Cat Tales Wildlife Center is a must-visit destination for animal lovers. The center provides an exceptional habitat for a variety of rescued animals, including big cats, bears, and birds of prey, with knowledgeable staff who are passionate about animal welfare and conservation. The interactive and educational components of the center make for an enriching and memorable experience, making Cat Tales Wildlife Center a standout organization dedicated to the conservation and well-being of wildlife. Pro tip: I booked my session using GetOutPass, where I get access to multiple local venues similar to GoCity. Use coupon code: sale1 for an extra $5 discount on top of existing promotions read more

We were visiting our Sons in the area and came here on Sunday afternoon. Although it was hot today all of the animals were active. They had sprinklers running to keep them cool. There was a keeper tour which was very informative. Each animal has a photo plaque with a description about them. My Son liked it so much he upgraded to an annual membership for 2 adults. You can tell the staff really cares about these rescued animals. Will visit again. read more

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This place should be permanently closed. It's not a sanctuary. It's a prison. Let those poor animals go to a real sanctuary and stop putting them on display in deplorable conditions. read more

We had a great visit to Cat Tales during Boo at the Zoo! All of the employees were very friendly and knowledgeable. The animals seemed well cared for and their rescue stories were all highlighted on their enclosures. It's a very unique place that offers incredible proximity to the animals and animal encounters at a great price. Free parking right outside of entrance, handicap access and picnic tables available for use. Zookeeping and Wildlife Management programs are also offered! Definitely worth a visit! read more

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The animals and the staff are wonderful. I enjoyed feeding three different animals. They even have a free seniors day on Thursday. That way you can feed more animals!! It was a delight. read more

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Completely loved this place! Not only can you feed bears, tigers, and foxes; but go on a mini tour. Spent about two hours there learning about each animal. Our kiddos loved what this sanctuary is doing for these beautiful animals. read more

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This place was absolutely amazing and the tour was very informative and kept my kids aged 4-7 engaged! I definitely recommend visit, the price was reasonable and the animals were absolutely incredible and beautiful read more

I love every animal there. What is very disappointing is the small enclosures for the big cats. I wish I were a billionaire, so I could make your animals better enclosures. I wish they were in the wild though. read more

It's evident that the animals here are so well loved and cared for! Kiddos (and adults) can feed the tiger or bear for a small fee. Definitely the highlight of our weekend! Kiddo even got a chance to interview an intern and learn about the schooling, internship, and volunteer opportunities here! read more

Cat Tales Wildlife Center - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spokane, Washington

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I've been an intern here at Cat Tales since late June, and I must say it has been the most educational and enriching experience I've had. In this review, I'll be going through what I've seen the negative reviews mention and why they are misleading or wrong from an inside perspective. "The cages are tiny"- That is something we are always working to improve. The owners are adamant that wild animals belong in the wild- but all these animals could not survive in the wild and/or faced euthanasia as an alternative to being here. We are a non-profit and not funded by the government, and are trapped between train tracks and a highway- so you can imagine we are tight on both money and space. Our big arenas are our goal for all the animals, but cost tens of thousands of dollars- which can only be paid after expenses for food, enrichment, employees etc. are fulfilled. We closely monitor their behavior and stress to make sure they are happy. They also have some less obvious back areas which can give them privacy and space when they want it. "The animals don't have food or water"- yes they do. We make sure they aways have access to water, so I don't know where that came from (maybe Nalin: he was trained to fold metal so we keep a wooden box in the back for his water which he always has access to.) As for food, we feed them all once a day: animals in the wild aren't constantly eating- they wake up, hunt, eat a bunch, rest, repeat. And even then they aren't successful every day. "They look bored"- Tigers sleep up to 18 hours a day, so what might look like boredom is probably just a natural rest. We make sure they have enrichment (Milly raccoon has a slide, Kali fox has a swing, all tigers have balls, Oakley bobcat has a teddy bear who she loves, we give scented cardboard boxes (as all cats love) to them, and food enrichment like pumpkins (the pumas love those especially)) those are just examples- we make sure every animal has something to keep them busy. Seeing how the animals directly interact with our keepers has been so heartwarming and eye opening. The staff are all charitable and dedicated. Every moment is a learning opportunity, and once the animals get more comfortable around you and vice versa, you can see just how much the animals appreciate our care and they know how much we care for them. Just a little anecdote to show the dedication of our keepers- I would love to shout out one of our students, Lauren, who is always looking for ways to make everyone comfortable- especially the animals. Jynx our Lynx came from a private owner who passed away, and he hasn't been dealing with his loss very well-it's been taking him a while to warm up to our staff, but Lauren sits by his exhibit in the mornings for half an hour just to let him know he has a friend, and always makes sure to say hi to him as she passes. It's really heartwarming to see the slow but steady progress as he grows more comfortable with her. We closely monitor their food, how much food is left after eating, their scat, their mood, etc. We usually clean half the park every day and the other half the other day, and make sure their pools are clean. Their care is our first priority and it definitely shows. If you've read this far thank you for taking time to learn about the care that goes into this facility and our animal family here! -Darby read more

