The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

The enclosures are very spacious and very well maintained. The animals look very healthy and well taken care of. It's hot during the day (time of our visit), so animals are very inactive. Only 1 tiger and bear were up, walking around to be able to see up close. We wanted to do a night feeding tour, but my grandsons wouldn't be in town. It's definitely worth a visit for the cost. I look forward to going back when it's cooler outside.

A great sanctuary that you can tell cares very much about the animals and the environments they are provided as well as the experience customers are receiving. We went on one of the hottest days of summer so unfortunately at the time we went, many of the animals were sleeping or retreating to shade, but there was still a lot to see and be excited about! My kids loved it. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed my visit to this sanctuary. The enclosures are beautifully equipped nice size and the staff really know their stuff. There was an older woman just walking around with a volunteer t-shirt on giving us all kinds of information about the animals It was a wonderful time. I was able to capture some great videos I hope you're able to take the time to watch and go visit. All the money from visitors goes to helping the sanctuary continue to run and supply for the animals that are there. I will be returning with my husband next time. I'd also like to add it as absolutely wheelchair friendly I went by myself an electric wheelchair and all was well. Lots of good vibes and kids enjoying animals they would never otherwise be able to see. Thank you thank you thank you for providing such a wonderful place for these animals that came from such horrible conditions. This is definitely a heartfelt mission for these folks and I would support them 100%.

My family has been to Jacksonville two times. Both times we’ve gone to the Catty Shack Ranch. These trips were 10 years a part and it was incredible to see some of the same tigers and other large cats. The sanctuary has expanded since we were there last, and it has all been for the better. They now have two black bears! You have to come see this place, and if you can manage it, come during a night time feeding. It is well worth it and your trip supports the expansion of the ranch.

The night feeding was a great activity to bring the kids to. The staff is super friendly and engaging and you learn a little bit about the animals while they are given dinner. Good assortment of rescue animals to see. The facilities and pens are kept clean and there are almost no bad smells. Be careful the lions do like to splash and play!

This was a gem, I came by for their night time feeding and the value was fantastic, the cats were all happy and healthy, you could see that they were loved and wanted attention. They were playful. Great family event

Had a lot of fun and got so close to a lot of gorgeous animals! The staff was nice, the animals seemed comfortable, and it wasn't too busy, they offer sunscreen and bugspray for free which is great in the summer heat,

The place was a fun visit! The animals seemed happy just hot and bored. Lots of tigers and a few bears and other small cats and animals. It was great the family had a good time!

The place was a fun visit! The animals seemed happy just hot and bored. Lots of tigers and a few bears and other small cats and animals. It was great the family had a good time!

Animal exhibits are always risky. Is it truly a sanctuary? Are the animals being treated well? Do i feel icky being here? Are they teaching people how to help the animals? The answer here is an 80/20 split for good. The vast majority of their animals are rescue from shut down zoos, and people thinking they can own a tiger. However, they did some breeding years ago, so there are a few "bred in captivity" animals. They no longer breed, which is a plus. They also don't go in the enclosures with the big cats, which I appreciate. The employees were very knowledgeable. The enrichments really seemed to be enjoyed by the animals. The animals seem to be healthy, and comfortable. They very kindly have sun screen and bug spray near the entrance. The bathrooms were nice and air conditioned. The gift shop is small and unassuming. They don't hound you for money, despite being a reasonably priced experience who relies a lot on donations. Overall, while not perfect on the "is it good for the animals front" (there's too much to dive into) they did a lot of things right, and i would go back!

Great outing and great prices online. We received a t shirt and snow cone with our ticket purchase which is really good. Great customer service and the employees are very friendly. We had a great time. I love that they have insect spray for you as well.

The Catty Shack was a lovely experience! The animals seem to be very well cared for and cherished here. It is obviously ran by people who care and comes off as a passion project rather than a cash grab. This sanctuary is very respectful to their animals and guests alike. They had plenty of shade spots with fans and even complimentary sunscreen/ bug spray which i thought was very kind. The Staff are very kind and knowledgeable. This is a really great little spot and I recommend visiting (and donating if you are able!)

I finally had a chance to visit Catty Shack Ranch while my little brother was visiting Jacksonville. It's so cool to have a wildlife sanctuary essentially in our backyard. Located inconspicuously in a neighborhood near oceanway and the cape. The entrance fee is only $15 to walk the property. We were able to visit the big wild cats, little wild cats, bears and foxes. We even heard one of the tigers meowing! I'll definitely be back with my husband!

