Tigers for Tomorrow in Attalla (not that I knew where THAT was) that rescued exotic animals, specializing in exotic cats.
I knew right away that I HAD to take Fred to this place, and when I got home I looked up their web page and found that you can schedule tours of the place during the week, but they’re open to the public on Saturdays from 9 to 4. My intention was to keep secret from Fred where we were going, to ask him to just trust me, and tell him that it was something he’d absolutely love.
When he got home, I told him I wanted to take him somewhere on Saturday, and he looked skeptically at me, but agreed that he’d go. Then he hassled me until I showed him the article.
He was VERY excited at the idea.
So Saturday came, and we left the house around 8. Google Maps had said that it was a trip that would take about two hours, but we made pretty good time and pulled into the parking lot at about 9:45. Since Fred had been mainlining coffee the entire way there, we stopped at the port-a-potty so each of us could pee, and while I was peeing, I could hear him talking to someone.
When I walked out, his eyes were absolutely twirling with excitement and he was thisclose to hyperventilating.
“She said that we could pay $200 and PLAY WITH ONE OF THE TIGER CUBS!”
It’s very unusual for Tigers for Tomorrow to have tiger cubs on the premises. They’d recently done a rescue and ended up with four tiger cubs, who are currently about eight weeks old. On the drive to Tigers for Tomorrow, we’d both said that it was too bad we couldn’t actually touch a tiger, but we also both wanted to keep all our limbs intact and unmauled.
We all but ran to the entrance tent, and Fred paid the $20 entrance fee ($10 for each of us), then said to the volunteers that he’d heard you could have an “encounter” with the tiger cubs.
Not only did the $200 buy us an encounter with the cubs, it bought us an almost two-hour tour with a volunteer, who knew just about everything there was to know about all the animals.
Wolves are one of the exotic animals they rescue. The guide told us that the male of this duo is extremely dominant and sometimes it sounds like he’s killing her, but he’s just asserting his dominance.
“I’m not coming out, and YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!”
An unfriendly black leopard. The guide told us that she has black skin, black fur, and black spots. Very cool.
Tiger. The guide did her best to explain the difference between Bengal and Siberian tigers, but I’ll be damned if I could see any obvious difference.
I had no idea, but tigers ADORE playing in water. When the guide went and got the hose, the tiger got extremely excited.
Young tigers. I can’t remember how old they are – three months? Six? – but they were very playful and fun to watch.
Coatimundi. They’re adorable and look like they need to be snuggled, but the guide told us that they will rip you UP with those claws.
“Aww, c’mon. Don’tcha wanna snuggle?”
Another wolf. As you can see, he was quite excited to see us.
Cougar. There were a male and female cougar in the same cage. Tigers for Tomorrow is a non-breeding facility, so they usually neuter the males, since it’s a less invasive procedure than spaying a female would be. In this couple, the male is neutered and the female isn’t spayed, so she goes into heat, goes looking for some love, and the male is like “What? What do you want? Get me a beer and let me watch the game!” and she has a temper tantrum.
Not catlike at all, huh?
Mr. Lion didn’t feel like being sociable.
This tiger – Blake – got himself a new pool. We were there when they let him back into his cage, and I think it took about six seconds for him to get into the water and just stay there.
And then… time to play with the babies!
I love the look on his little face.
They’ve imprinted on the lady who runs Tigers for Tomorrow as their Mama, so they’d hear her voice and try to get her to come to them.
“Where my Mama go?”
“Mama!” I never knew this until today, but tigers have white spots on the backs of their ears, and they keep them all their lives. They’re used when they’re little so their mothers can identify them.
Fred’s was more playful than mine. Mine just wanted his Mama to come back.
“Mama, I killed Eeyore!”
Poor dead Eeyore.
She nuzzled my ear and licked my cheek. I thought I was going to die from the utter thrill.
Check out those paws!
On our way out of Tigers for Tomorrow, we stopped by the petting zoo. When these tortoises (turtles? I know not the difference.) saw us, they started moving in our direction. I said to Fred, “It’s a stampede!” and he said “Yeah, and it’s going to take five years for them to get to us. Run!”
Does this face crack you up as much as it cracks me up?
“Kiss me, darling.”
That was, without a doubt, one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in my LIFE. If you’re in Alabama and you want to love on some baby tigers, you’d better move fast. They’re only letting the cub encounters go on for a few more weeks, and then the cubs will be too big (and could maul you!) for contact with the public.
I have to say that I was extremely impressed with Tigers for Tomorrow. The place did NOT smell zoo-y at all, and the guide explained to us that state guidelines say that they only have to clean out the enclosures once a week; but who wants to let a cat live in its own waste for a week? They clean out the enclosures every single day. The animals all looked very healthy and happy, and while of course in a perfect world they’d all get to roam free in the countries they were born in, that’s obviously not an option. They get the best care possible, and if you have any money to spare, I know they could always use a donation.
If you want to see any of the above pictures in the full-size version, go to the Flickr set, click on the picture, and then click on the “all sizes” link at the top.
