG PAPER BAGS FILLED WITH TREATS AND SCENTS-
Again these small little and easy things to make would make such a difference to Tony.
ICE CUBES-
Save plastic containers all sizes and properly clean them (dishwasher and/or bleach preferred thoroughly rinsed). Save the blood that comes from the meats that is fed to the cats and pour the blood water into the empty containers. Let freeze 24 hours. Remove the frozen "blood-sickles" from the containers and give to the cats. For lions and tigers, you may use large buckets to get extra large blood ice blocks, remember to remove the bucket before giving the items to the cats.
MORE ALTERNATIVE TOYS-
Tigers love pumpkins, acorn squash or water melons. They can play with these items and tear them up. You may also want to freeze these items.
THINK ABOUT THIS. TONY HAS PACED AND WALKED THE PERIMETER OF HIS CAGE OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR 11 YEARS NOW....
DON'T YOU ALL THINK HE DESERVES A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE?
ALL THESE LISTED ARE SO INEXPENSIVE AND SO EASY TO MAKE.
TONY DESERVES ALL THIS PLUS SO MUCH MORE.
Lavender oil
Tigers Love Trees for scratching, sharpening their nails....
Tiger in a Lavender Bubble Bath :)
Tony needs more to his Routine Life.... Photo courtesy of MJHaik
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