This was a fun visit. Got to see the tigers up close and a few bears. Feeding at night was great to watch. It wasn't too crowded and the bugs weren't as bad as I thought they would be. We bought the package with the snowcone and t-shirt. It's a great deal.

I find it incredibly sad that such a place has to exist, but on the other side of that, I find it amazing that this group of folks has taken these amazing creatures and given them a safe environment to live out their lives. Catty Shack is a non-profit organization, and as such, the volunteers are invaluable. And they were informative and you can tell they love what they're doing. They are in the midst of building out a new medical building and other areas to give the animals more space and more stimulation. The majority of the animals they have are big cats, but there are also fox, a lone bear, and a few other animals as well. You can visit during feeding time too, you just hae to check the website for times/days. We were fortunate enough to witness two tiger sisters playing, and it is amazing how stealthy they can be sneaking up on each other. This, in turn, caused the lions to announce their presence, which was awesome. They are always looking for volunteers, and I plan on checking out the times they have the need and getting out their to lend a hand.

I brought my grandsons here to view all of the big cats. It was very nice and the animals are taken care of so well. There are staff mingling all around the compound and they are very happy to answer any questions you may have about the animals. Picnic tables for eating and snacks available. Also available is sunscreen and bug repellent. Definitely a must visit to see these magnificent creatures.

They rescue cats and other wild Animals, either from private owners or zoos which close down. Feeding time is at 7pm each evening, so all are very active for feeding time. Be sure to check out "The Littles" an area for smaller cats and fox.

I came here with the Jacksonville USBG for the Campari Day of service a nation wide volunteer effort conducted by service industry professionals. The first part of the day was spent cleaning and assisting the staff with upkeep of many animal enclosures. I was on paint duty for the majority of the morning. The enclsures havsvtof the morning. Animals Galore!!! Then, guests will go on a guided walking tour with the opportunity to see the resident animals, which include tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, lynx, coatimundis, and foxes. It's so cool to see an animal sanctuary in Jax like this. Who knew tiger's like the smell of perfume?

My husband was looking for a way to stretch out legs when he found this gem. It is a bit off the path but worth the stop. After seeing a few cat documentaries I was skeptical. However, we truly enjoyed this quick visit to Catty Shack. There is a brief four-minute video to watch at the entrance that helps give some background info. I appreciated interacting with volunteers around the ranch. As much info is given on the placards, it is lovely talking with people who can give more insight into animal personality, etc. Several animals were moving around and active. It was honestly amazing to see them so close up. We learned that all of the animals were rescued from various places. The property is in the process of being expanded and the changes look to be amazing. $15 entry per adult and I believe it is worth it. We'd definitely stop again!

Great outdoor viewing of animals each with their own story. Nice late fall day enjoyed. Not many people, but animals seemed to enjoy audience.

Catty Shack is a quiet and quaint place to take family. No lines and small enough to tour in less than two hours...Staff was friendly and talked about animals nicely when we asked questions. Location is away from the city and busy-ness.

Great place to take the kids and learn about the big cats and wild animal rescues. Kids enjoyed the night time feeding activity

Catty Shack has really stepped it up over last few years since our last visit. The enclosures are larger, great housing g for the cats and seems like they are growing non stop. We came with family from out of state and thought the pre-teens and teens would enjoy it. They did as well as the adults! Getting to be so close to the animals is really thrilling! We came for the enrichment time where they feed the cats treats and games. It's not quite as exciting as a nighttime feeding but still fun. The volunteers and staff are great telling about the facility and the animals.

Came here with the family for the night feeding, it was a very cool experience that people should try at least once! The larger cats were very active and vocal! The smaller animals seemed like they didn't want to be bothered as most were hiding or sleeping. The staff and the volunteers are knowledgeable and willing to answer questions that people had. Super easy to book tickets online and the website answers pretty much any questions you may have about your visit like what to wear, if they are open when it rains, if you can take strollers, and etc. The website says to bring big spray for the night time visits but they also graciously provide some for their guests. They are looking for volunteers and sponsorships if someone is looking to get involved. You can tell they care about these animals.

Great side trip if needed before or after flight for JAX. Staff is friendly and willing to share all the details about all the animals they look after.

Amazing place!! You can tell they pay attention to the animals and genuinely care for them. The night feeding is a great experience. Beautiful place and great ethics!!