Also, Fred put up his own entries about the experience, broken into two parts, because he likes to drag EVERYTHING out. That begins here.
7/10/06
Lucky, lucky, lucky you. What an awesome thing you guys got to do!
Those are really cool pictures! Are you lucky or what? The other thing to say is that you look so pretty in the photos Robyn, really really cute.
You just lived my dream. I’m trying to figure how much driving would be involved coming from Delaware.
Also, you look wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!
Robyn: You guys are so lucky – how fun!
I already saw Fred’s entry, but it was fun to see the kitties twice. My friend would die to see the Tigers and pet them – too bad we cannot drop everything and run to Alabama. 🙁 Luckily, she’s gotten to pet a baby tiger once before for just a minute.
Whee! Big kitties! 🙂
Glad you both got the chance to cuddle baby tiggers.
If you lived in Loxahatchee you would occasionally find one on your back porch as a few people out there have them as pets.
As I said over at Fred’s place — that’s amazingly amazingly cool, and I am totally jealous of you guys! Worth every cent, I’d say.
Seriously? The CUTEST babies EVER!!!! In fact, all the animals look adorable but those tigers (if they didn’t maul us humans up) I’d have to steal one as a pet. 😀 😀 😀
I have died of the adorableness. That is the coolest thing EVER.
And you absolutely need to send some of those pictures over to Cute Overload.
That sounds like a totally cool thing to do. I wish I lived closer, I’d take my husband…he would get such a thrill out of it!
So neat. You and Fred are such a cool couple. Here is what I am really curious about. How did the And3rson kitties react when you arrived home from your tiger escapade? Did they smell the tiger cubs scent on you?
Tigers…in Alabama! Who knew? These photos are wonderful. You look so blissed out! Did the cubs make biscuits on you when you snuggled them? Did your cats pick up the smell of their wild ancestors on you when you came home?? Could I be any more annoying??
I’ve lived in Alabama my entire life but had never heard of Tigers for Tomorrow until now. Looks like you and Fred had a grand time. I’m so jealous.
BTW Robyn, you look fabulous, dahling!
Good lord, I am jealous. Also? You look awesome.
They are adorable! And yes, that llama face cracked me up too. He looks all dopey, I think it’s the buck teeth. Anyway, did they mention where most of these animals come from? Are they from circuses or are they from people who think they can raise them and then realize they were very wrong?
Best $200 spent ever, huh? I am drooling with envy. Wow!!! I actually checked and sadly the place is a 9 hr drive from us or I’d really be tempted!!
Were the cubs soft? Did they like to be “petted” like cats do or were they busy playing?
One of your BEST entries ever. You do look great. I am definitely going to visit that place, it’s not far from where I live in Alabama. Thanks so much for writing about it; the pix are priceless!!
20 shades of green with jealousy!!! Were they soft, what did they smell like? Kitties or tiger pee or what??? That little movie on Fred’s sight is so adorable, that sound they make is hysterical!!! So glad you found them, will be making a donation. What a great place!!
Did your at home cats act strangely or differently around you when they smelled the strange animal smell on you?
You guys make for good karma and it shows.
Thanks for sharing your pics!
The tigers are very cool and I too am curious as to how your own cats reacted when you got home. But Robyn, truthfully, the first thing I noticed in the photos was how wonderful you look!
Amazing,amazing,amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your photos and wonderful experience. I felt like I was right there!
I have to make sure my older daughter doesn’t see this because she will be on her way to Alabama in a heart beat. Ditto on the “you look good” comments but also? You’ve got really nice TEETH. Seriously, I want to go get braces after gazing lovingly at your teeth for the last 5 minutes.
That is the COOLEST thing EVER!
YOU LUCKY SKINNY BITCH! Seriously tho’ how awesome! If you ever get the chance to watch “Awesome Pawsome” on Animpal Planet-I highly recommend it. Although Fred will want to move to Australia when he sees it!
By the way- You look pretty awesome yourself! You’ve lost more weight than I have, I am soooo jealous.
When I saw that picture on Flickr Saturday night, I just figured you must have about died and gone to heaven!!
And Robyn………you look AWESOME!!
Oh, that is so very cool!
What an awesome day.
In the one picture where you are holding the tiger cub and he is nuzzling your neck, it looks like you are yelling to Fred “quick, bring the car around, I’ve got him!” Could you imagine the look on your cats faces if you brought one home? hehehehe
Thank you for an exceptional entry. You are so worth reading every day as you keep me in touch and you have a great way with words. Entries like today’s are icing on the cake.
AND to echo the earlier commenters, you look mahvelous dahlink.
Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Awesome. Totally Awesome.
How cute are these pictures?
Adorable!!! If you ask me, (not that you did!) I think this is the best money spent ever 🙂
p.s. You look so little!!!
Robyn, I never realized until you posted these pictures what a baby face you have! You are so cute! And you have nice teeth, too … Job hazard, working for a dentist – I almost immediately notice teeth before anything else. 🙂
I love the look on YOUR faces! Honestly, you both look tickled pink!