SHANIQUA

Female Jungle Cat

DOB 5/1/94

Rescued 9/19/94

Died 10/3/13

Shaniqua came from an exotic animal auction where all sorts of wild animals are sold to the highest bidder with no thought as to their well being. From the first day she arrived here it became apparent why Shaniqua or any Jungle Cat would never make a good pet.

She was so hyperactive she was bouncing off the walls, literally. She even jumped into a ceiling fan or two and did not seem to learn anything from the experience, but rather found it quite entertaining. Shaniqua was built a large outdoor enclosure that she was to share with Tarzan, a neutered male, in hopes that she could exhaust all of her pent up energy playing with her new friend. The two lived together until Tarzan’s death at 16.

Shaniqua was 19 years old and live longer than any Jungle Cat we have ever heard of. The oldest Jungle Cat to ever live here before was 16 at the time of death and on average have only lived to be 15 here.

More about Shaniqua the Jungle Cat

Shaniqua is a Female Jungle Cat born 5/1/94 and who arrived here on 9/19/94 from an exotic animal auction where all sorts of wild animals are sold to the highest bidder with no thought as to their well being. From the first day she arrived here it became apparent why Shaniqua or any Jungle Cat would never make a good pet.

She was so hyperactive she was bouncing off the walls, literally. She even jumped into a ceiling fan or two and did not seem to learn anything from the experience, but rather found it quite entertaining. Shaniqua was built a large outdoor enclosure that she was to share with Tarzan, a neutered male, in hopes that she could exhaust all of her pent up energy playing with her new friend. The two were originally put together for the purpose of breeding, but we learned, through someone who knew both cats, from different times in their lives, that they had the same parents.  They were separated and no Jungle Cats ever were born here.

A former volunteer / staff person recently shared his notes with Big Cat Rescuers about the Felid Taxon Advisory Group’s discussion of the dilemma they face with captive bred cats.  They only have a 24% success rate and thus the more rare cats are dying out of captivity.  The Felid TAG had prohibited using cats bred in the pet sector in the early 2000s because the private sector keeps no records and is an embarrassment due to their practices.  The problem is that the private sector produces more kittens than zoos and they are getting desperate to fill their cages.  If accredited zoos start paying for kittens again, the public will be jumping to fill that need and claiming they are helping conservation.  The only good that could come of that is that once the masses see that there is no difference between the actions of accredited zoos and back yard breeders, it will be easier to bring pressure to shut down the zoos.

I don’t know if it was an oversight, but Jungle Cats were not included in the report.  Back several years ago there were only 9 Jungle Cats listed in ISIS in the U.S. and 6 of them were here.  Now there is only Rambo and Shaniqua.  Once they are gone, it may be very near the end of an era of imprisonment for their species in America.  They are common enough in the wild that they are not endangered.  There are probably still a few in private collections, but we almost never hear of anyone having them any more.  We can win this battle for the cats.  We are so very close.

Tributes to Shaniqua Jungle Cat

Jennifer Ruszczyk Oct 17, 2013
Shaniqua was the little weeble wobble that would never fall down. She was a great little fighter and boy could that girl eat alot of food too! I will miss hear dearly but I am happy she is finally at peace.

Erin Carden Oct 15, 2013
Love you Shaniq, so glad I was able to do operant with you a few weeks ago (and all the times before!) It was the best part of the day, feeding you your ground chicken, and getting to spend some time with you and your lovely spirit. We love you, darling girl!

Unknown Oct 9, 2013
No more pain baby girl, your spirit is free and you and Tarzan and all the rest that have left this earth are all Angels enjoying your freedom. I love you

Marie Schoubert Oct 6, 2013
No more treats for my baby girl…at least not on this planet… but I am sure where ever you are going you and all the other Angels will get lots of happiness, freedom, joy and lots of treats. I am sure going to miss you little survivor!!! I will always love you!

Regina Rinaldi Oct 4, 2013
Shanique-a-leek is what I called her. She has rallied back from the brink of death more times than I can count. But this time was just too much for her. Shehad a good life with us at BCR and was loved by all. I love you Neek-a-leek. Run free with Tarzan, Crystal, and the rest. No more pain baby girl….you’re free

Edith Parker Oct 4, 2013
Shaniqua – you had such a joy for life, We have been blessed to be part of it. Tarzan and you back together, what fun I use to have giving you two operant conditioning. You are truly loved.

Becky Gagliardo Oct 4, 2013
Niqua my love – you have been one of my baby girls for 14 years and I will miss more than I can say but you are free and healthy and with Tarzan. Just know you are loved baby girl.

Carole Baskin Oct 4, 2013
Shaniqua lived far longer than I ever expected. Years ago I thought she was ready to go, so I had her brought into the Cat Hospital for her “final days” and I think we have done that twice again in the last two years, but every time she would pine to go back out. She has been so frail, for so long, and yet so determined to get up each morning and find her favorite spot in the sun. When she didn’t want to move at all yesterday; I felt she had finally said that she has had enough of this world and is ready to check out what it is like to be a butterfly, or a dragon fly, or maybe even a dragon in another multiverse.

More Memorials at http://bigcatrescue.org/category/memorials/