By: Patrick Hamlin
The Catty Shack Ranch is known for being the home to tigers and other exotic animals, but the Ranch’s many visitors would have no idea that most of the basic medical check-ups for these animals are performed on-site.
“We can do most of our routine weigh-ins, vaccinations and other medical procedures right here on site,” said Steve Laquintano, education coordinator at Catty Shack Ranch. “When we need more advanced or invasive procedures done, we have a specialist that we call when needed.”
Their current medical trailer is located near the entrance and is one of the first things visitors pass as they enter the grounds of Catty Shack Ranch. But that might not stay the same for long.
“We recently received a very generous donation that’s going to allow us to break ground on a new medical facility,” Steve continued. “This is going to allow us to be better suited for some of the stuff we currently handle on site, as well as some of the procedures we call our specialist in for.”
The Catty Shack Ranch is constantly changing and building new things to increase the care for the animals, while also allowing the public a great up-close look at some of the most impressive animals on planet Earth.
As of October 2026, the Ranch was in the process of completing their new tiger habitats so they could repurpose the original cages that had been there since the Ranch opened. One of the original cages is currently used as a holding cage for tigers that have recently completed surgery and was occupied by Cayenne the tiger when I visited.