Private ownership of servals and other small exotic cats (and their hybrids) in Nebraska:
The Rational Approach...
NebraskaServal's purpose is to restore balance and reason to the laws of Nebraska that regulate the private ownership of wildlife and pets--by replacing the current ban of private ownership of all exotic and hybrid cats (which totally ignores how safe they actually are) with common-sense regulations that would allow private ownership of hybrid cat breeds (savannahs, bengals, chausies, etc.), as well as servals and other small exotic cats. We do not condone--in fact we strongly discourage--illegally keeping any cat. That is NOT the responsible way to do it. Exotic cats can--and do-- live with people as pets, but some species do it better than others, and one has to become knowledgeable about the cat's needs, and be committed to take care of that cat (regardless of how the cat behaves or doesn't behave) for the rest of its life before even thinking about getting a kitten. If you even seriously think about trying to own one of these cats illegally, you`re the wrong kind of person for this kind of pet. You're also the wrong kind of person for this kind of pet if you don't take your commitment to the cat as permanent--for the entire life of the cat (regardless of changes that happen in your life).
According to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission interpretation of Section 37-477, your pet Bengal, Savannah, or Chausie is illegal right now*
There are currently many people in Nebraska who own Bengals, Savannahs, and other hybrid cats who think that they're legal. Some of them may have even checked with their local animal-control authorities before getting their pets, trying to do the right thing. But it turns out that all hybrid cat breeds are illegal throughout the state as far as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) is concerned* (see the current law page). If you own one of these cats now (or think you ever might want to), please . We need to get enough people together to change this badly-written, ill-conceived law!
But it's not just about pets. All species of wild cats are under ever-increasing survival pressure from Man (habitat destruction and fragmentation, hunting, poaching, etc.), and many species are threatened with possible extinction within our lifetimes. The only way to assure their continued survival is to maintain diverse-enough gene pools in captivity. Zoos are not enough: they don't have room for enough animals to save more than a few species, so they pick and choose. Private owners can help--but only if the government doesn't legislate them all out of existence.
So we're looking for people who will help us fight Nebraska legislation and ordinances that are bad for small exotic cats and their hybrids. That support could be writing emails, letters, and/or faxes to state legislators (or other state agencies and local boards), attending committee hearings to show support or opposition to bills, or watching the agendas in local city councils, county boards, Game and Parks Commission proceedings, etc. for bills, ordinances, and regulations that affect exotic and hybrid cat ownership.
If you want to know more, or would like to help restore your right to keep the cat of your choice (either as a pet or a breeder), then .
* This interpretation was explained to me in a phone call to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on 2007-03-09.
Exactly which cat species do we propose to re-legalize for private individuals to own in Nebraska?
All Class III felines as defined in the Feline Conservation Federation (FCF) model regulations. That's most cat species whose typical adult weight is 50 pounds or less (22.6 kg). That includes all the following species (and all generations of their hybrids with domestics):
- African wildcat-- Felis silvestris lybica
- Asiatic wildcat-- Felis silvestris ornata
- African golden cat-- Profelis aurata
- Andean mountain cat-- Oreailurus jacobita
- Asian leopard cat**[2]-- Prionailurus bengalensis
- Asiatic golden cat[1]-- Catopuma temminckii
- Bay cat-- Catopuma badia
- Black-footed cat[1]-- Felis nigripes
- Bobcat-- Lynx rufus
- Canada lynx-- Lynx canadensis
- Caracal[2]-- Caracal caracal
- Chinese mountain cat-- Felis bieti
- Eurasian lynx-- Lynx lynx
- European wild cat-- Felis silvestris silvestris
- Fishing cat-- Prionailurus viverrinus>
- Flat-headed cat-- Prionailurus planiceps
- Geoffroy's cat**[1]-- Oncifelis geoffroyi
- Iberian lynx-- Lynx pardinus
- Iriomote Cat-- Prionailurus iriomotensis
- Jaguarundi[2]-- Herpailurus yaguarondi
- Jungle cat**-- Felis chaus
- Kodkod-- Oncifelis guigna
- Manul-- Otocolobrus manul
- Marbled cat[1]-- Pardofelis marmorata
- Margay[1]-- Leopardus wiedii
- Ocelot[1]-- Leopardus pardalis
- Oncilla[1]-- Leopardus tigrinus
- Pampas cat-- Oncifelis colocolo
- Rusty-spotted cat[2]-- Prionailurus rubiginosus
- Sand cat-- Felis margarita
- Serval**-- Leptailurus serval
** Indicates species that are used in breeding foundation generations of domestic breeds
We do not propose legalization of private ownership of the following species in Nebraska (Class I and II species in the model regulations)--
- Cheetah[1]-- Acinonyx jubatus
- Clouded leopard[1]-- Neofelis nebulosa
- Jaguar[1]-- Panthera onca
- Leopard[1]-- Panthera pardus
- Lion-- Panthera leo
- Cougar[1]-- Puma concolor
- Snow Leopard[1]-- Uncia uncia
- Tiger[1]-- Panthera tigris
[1] indicates the species is CITES Appendix I listed -- all areas
[2] indicates the species is CITES Appendix I listed in some areas, and Appendix II in all other geographical areas
We do, however support individuals' rights to own all the above species where ever they are currently allowed. In other words, we are not going to work on trying to get the above Class I and II cat species re-legalized in Nebraska (where they have been prohibited for about the last 20 years), but we do fully support people in states where they still have the right to own these cats to maintain those rights.
