# Big Cats in Zoos: Do they get "treats"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2014, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346 "2014-01-09T10:21:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/1 "2014-01-09T10:21:58Z")
A few monents ago, my cats clustered around my legs and demanded their Whiskas Temptations treats (crunchy outside, chewey inside). As my vet describes them, they are “kitty crack.” But what about lions and tigers in the zoo? Do they get similar treats? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/2 "2014-01-09T10:40:22Z")
Apparently they love pine trees, there is currently a drive to donate your old Christmas tree to local zoos! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/3 "2014-01-09T11:12:04Z")
Seems like they mostly like [hunks of raw meat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmvlFPXwSnw), but that they also like [catnip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tklx3j7kgJY), [watermelon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8edVU2eo3AY), and [ice cream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV1CVTPVAJg). ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/4 "2014-01-09T13:09:13Z")
They also go crazy for pumpkins! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UcT4paZfflg/hqdefault.jpg "BIG CAT HALLOWEEN!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcT4paZfflg) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/5 "2014-01-09T13:17:43Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > A few monents ago, my cats clustered around my legs and demanded their Whiskas Temptations treats (crunchy outside, chewey inside). As my vet describes them, they are “kitty crack.” > > But what about lions and tigers in the zoo? Do they get similar treats? We, too, call it “kitty crack”. Our youngest is hopelessly addicted. If you walk into the kitchen, he immediately runs to the cupboard where this is kept and looks at you expectantly. Lions and tigers get treats. They’re called “interns” and “docents”. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/6 "2014-01-09T13:28:20Z")
Like their domestic cousins, big cats also seem to like boxes: But they're split when it comes to laser pointers: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/x3BHSt42L0Y/maxresdefault.jpg "BIG CATS vs Laser Pointers!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3BHSt42L0Y) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/7 "2014-01-09T13:41:04Z")
Not as much nowadays, but they used to offer a [buffet](http://www.bible-history.com/past/images/The_Christian_Martyrs_Last_Prayer_by_leon_gerome.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/8 "2014-01-09T13:51:35Z")
They also enjoy [bloodsicles](http://www.today.com/id/43855592) in the hotter weather. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/9 "2014-01-09T14:53:50Z")
A pharmacist I know tells me that a lot of the big cats get anti-depressant meds at a nearby zoo. I don’t know how they intake these feel good meds but it probably is a highlight of their day. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/10 "2014-01-09T17:12:06Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > They also enjoy [bloodsicles](http://www.today.com/id/43855592) in the hotter weather. I was told that the tigers in the Bronx Zoo also are given fishsicles (large frozen fish) in the winter, which is also mentioned as a treat for polar bears in Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/11 "2014-01-09T17:28:41Z")
**Big Cats in Zoos: Do they get “treats”?** Depends on how many little kids fall in their pit. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/12 "2014-01-09T18:18:52Z")
Goats milk popsicles are popular among the lions in the San Francisco zoo, I was told. Apparently goats milk doesn’t keep well so they freeze left over portions, and the lions luuuuv it. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/13 "2014-01-09T20:08:38Z")
A recent news story: [Unfortunate Deer Hops Into Cheetah Enclosure At National Zoo](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/28/deer-cheetah-national-zoo_n_4512777.html). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/14 "2014-01-09T20:43:02Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > A recent news story: [Unfortunate Deer Hops Into Cheetah Enclosure At National Zoo](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/28/deer-cheetah-national-zoo_n_4512777.html). Heheheh. Nice touch to show the cheetah licking its chops. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/15 "2014-01-09T21:12:38Z")
I was gonna ask…do they get many free-roaming rodents? Gotta assume a place like a zoo has a lot of mice and chipmunks. Do they wander into cat enclosures? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/16 "2014-01-09T21:22:33Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I was gonna ask…do they get many free-roaming rodents? Gotta assume a place like a zoo has a lot of mice and chipmunks. Do they wander into cat enclosures? Once. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/17 "2014-01-09T21:40:51Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I was gonna ask…do they get many free-roaming rodents? Gotta assume a place like a zoo has a lot of mice and chipmunks. Do they wander into cat enclosures? [Yes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE-hH3X1tKY). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/18 "2014-01-09T22:17:04Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > [Yes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE-hH3X1tKY). A bit like having a pizza delivered.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/19 "2014-01-09T22:43:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > A bit like having a pizza delivered.🙂 I think of it more like finding a free slice of cake in the break room. The leopard even pauses for a moment… “Anyone gonna eat this? No? Okay, it’s mine then.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346/20 "2014-01-09T22:51:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > A bit like having a pizza delivered.🙂 More like the pizza delivering itself. 🙂 Thanks for the answers, folks. Interesting to hear about the treats that big cats in zoos get! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-cats-in-zoos-do-they-get-treats/678346.md?page=2)