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We had a great time at Cat Tales. It's not a big place so you can easily spend just an hour or half a day depending on your preference. We fed the tiger, which was pretty neat. There are a few other animals that aren't "cats" such as a foxes, wolves and bears. We were watching the wolves when an ambulance drove by with sirens wailing and the wolves all chimed in. It was pretty amazing. We will definitely be going back with any out of town visitors. read more

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Cat tales has gotten so much better for me and my family. We used to go and it used to be so boring because the staff wouldn't acknowledge us and tell us about the animals and it would be so boring. Now the staff are so informative and friendly it makes the visit 10x better read more

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As much as it is a joy to see these animals, these cages are not sufficient and or appropriate for the size and nature if these beautiful creatures. You can tell the large animals are in emotional distress by there calling and the run of small cages without any stimulation is cruelty. Please consider a complaint to Peta or any other animal organization. I understand people like to bring their children but is a child's momentary enjoyment the price paid for animal welfare? No. This is not a rescue facility this is a business. read more

Visited this establishment. While I applaud their efforts to rescue animals from situations that could have had less favorable outcomes, I wonder if this is, the appropriate sanctuary for many of these animals. Cat Tales is an Exhibition, under USDA rule C. The animals I observed, where pacing incessantly in very small pens/cages. The establishment further perpetuates the animals familiarization of people, by allowing select customers to feed them on a stick. The gift shop is a macabre museum of animals they have had, with some of the skulls and taxidermy being displayed. Educational functions of the staff are limited, telling a history of the animal, and general traits which you could google. Overall impression, reminiscent of a tourist trap. Big promises, big let down. One has to consider is the quality of life for these animals, better than the number of days, Unless, this establishment does some major expansion/renovation all the doing is continuing the suffering many of these aminals have already experienced. read more

Super nice staff and just overall amazing experience! They love to take care of their animals and its so educational! Best experience ever!

We live just down the road from Cat Tales and go here frequently. Cat Tales is a fun place to hang out with animals you may not ever see in the wild. They have a large selection that are local, too, like Bobcats, cougars, wolves, foxes and even bears. You can feed the bears and tigers, too for a small extra fee. I have fed the bear and it was a lot of fun. Inside the visitor center, they have very reasonably priced snacks, drinks and souvenirs. There are also some of the past animals that were here at the zoo. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The cost to get in is very reasonable and they even offer year passes as low as $20 a person so you can come visit as many times as you want. Something to also note; they offer a zoological training program for anyone interested in the field. read more

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My family really enjoyed our experience here. It is not like a zoo, and these animals were saved from being euthanized. The staff were very respectful and informed us a lot about the animals. In the summer, the animals are more lazy and hiding. The staff said the best time to go is in the Fall and Winter. It was $15 each for three adults to go. read more

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What an absolute amazing thing it is to have this cool spot so close to us. We live right in the neighborhood, so I often hear the big cats roaring at night! It's come along way since when I was a kid. They've got foxes and bears now. The visitor center is great and has cute stuff. It's incredible to see the taxidermies of the deceased cats. I love bringing my kids here like once a year or so! The seasonal events like Halloween and Christmas are especially fun. read more

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This place was absolutely awesome and amazing. They take very good care of their animals. They looked more healthy than at any zoo. Our tour guide was a volunteer and was knowledgeable and had all the answers. All the animals were out and active. I posted a picture of our tour guide. If she is leading your tour you're are in good hands.. We will definitely visit again. read more

