Cat Tales Wildlife Center is a Big Cat Sanctuary and Wildlife Rescue dedicated to providing a safe, secure home for rescued big cats and other vulnerable wildlife. Through professional, licensed animal care to ensure their health and well-being for their lifetime.
Cat Tales is dedicated to raising awareness of current human-wildlife relationships, the diversity of native animals in the Pacific Northwest, and the challenges of the exotic pet trade.
We provide second chances and forever homes for:
Our staff and students are professional, safety-oriented zookeepers who work tirelessly to ensure the health and welfare of the animals in their care while sharing their knowledge and compassion with all who visit.
As a licensed zoological park, Cat Tales offers valuable wildlife education to the community, including schools, church groups, senior citizen groups, childcare programs, homeschools, and those with disabilities. Our goal is to benefit all wildlife through education and awareness.
For over 30 years, Cat Tales in Mead, Washington (just north of Spokane), has rescued more than 100 cats, including lions, bobcats, tigers, cougars, servals, caracals, lynx, leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, and a liger. We have also provided forever homes for coyotes, foxes, wolves, and bears.
Our sanctuary is home to wildlife that arrives as orphans, from people who obtained them illegally, or from those who realized that exotic animals do not domesticate well.
In addition to big cats, we've cared for various exotic pets, farm animals, parrots, reptiles, and domestic animals like puppies and kittens. Some of our residents are not on public exhibit but play a crucial role in the hands-on training of our students.
The Workforce Trade and Education Board licenses our Wildlife Academy as a vocational trade school specializing in employable zookeeper and wildlife management skills. Students from around the world attend a 24- or 48-week program to learn how to care for exotic animals. Over 300 students have graduated from our Professional Zookeeper Program, taking their skills to zoos and wildlife centers across the globe.
Our team of over 20 staff members includes students, interns, instructors, and volunteers. Whether leading tours, supporting animal care, or managing outreach programs, our staff are integral to our work.
We depend on donations to provide food, shelter, medical care, and other resources for our animals. The costs of feeding our 40+ carnivores has more than tripled in the past year due to rising prices.
Forever Care requires various supplies, including food, bedding, cleaning materials, behavioral enrichment, and medical equipment. Unexpected increases in animal populations or medical emergencies make the need for extra funds critical.
New federal regulations regarding animal enclosures also require infrastructure upgrades or repairs to ensure the safety and comfort of our animals. As our facility ages, these improvements become increasingly necessary.
Your support is crucial in helping us meet our urgent needs. Donations go directly toward providing the best possible care for our animals, including habitat restoration, enclosure upgrades, and essential veterinary care.
Cat Tales was founded over 30 years ago in Mead, Washington, by Mike and Debbie Wyche. What began as a small, home-based sanctuary with four cats has grown into a thriving center for wildlife rescue and education. Today, Cat Tales is proudly woman-operated by Debbie Wyche and her stepdaughter, Lisa Grey.
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Volunteering
Summertime Docent & Guest Relations - part-time greeting & animal fact sharing
Cat Tales Wildlife Center
Ongoing opportunity
Organization name
Cat Tales Wildlife Center
other names
C A T T A L E S
Tax id (EIN)
91-1538226
Category
Animals
Demographics
Youth & Children, Low-Income, Seniors, Individuals with Disabilities
Address
17020 N Newport HwySpokane, WA, US
Coeur d'Alene, ID, US
Pend Oreille County, WA, US
Post Falls, ID, US, 83854
Deer Park, WA, US, 99006