This is a great week night family outing or if you prefer going on the weekend. They do feedings on certain days so giving them a call ahead of your trip may be helpful. You can get really up close and personal with some pretty big cats. But most of them are nice?? The trainers and handlers are always in control so you don't have anything to worry about. Not to expensive either so that's always a plus. So what do you say grab up the kids and go hang out with the biggest cats they will ever see.

My husband and youngest son love big cats. They watch them on the National Geographic Channel all the time. Visiting this place was a no brainer. Buying tickets online was easy. We chose the tickets that allowed us to see them feeding the cats. With those tickets, you can enter at 6:00 PM and the feeding starts at 7:00 PM. There were quite a few people there, but it's outside so I felt okay. The volunteers were really nice and they gave us information about the different cats that were there. This is not a zoo; it's an animal sanctuary. These animals were not taken from the wild. They normally come from zoos or private collectors they can't keep the animals. Since this isn't a zoo, you're a lot closer to the animals. There are barriers, of course; however, you are definitely closer to them, which is a cool experience. They are expanding so if you're in the area, check it out! Our ticket purchases help them keep this place going.

Having not been here for years I was Really surprised of the advancement that had been made on this property and to all the updates to the living quarters for the animals. It was really nice seeing all the little pools of water that many of the animals had and as we walked noticed the acreage was so much more lush with greenery that it made it very tropical feeling. It looked like each animal's cage was well kept and well-thought-out with the little wooded raised cabins that they had for some of the animals. They have pavilions at the back of the property where you can have events, meetings luncheons et cetera. I think the place took us about an easy 2 hours to go through and back within that is enjoying each animal and going back through again to the front and a lunch time stop . All of their volunteers were friendly and attended to all our questions. There Porterable potty bathrooms were well kept. There is a food stand also so stop for snow cones. It was just really a great time and a way to enjoy being with the family on a nice florida today. Would recommend a visit.

This place was EXACTLY what I was expecting it to be, and we loved it. At most zoos, they advertise that they have a lion or a tiger exhibit, but when you actually get there, all you see is a paw sticking out from behind a rock from 100 feet away. Here, they have many many large cats, and there is a good chance that you will get to see at least one very close. They also had an arctic fox here, something I never thought I would see in person. The staff was very friendly, admission is affordable, and the concession prices were VERY reasonable. We will definitely recommend this sanctuary to friends and family.

My son and his girlfriend took me to Catty Shack for my birthday. It was an amazing experience! Its bittersweet knowing these beautiful animals were selfishly taken from their natural environment but lucky to have ended up at such a wonderful sanctuary where they are well taken care of. I was impressed with the cleanliness of the place and all the keepers and employees were so friendly and seemed eager to be there. You see tigers, two lions, a black bear, jaguar, cougar, lynx and so much more up close, a whole different experience than the zoo! I highly highly recommend this place. All proceeds go back into the sactuary. They are building new, larger enclosures for the animals which goes to show the dedication in providing a good quality of life! Bring your family, great for kids!! A must for animal lovers!

Bigger than expected. Relaxed experience and easy to see the animals. Volunteers were very helpful and friendly.

We loved this place. Most of the enclosures are much nicer than the ones you see for big cats at the zoo with waterfalls and little cabins. And the animals appear well cared for. The staff is around to answer questions - we especially appreciated Jennifer's talk and answering our questions about Blessing the Bobcat.

Personally I have a hard time with most zoo's because I enjoy seeing animals in their natural environment. The difference here is most of these cats are rescues from places that could not take care of them, or held them illegally. The staff were all helpful, knowledgeable and kind. It was nice to see them interacting with the cats. It looked like they were doing a lot of up grades to the enclosures as well and adding water features which is nice. All and all our money went to a good cause (we even bought shirts) and the time spent there was good. Such power and beauty in these cats.

Small size overall, but makes up for it with an up close and personal experience with lots of BIG Cats. A really great collection of all sorts of big cats and you get closer than most zoos. Never really crowded and you don't feel rushed. They offer tours where you can watch their feedings and in the early evening when the cats are more active. You don't have to hunt to try to catch a glimpse. You will not be disappointed. They take great care of the animals and they need donations to keep their conservation efforts going. Catty Shack offers great volunteer programs for high schoolers to get their volunteer hour requirements completed while offering a rewarding experience that helps keep the ranch running. I highly recommend it!!!

This is a hidden gem. If you are in the area or just traveling to the Jacksonville Airport, it's worth planning for an hour or two to stop and see the cats. I've been to several zoos and sanctuaries but have never had the opportunity to be this close to the animals; especially without bug crowds. The cats are well kept and gorgeous.