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Decided to visit on 4th of July since it was only $4 to get in. I'm so glad I didn't pay more. The place is not very well kept. The animals are in small cages that look like giant dog kennels. The animals look miserable. The "gift shop" is just a bunch of junk they seem to have picked up at a dollar store. I live in CA and there are two animal rescues near me that look like 5 star resorts compared to this place. It is not worth the money to visit and I feel bad saying that because the entrance fee is how this place pays to take care of the animals. read more

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Cat Tales was one of the more unique places we've been in years and provided an experience that we've never had before! It's $10 per adult, but kids get in free and for getting to go see a bunch of large cats and a bear, we felt it was well worth the money. Most of the animals are rescued from abusing homes (yes there are people who have tigers as pets apparently) or retired from shows/circuses. The folks that keep the animals are very knowledgable and walk around the place discussing the different cats as well as "Oso" the bear, who is quite delightful. The whole place takes around 45 minutes to walk through and overall, it's really cool. Definitely somewhere worth checking out with the kids, especially on a nice day! read more

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Super cool. Not sure where else you can get this close to a tiger. It's really intimate. I'm a fan.

As a child, I have always love going here to see the beautiful tigers, bears, bobcats, and now arctic foxes. But since the COVID19 has hit our community, this amazing place is now struggling to pay for food and basic necessities for these beautiful animals. There is such a huge need for financial donations that we wanted to help spread this message out asking for help. I believe we live in one of the best communities in the country and as a community we have always come together to help support one another. Please join us in helping keep a Spokane staple and donate to this beautiful and wonderful nonprofit organization that has provided for many years a wonderful and educational place for us and so many others to be able to see these amazing creatures. read more

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Was amazed at how small the enclosures are for the animals. Some of the animals were pacing back and forth nonstop. Have visited other animal sanctuaries across the country, but this is the smallest And tight quarters for the animals. Talked to someone why can't they expand and they stated that they have railroad tracks behind them and the highway on the other side. Also tried to check their non profit status on several charity websites, but none of them had them listed. Thus couldn't maje a contribution to them. Gave them Two stars, so people will still go there. Thinking this would help the animals, otherwise it would of been one star. If you love animals, you'll be surprised by the size of the place and the enclosures. read more

Visited in April 2021 with our teenagers. It was a cold windy day but we thoroughly enjoyed our selves. The staff were incredible! Very knowledgeable and willing to answer all the questions we had. They said the cooler weather was ideal for the animals - that they are much more active than in the heat. The staff member looking after the two Siberian tigers really took time to share her love of and devotion to the care of the cats. Bought some nice T-shirts as souvenirs from the gift shop. Next time we have family in town we will definitely make a point of visiting again. read more

Lots of tigers. Their cages seemed small and Not stimulating enough for a cat. And they were all separate. I thought cats were very social. They looked in good health. Definitely go here. It is a great rescue. read more

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My mom was visiting and since its spokane, and shes handicapped there isn't a whole lot we can do, so we choose to come here because well...big kitties. It's a small park so although most people bring kids, its good for older folks too because they can see it all without walking around too much. Some of the animals were too far away so we couldnt see them, but the ones we could, were all amazing. It's also $10 to get up close and personal and feed a bear or tiger. She fed the bear which was just absolutely adorable how he stood up, we both agreed we wanted to give it a big hug. And I fed the tiger which was also pretty fun. You go in this plastic area and feed them through big sticks, its very safe but still gets u close enough to the animals to appreciate them. Then you get a cool magnet saying you fed a bear/tiger. I thought about giving it 4 stars, because some of the cages are rather small...and unlike many of the other reviews, no one was EVER around to tell us about the wonderful animals and we waited quite a bit for the girl to come to feed them. It would have been nice to have someone around to talk to us, but we still had a good time. However, being a non profit organization, and not getting any help outside, you can tell the animals are well taken care of and hopefully the more the word gets out about this place the more people visit and or donate and they can work on getting bigger cages. I understand thats a process and without having the funds they are doing the best they can. I also suggest going by the gift shop (this is also where you purchase the "feeding"). Buying things from there is a way to help them as well as come home with some cool stuff. Also, if you go online to their site, there is a way you can "adopt" a specific animal...no u can't take the animal home with you BUT you get a cool little plaque by their cage with your name on it, photos of them, and knowing you are doing something good to help these people keep caring for them. I plan on adopting one myself when I can afford it. If you can't afford the set amount every month, you can always make a one time donation on their site as well, though then u don't get the cool plaque and the fun of telling your friends you "adopted a tiger". Also, handicapped is always free to enter. read more

