Endangered Big Cats Get Playful With Big Toys (VIDEO)

Big cats deserve big toys.

Forget the fancy iPad apps for cats, these big cats at Florida's Big Cat Rescue sanctuary are happy just playing with some oversized rubber tires.

The cats often seem to be as cheeky and playful as domestic cats. In June, some cuddly lions were caught on camera giving their caregivers hugs and kisses.

Some are a bit more mischievous, as Roger and Pat de la Harpe can attest -- a lion took off with their camera while they were shooting an upcoming piece on lions in South Africa.

Without some serious protection, these big kitties may not be around for much longer, as the mountain lion faces many different threats. By the 20th century, the lions, who were once found across the U.S., were wiped out from the Midwest and Eastern U.S., according to National Geographic.

Leopards are also threatened, and the Amur leopard is one of the most endangered big cats in the world, with only about 35 Amur leopards left in the wild, according to amur-leopard.org.

The Sumatran Tiger also remains critically endangered, even though the animal is protected by law in Indonesia. Despite their efforts, there is still a market for tiger parts and products, according to worldwildlife.org. The number of tigers is at an all-time low, with as little as 3,700 tigers in existence.

The South China Tiger is thought to be functionally extinct, with 47 known animals living in zoos in China.

WATCH:

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Comments

[pbrower2a]

12:51 AM on 10/01/2011

No surprise; animals similar in may respects to the Big Cats (dogs) do much the same.

[GeoTor]

08:29 PM on 09/01/2011

It's not surprising to see the big cats enjoying playing with the balls. Every living thing loves playing with balls, including people. Even porpoises and fish like balls. I'm sure if it was possible for viruses and bacteria to have balls, they'd play with them, too.

[huevos07]

02:03 PM on 08/31/2011

This would be a great planet if it there weren't humans on it. Our species is a total ecological and environmental disaster.

[Master-T]

11:39 AM on 08/24/2011

It's so sad to see these animals in captivity, instead of in the wild where they belong. People who love animals should fight to protect these cats and fight to preserve what is left of their dwindling habitat.

[LiberalLee]

01:44 PM on 08/24/2011

It IS amazing seeing them in the wild.
Just a wee bit scary when the wild is your back yard!
Hubby had a brief visit from a young male mountain lion a month or so ago, no matter WHAT the local DEP says, they ARE here in CT and we've been seeing them for YEARS now.
Thank god there was a 4' high deck rail between them and the surprise made Puss bolt the OTHER way instead of OVER it when Hubby said ''Hello...what are you then?"... Silly Englishmen!

[kristenmgarcia]

11:09 PM on 09/29/2011

I agree, their habitat should definitely be protected. It's so sad that they're being killed off. Unfortunately, they're safer in captivity than in the wild where poachers brutally kill them.

[Christinaa]

09:25 AM on 08/24/2011

That was so cute! I love how the tiger had so much fun with a large red cylinder! Hilarious :)
Did you know that the tiger is the largest cat in the world. I used to think that it was the lion that held the record. Check out how your favourite big cat ranks: http://www.earthrangers.com/wildwire/hot/top-10-biggest-cats/

[Igor Purlantov]

12:13 PM on 08/23/2011

It is always a treat to see these big cats enjoying themselves.

[Ayla McIntosh]

10:23 AM on 08/23/2011

That cat is HUGE

[hyper1]

10:15 AM on 08/23/2011

Awhhhh,

I want one here kitty kitty kitty tic tic tic. Cutest thing I wounder if they would go down on a sliding board in a pool of water here kitty kitty kitty.

[LiberalLee]

01:45 PM on 08/24/2011

Tigers love the water.
You're welcome to try coaxing the others in...

[mmvernes]

10:02 AM on 08/23/2011

Meow

[MrDoughnut]

08:45 AM on 08/23/2011

Where is the photo of the cat and ball?

[LiberalLee]

01:46 PM on 08/24/2011

click on arrow on video still. duh

[trobairitz]

04:58 AM on 08/23/2011

Would love to hear their big purrs. Gorgeous creatures.

[Ecolke]

11:19 PM on 08/22/2011

That was one of my cats that messed up my last post. She walked on the keyboard and no, it wasn't planned.

[Ecolke]

11:18 PM on 08/22/2011

Gawd, I LOVE cats. Big cats, little cats, mean cats, nice cats, pampered cats, feral cats, endangered cats, healthy ca78ts. t5r76yuuuuuu

[mebemommee06]

10:28 PM on 08/22/2011

though I hate to see those big pooty cats in cages. I do applaud keeping them safe from total extinction!

[karen lyons kalmenson]

08:58 PM on 08/22/2011

mega meow-za