I went on the day they feed the felines tour. The tour guide was the owner. He was very informative of the different species, as well as, the backstory of each animal he fed. This is a sanctuary & on a string budget. All proceeds they get goes directly towards supporting these beautiful animals.

SUCH an amazing experience. This place truly cares for their animals and treats them well. You can regularly see volunteers and staff loving on the animals and the animals truly enjoying their attention and affection. Lots of pets, belly rubs, and playing in their beautiful enclosures and pools. Best time to go is for their night feeding and tour. They are super active at night. Also great t shirts and snowcones!!!

Strange concept of having wild animals essentially right next to a neighborhood. Tigers, lions, back panthers and more. You are literally driving past family houses and then turn into their parking lot. Their parking lot is not huge but def has enough spaces to park. Entry fee is $15 for adults, less for kids. To start the tour they do a brief video to introduce them and then have a tour guide. All employees are volunteers, but this lady had a good knowledge. She gave us the back story of each animal, discussed their personalities and was able to answer any question about them. We did a later tour so didn't have time to go around to all of the cages before the feedings started. My recommendation would be to get there right when it opens to give you plenty of time or skip the tour all together. The feedings are amazing. The animals know when feeding time is near as they start going wild, making noises, and running all around their cages. The animals know just wear to go to get their meal. The trainers even go inside some of the cages. Other ones they just feed through the hole in the fence. Feedings start at the back and end up front. My recommendations: wear bug spray, wear closed toed shoes, and go for the night feedings. Once the feedings are over take a quick tour through the place by yourself. Almost everybody will be gone so you have the place to yourself. Coolest thing: you can sponsor an animal for a pretty cheap price!

Catty Shack Ranch was an overall wonderful experience! We decided to go on a Sunday to enjoy the enrichment experience and our kids loved watching the big cats and especially Maddie the bear enjoy their enrichment treats, the staff went above and beyond when our kids asked questions about the animals and explaining how they came to the sanctuary, how old they are, their habitats, etc. We purchased our tickets in advance online and it was one of the easiest online ticket sales we have had as well as fast entry once we arrived. It's a smaller sanctuary which gives for a more personal feel and experience, the self guided tours are nice because you can go at your own pace without feeling rushed and truly get to enjoy the beautiful animals. We look forward to visiting more this summer! If you go, consider symbolically adopting one of the animals

Florida is so much for animal lovers and the Catty Shack ranch seems to definitely love their "guests" (animals). Located a few miles north of Jacksonville, this preserve/sanctuary houses mostly rescued large cats (e.g., tigers, lions, cougars, etc.). These "guests" would be considered "senior citizens" as most of the 3 dozen or so animals are toward the tail end of their life expectancy. But with shelter, medical care, and food, these "guests" can comfortably live out the rest of their lives. Their pens, while not spacious, are comfortable. The staff seem to genuinely love their charges, feeding and tending to the animals and keeping their enclosures clean. For $10-$15 per visitor, we got to spend about 2 hours watching the afternoon activities of these great cats. This includes some selective feeding. Unlike other places, there were no restrictions to photography. Very interesting watching a tiger devour a grocery store chicken from less than 10 feet away. The weekend night time "show" (these animals are not really putting on a show but simply eating) is pricier but includes a t-shirt and likely more activity since the big cats tend to be more nocturnal. This place is a definite must-visit, especially since your admission fee goes to taking care of the animals (and supporting other rescue activities).

If you're looking for something new to do.. I'd suggest Catty Shack anyday. Its very informative & helpful to the community to have a better understanding of these beautiful wild animals. Its definitely not a zoo, but just as educational (maybe even a little more) in my opinion. Just a few things to keep in mind: - wear closed toed shoes, especially if its rained the day before. Lots of dirt/mud so wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. - Bring/wear bug spray & sunscreen; they do offer some to visitors around the place too! - Visit during feeding times; if you have littles..trust me they'll enjoy this! - At the beginning of the sanctuary they do offer decent priced snacks: nachos, hot dogs, sno-cones, drinks Overall, I think this place is worth the drive & visit!

Not bad. Not much shade. The cats are beautiful. The poor bear is so hot (needs a tub). It cost us $52 for four of us, which to me is worth the price. I would recommend going in the Spring or Fall.

I gave a review a year ago then found out I had two Yelp accounts cuz I got married and could not combine them. UHG! My husband and I visited the ranch last year and had a good time. I thought the place would be bigger however we still enjoyed ourselves.