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I had two ten year olds with me a boy and girl. Both really enjoyed the place. They didn't seem to care that there wasn't much there. This place isn't like a traditional zoo. It has mostly big cats a few foxes a bear and a couple of wolves. Some of the enclosures appears empty but the are opened up so the animals have more room. We paid for the adventures. Which took about 5 minutes to feed each animal. You pick up or pay for your adventure in the gift shop. Which is located in the back of the park. Once you reach it you have seen all the animals. The staff seemed very knowledgeable about the animals and were pleasant. It would probably take about an hour or less to see all the animals. The cages are more like oversized kennels. Not designed like natural landscapes. read more

Homie at the front desk was kinda cool I guess. But after you accelerate into the pen area, you can't help but notice the extreme tiny pens of dissatisfaction from the kitties. No water no food and so sad. Looks like most the cats have given up on life, well a couple actually have and they are frozen in the gift shop. Oh man I can stress it enough, that place needs to seriously close down until they get some new taxidermy. It's so bad, it looks like a cat walked into some knock of chiropractor and came out looking like an octopus, then got punched in the face before they froze them. I couldn't tell if it was looking at me or the sky, or both at the same time. They had more empty cages then full cages, they had a cage that was entirely empty with a single fire extinguisher in the middle, and it was locked. I couldn't imagine a fire happening and Bobby being able to run fast enough to snatch it out. One thing that's necessary is the workers need new clothes. Not to be rude or anything but the clothes are sub par to every extent, should be illegal. The price is outrageous for the quality provided. I would expect to walk into a wildlife zoo and be in awe of the awesomeness. But it was just sad. Looks like a place Carol bash ton would feed her tigers at. So sketchy. read more

Cat Tales Wildlife Center - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spokane, Washington

I loved this place I will go back its very clean and interesting to see cats very closely the most awesome part is you can feed them for only $10 they have a gift store and a parking space read more

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I am so thankful there are places for rescue kittens like this. The staff is very personable and care for these cats. Yes, they may be in smaller than anticipated cages, but at least they were rescued rather than not being able to make it in the wild. Most of their cats pass away from old age. Aside from the Liger that was there who had passed away from Lung Cancer at age 14. You are able to feed the big kittens. The staff rotates each day of which kitten will be fed the treats. Which is a plus! The last rescue we had gone to near home only fed 2 of the tigers each time and they were pretty overweight. I highly recommend going to this rescue. If it were closer to home, we would definitely volunteer to help these kittens! read more

It's pretty amazing to be so close to the big cats! I loved being able to see the majestic animals! The cats looks healthy and happy as far as I could tell. The admission was a bit steep but we went there on a promotion. It's not very big and the gift shop smells absolutely horrible BUT it was worth the trip. read more

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We stopped here on the way through town thinking it might be an enjoyable way for our little one to see animals up close. This is a rescue park rather than a zoo, and I appreciate the efforts they are going to to rescue these animals, but this is a depressing place to visit. The big cats are in very small enclosures that were stark and sparse. The animals were either sleeping or pacing the fences. They have activities for people to feed the animals but you have to be over a certain age so not for young kids. The whole park is small and can be viewed in less than half an hour. But I wouldn't recommend going out of your way. Especially if you are expecting to see animals in more of a zoo like environment. read more

Cat Tales Wildlife Center - White tiger - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spokane, Washington

