Tiger cubs
“If you don’t have any more questions we can go up to the house and see the cubs,” the guide finally said, when we’d seen all the adult animals. I say “finally” because the private tour was almost two hours long. It was a phenomenal tour, and I enjoyed every minute of it, but when you know you’re going to fulfull a lifelong dream at the end two hours becomes an eternity.
“Okay,” I said, and tried not to dance in place.
We walked up the hill in the glaring sunlight, kicking up puffs of dirt. At the house, which is surrounded by a fence, we had to wait for the owner to come lock the guard dogs up. Another eternity. Finally she showed up and took care of the canines.
Our guide vanished into the house for several minutes. Robyn and I stood in the shade and I tried not to piddle on the ground like an overexcited puppy. When the guide returned, she carried a bottle of hand sanitizer and a clipboard with the waivers.
We filled out the papers, signing here, initialing there. Pump pump, rub rub, and our hands were clean.
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” the guide said. She held the gate open and led us into the fenced area. I tried to calm myself, unsuccessfully. My whole life I’ve dreamed of playing with one of the big boys, and I was moments from realizing that dream. The guide vanished into the house with the owner.
“I think I’m going to wet my pants, I’m so excited,” I said to Robyn.
“Me too.”
And then the front door opened, and two tiger cubs scampered out.
Right away, the guide handed me a bottle.
We both fed one of the cubs.
Because it was so hot, the cubs kept trying to go under the porch where—as the guide said more than once—the spiders are. At the guide’s suggestion, we picked up the cubs and carried them to a small pen.
A cub checks out my flappy neck skin, and apparently is displeased…
…because he immediately bit me on the arm.
Okay, maybe the fact that they’re teething had something to do with it. They’re 8 weeks old.
For the record, it’s very cool to be able to technically say, “I’ve been bitten by a tiger.”
It didn’t break the skin, if you’re interested to know, but it did make a blood blister and bruise under the surface. I can’t imagine what he could do if he was (a) serious, or (b) bigger.
Look at that face!
Trying to refrain from squeezing the guts out of these guys was tough.
Robyn gets a little lovin’.
Now those are claws!
Wrestling with a stuffed toy.
Watching their instincts take over when you made the toy move like prey
was an inspiring sight. They’re like housecats, and yet completely unlike them.
Posing for a picture
More wrestling. We had a blast with the toys.
Tigger killed Eeyore, but don’t tell your kids
There’s a big version here (slightly blurry), if you want to see more detail.
He looks goofy, I look far too serious
The cubs could hear the owner (”mama”) talking, but couldn’t see her,
and kept trying to find her.
Robyn got the loving side, I seemed to get the predator side
Is anything this cute?
There’s a big version here, if you want to see more detail.
More of Robyn getting the love side of her cub…
…while I get the hunter-killer side of mine
(this picture, and the one above, are actually from the same big picture)
Something gets his attention mid-tussle
No, I wasn’t choking him, though it looks like I was.
There’s a big version here, if you want to see more detail.
More beauty from nature.
Note that “mama” is finally in sight on the porch
She was whining for mama in this picture, not panting or meowing
Kitty toes!
And claws!
Mama, please come over here and see us
I offer up a mama substitute
Another nice closeup of a cub face.
There’s a big version here, if you want to see more detail.
Fighting with me for the stuffed bone
There were four cubs total, and the other two came out near the end.
And one needed to pee, which interested the female in with us.
Giving a cat a bone
The last picture I took ended up being one of the best
And finally, some video
You can hear the other cub meowing for mama, whom she could hear talking on the
other side of the porch
Yesterday provided what is easily one of the top ten experiences of my life, and all because of a little magic. If Robyn hadn’t seen the article about Tigers for Tomorrow in the newspaper at the shelter, when she was about to put in on the floor of a cat cage; if I hadn’t jokingly asked if there was any way we could touch a tiger; if there hadn’t been cubs on the premise (a real rarity, according to the guide)…none of this would have happened.
The cubs will only be available for encounters for a few more weeks. Soon they’ll be too big, and dangerous.
I won’t be surprised if another Saturday finds us back there.
Best pictures ever. They’re GRRRREAT! Wonder if they make Softpaws big enough to fit those kitties? hee!
Wow. Thank you … great photos. I’m so glad you two had this amazing opportunity.
Wow, Fred, that’s incredible! And to think they’re the same age as my kitten - the size difference is overwhelming.
Tooo cute for words!!!
Stunning photos! Thanks for posting the big versions. What an amazing experience this had to have been! We may have to be copycats (hahaha) and head up there ourselves before the babies are gone. W-O-W. Just incredible! Robyn looks positively joyful - GREAT shots all around.
And Fred, I swear, that other photo from yesterday - it’s a tiger EYEBALL, I swear. Look real closely - you can see the curviture of the eyeball OVER the nose, and the shape of the eye socket in the line of the head. That photo gave whole me a whole new reason to hate that song, “Eye of the Tiger”…(original reason: overkill at the roller rink).
That was simply wonderful! I am very very very jealous.
Tigers! I’ve loved tigers ever since I was a little kid- thanks for posting your photos and the accompanying story- what a cool experience, and the cubs were so CUTE!
you should post one at cuteoverload dot com. they are just wonderful. i saved one for my wallpaper on my desktop…i hope you don’t mind. they are just too cute for words. im looking in my area to see if we have something like that around here. would love to have that experience and help a cause.
great posting!!
wow, what great pictures and what a wonderful experience!
i think its amazing how things worked out!! i mean, seriously i would have never thought to even joke about playing with them!! they are so CUTE!! How much did you think that they weighed? and were you nervous at all when they were playing with you? Oh, and if its not too much of a bother, could you post the bigger version of the Eeyore picture? Its the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!!
Fantastic pictures Fred. I love that one of Robyn and the cub in her lap. That one you should definately frame. I am so jealous of your adventure, it is a once in a lifetime experience for sure. You don’t say how much they weigh?
Wow! Wow!!!!! Absolutely wonderful. I’ve dreamed of playing with a baby tiger. What a wonderful opportunity for you guys. Great pictures too!
I’d guess they weighed about 25 pounds. They were pretty stout.
Laura (#10), I got a little nervous a couple of times. If you move a toy around slowly, they ignore it, but if you whip it and zigzag it (like prey), they’re like oversized kittens and they pounce. That’s unnerving because of the claws. I only got one little scratch, though. The other thing that’s unnerving is the way they watch your feet when you stand up and walk, like they want to pounce on them and rip them off.
I’ll put up the big version of the Eeyore picture when I’m home later.
With Siegfried and Roy out of commission, I’m thinking Fred and Robyn in Vegas at the Mirage. I’d pay to see you!
OMG that was such a great adventure you two had! Thanks for sharing the pics, as well (which were fantastic!).
You guys are good people. I think if the fee was $500 you would have paid. What a great experience.
Fred, your wife just gets more and more beautiful. Nice tigers, too.
Beautiful. I’m jealous, that’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I love cats of all sorts.
OK, Trapper and I are totally making a trip to Attalla this weekend.
I just scheduled an adventure for this Sunday. YAY! So excited! Tiger babies…squeee!!
Yeah, I’ve already scheduled my second. And third.
Sometimes I think I may love animals just a little TOO much.
Sometimes I think I may love animals just a little TOO much.
There’s no such thing!
I told the woman who scheduled our tour that I was referred by you and Robyn. She seemed quite tickled about that.
Big version of the Eeyore picture is up (it’s a little blurry at full size). Link is directly below the small picture above.
Awesome!!