: Cheetahs are listed in CITES Appendix I , the highest level of international protection. Commercial international trade of wild-caught cheetahs is strictly prohibited.
State Laws Exotic Cats | Big Cat Rescue | Wild cats in the wild
The ability to legally possess a cheetah is now strictly limited to specific authorized entities: how to buy a cheetah
Buying a cheetah is in the United States and most other countries due to international and federal conservation laws. Historically, while some states had loopholes, the Big Cat Public Safety Act , enacted in December 2022, effectively ended the private ownership of big cats as pets nationwide. Legal Restrictions
: Under the Big Cat Public Safety Act , it is illegal for private citizens to buy, breed, or possess big cats, including cheetahs. : Cheetahs are listed in CITES Appendix I
: Only AZA-accredited zoos , research facilities, and registered sanctuaries may legally possess them under strict federal and state permits.
For the rare entities (like zoos) that can legally care for a cheetah, the financial requirements are massive: Historically, while some states had loopholes, the Big
: Even in states that previously had no regulations (like Alabama, Nevada, and North Carolina), the federal law now supersedes local policy regarding private pet ownership. Cost of Ownership