Catty Shack night feedings are so fun and interesting to be a part of! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The evening was organized and easy to follow while still remaining socially distanced. Don't forget your bug spray!

I wont lie, we went to the Catty Shack as a result of watching the tiger king lol. Unlike the allegations on the show, the animals here are clearly well taken care of and seem happy. The presentation given by the staff was good and informative. From what I was told, they're actually expanding the sanctuary. I can't wait to visit the sanctuary once the new area is officially added!

Totally recommend! Once in a lifetime experience to be so up close to these beautiful animals. Great, affordable family outing that won't disappoint. Volunteers were super friendly and informative!

It is sad to see these majestic animals in caged areas. However, this place provides homes for animals that cannot survive in the wild. So, while I would rather see them roam free, I understand it is not possible. The guides are posted throughout and are eager to share information with you about the animals. As we were watching one tiger pace back and forth the guide warned us that if he picked up his tail....he did and we got away just in time! We got to watch one tiger lovingly grooming another tiger. You get to see the animals close up. It is a unique place to visit.

Just not my thing. Staff were pleasant, cost covers care/food for animals but I don't feel a need to return.

I wished I'd done this long before now! What an amazing and beautiful experience. Not even the rain and cold could put a damper on this day. The concession area sold hot chocolate, so all was well. These big cats were rescued or born at the Shack. After the guided tour, we were encouraged to stay and revisit our favorite areas. We got a chance watch the Staff offer Enhancements(today was pumpkins and perfume). I want to come back at night and watch the Cats feed. I would also like to do the overnight camping event.

I visited this place around September 2017. It was a belated birthday gift from friends. It was the best gift ever. The tour was fascinating but seeing so many wildcats, tigers, lions, and leopards was very distracting. We got to see them feed the animals raw meat at night too. I was so impressed that I went there again with friends on a double date and to give them a unique gift. They loved it too. We went during Halloween season in October and went through their scary haunted walk in the woods. It was very thrilling and better than watching a haunted movie. I definitely won't forget Halloween at The Cattyshack. My favorite part of the Cattyshack was the tigers. Watching the tigers was very zen and therapeutic. I could just look at them for hours in silence. They possess this air of pride, nobility, and stoicism. The Cattyshack has done a wonderful job rescuing and taking care of these beautiful creatures. I hooe to revisit this place again and see the tigers.

If you're looking for a new family friendly place to check out in Jacksonville, I highly recommend the Catty Shack Ranch. The Catty Shack is completely run by volunteers and the ticket fees goes towards the care of the large felines who reside here. My friends and I came here in November, unfortunately when it was free kid November. So there were a lot of families for the night feeding when we went, but we had a lot of fun that we would go again. Tours are every 15 minutes and given by volunteers. The tour starts off with a brief video on the history of the Catty Shack Ranch, and then the rest is a walking tour of the grounds. You will get to meet all of the residents and hear a little bit about each of them. Feeding time was a pretty neat experience. It was astonishing to see these large cats interact with their human handlers and get all excited when they know it is feeding time. Children and adults alike really enjoyed watching these large cats interact with each other, with their human handers, and feeding on the raw chicken. If you have never been to the Catty Shack, I high suggest you come and bring your family. It is a pretty neat experience for everyone of all ages.

Really great program to help rescue cats in the illegal exotic animal trade or give them a home when a zoo closes down. The conditions right now are cramped but understandably so, as they appear to be doing construction on half of the sanctuary. Overall a great program, and it's awesome to be able to see so many tigers up close, all the wild cats are beautiful.

The staff/volunteers were super friendly and very knowledgeable. Very nice place to take kids and have them learn about Wildcats .

I would swear that my original visit had the workers running through the cages with the tigers while they were distracted with their dinner. No one else remembers this...! This visit was hot and muggy in mid-July. We skipped the video and guided tour as our 2 and 4 year olds didn't have enough patience to listen. So wandered around on our own. Such a neat experience, and so much more up close and personal with the tigers than a regular zoo. The kids were enthralled. I've heard they do a sleepover event. Would love to try this with my kids in a few years.

Cute place. A little hidden treasure. Would definitely visit again. A good place to let the kiddos run out some energy

What a gem! First, is the reason why they exist as a non-profit, to gently save/rescue animals from other organizations or unfortunate circumstances. Second, they care for them in a secure, appropriate natural environment. Third, as a guest, you can get very, very close to the cats. Unlike in other zoos, where you are very far away. I have been fortunate to have been on a safari in Botswana and my impression is that the staff and volunteers here are "on their game". Pun intended.