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I am appalled by all the negative reviews. Before I knew anything about wild animals or wild cats I think I would have equally felt the same as some of these negative comments. But over the years I have learned that this place they are in now is most likely the best outcome to the alternative. These rescued adult animals cannot be transported and released back into the wild. They do not know how to survive in that environment and will most likely die soon after being released. The alternative for most veterinary clinics would be to euthanize if a wild animal was found as a pet. I have heard countless stories of Tigers or Lions being kept as pets in people's apartments; not being provided the proper nutrition. It is generally illegal but it doesn't stop people. Its disgusting to keep an animal in that type of environment, living in its own filth but its reality. So yes, I think this park and the space they give their animals is enormously better than that. My best guess to the smaller size of their cages is because the park wants their customers to see and educate themselves about these wild breeds. If they were in a pen with acreage during the park hours, no one would be able to see them. Then people would not visit and in turn not learn about their almost extinction. Moreover, most large cats are nocturnal so they appear calm or sedative during the day. After an internship in Africa viewing wild lions in their environment, they always appeared lethargic during the day. Even during the night, they are not as active as a house cat. Large animals that are always alert and active is a misconception. I see no problem breeding some of these almost extinct animals to give/sell them to other zoos. A tiger's complete extinction within my lifetime is a real possibility and anything we can do to keep the public educated about these wonderful animals is positive in my eyes. Population and education are key to bringing back the species. I applaud this park for the work they are doing. read more

We had a fantastic time here with our two kiddos (plus a baby). The facility is well maintained, clean, and there were over a half dozen big cats (Tigers, a lion!) to see. There was also a bear, some bob cats, and a few others. Based on other reviews I wasn't sure what to expect but I think if your expectations are reasonable (a facility for the rehabilitation and care of big cats) you will be very happy with your visit. The animals are very close, it's the closest I've ever seen a tiger, lion or bear and it was amazing to see their beauty! The staff was very kind and helpful. Additionally, people 6 years and over can feed a bear, 8 and over can feed a tiger. SO COOL! read more

I get that it is a rescue. I get they are passionate about what they do... HOWEVER, it would make a lot of sense to raise money PRIOR to acquiring the animals rather than getting a ton and stuffing them in tiny dirt cages. I doubt the conditions they live in are any better than those they were removed from. Asking after the fact for funds to build nicer cages is irresponsible. I feel so sorry for these animals. This place has been running for a pretty decent amount of time and it looks like someone just threw it together in their backyard. These animals looked thin, sick, under-stimulated and sad. I would never help their cause, maybe if they only acquired animals they had space for. read more

I can appreciate that this place has done what they felt was right by rescuing these beautiful animals, I just wish that maybe they would have done a better job at designing the animals enclosure. The cages were all so small and did not have much for stimulating these beauties. Their water containers were all so tiny. Watching the animals pace in circles is heartbreaking. I wish that all these millionaires out there would donate to these places so that they could have more spaces and way bigger enclosure fir the animals. read more

$15 and you can hand feed a lion or tiger. My g/f and sister really dug it. Staff was friendly and informative. Not the largest zoo but you'll probably never get this close to a wildcat at any other zoo. Highly recommended. read more

Cat Tales Wildlife Center - Amusement Parks Near Me - Spokane, Washington

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This is a great little zoo specializing in big cats! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I wish it was just a little bit bigger. But it's great! Where else can you come within 5-8 feet of lions, tigers, bobcats, servals, and bears?! Not to mention, for a small extra charge ($10 when I was there) you can hand feed a lion or tiger! It was an amazing experience for sure! Everyone that worked there was very friendly and answered any questions that we had about the cats. The cost of admission is $8, which is pretty reasonable. I would suggest going later in the day when the all the cats are getting fed by the zookeepers, since they're more lively at that time. read more

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My first impression of the zoo was sadness for such beautiful animals living in such small quarters. I started reading signs and talking to the staff and the more I learned the more amazed I became with the place. First the animals are rescued usually from places where they are used as cubs then no longer wanted as adults. They may look like they are pacing at first but upon closer inspection they were following the people around the cages. All animals are in clean cages and look clean, healthy and well fed. The staff is very friendly especially towards the animals and look like they enjoy taking care of these exotic cats. Lastly the zoo trains students in all areas of working for a big zoo from tending cages to feeding and studying animals. Keep on donating to this wonderful park because the zoo is taking 79 cents of every dollar donated and putting it directly back into the animals in the form of larger cages and yummy snacks. FYI if you do live in the area you can donate some foods to the park to feed their cats. You can contact them for details. read more