The Big Cat Sanctuary is a registered animal charity (Registered Charity No. 1104420) whose aim is to contribute to global conservation. It is home to around 40 cats spanning 11 different species, many of which are classed as more than vulnerable to the risk of extinction on the IUCN red list.
We endeavour to provide peace and tranquility, combined with habitats tailored to house different species of cats providing the best possible lives in captivity. Breeding is by recommendation and part of the accredited co-ordinated breeding programmes helping to maintain the genetic diversity of the captive populations of these endangered and iconic cats.
Founded in the year 2000, The Big Cat Sanctuary is located in the heart of the Kent countryside in Smarden, Kent and is set in 32 acres of grassland. It is home to a variety of different wild cat species.
We are unashamedly ambitious in our aspirations for the future which contribute to initiatives which will have a direct global impact.
The Big Cat Sanctuary will be forever indebted to Peter Sampson and the Sampson family for their vision, investment and dedication in founding the Sanctuary.
We continue to go from strength to strength, improving all that we do as time moves on.
Our Vision
The Sanctuary’s vision is to be a leading animal charity supporting the conservation of wild cats as well as promoting the importance of biodiversity and the role cats play in maintaining balance in ecosystems around the world.
Our Mission
The Big Cat Sanctuary is a UK based charity established to conserve wild cats globally. This is achieved through developing and supporting partnerships with other conservation organisations and co-ordinating with breeding programmes of these endangered cats and by fulfilling our four pillars of ethos: Welfare, Breeding, Education and Conservation.
- Fulfilling our four pillars of ethos and supporting conservation initiatives around the globe.
- Delivering an education programme that promotes the importance of bio-diversity in our natural world and the role top predators play in maintaining balance in our ecosystems.
We strive to fulfil our four pillars of ethos – Welfare, Breeding, Education and Conservation by providing the best possible lives for our resident cats, contributing to the breeding programmes and offering sanctuary to retired and rescued cats too. We have a diverse education programme and we are making partnerships to support global conservation strategies, who carry out research to protect and conserve wildlife and ecosystems in which cats play such an integral role.