The Cat House
The Cat House
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
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This is a small non-profit exotic feline breeding center about 1 hour north of Los Angeles which houses over 70 exotic endangered cats.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
88 reviews
Excellent
56
Very good
23
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
1
TheSpeis
San Diego, CA427 contributions
Feb 2013 • Business
A worthy stop for cat lovers. They probably have the biggest selection of cats that you can see in any one place anywhere. Lots of rarely seen in zoo cats like, Persian Leopards, North Chinese Leopards, Jaguarundi, Geoffrey's Cat, etc. Not elaborate exhibits, but all the cats appear happy and healthy.
Written March 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maejordan
Maine20 contributions
Jul 2011
The Cat House is one of the few animal attractions at which you can get VERY close to the big cats! I was trying to find something to do with a teenager that was visiting us in that area, and since he is an animal person we decided to check this out. It is a small facility, and won't take you long to see, but if you've never seen the yellows of a leopard's eyes up close, it's worth going. Be sure to ask questions to the volunteers working- it's a more interesting visit if you get a little history about the cats and the facility. They also have a few special events each year that cat lovers would really enjoy. It's $5 for adults, they have a small gift shop, and it's a good way to support a cause and spend an afternoon. Lots of information on their website at http://www.cathouse-fcc.org/
Written July 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KPWWW
California35 contributions
I pre purchased tickets to the Twilight Tour for September, 2010. I was told that they limited the number of tickets and that it would be an intimate behind-the-scenes tour, with few people and lots of interesting events, including feeding time and talks/discussions.
Imagine my surprise when we arrived on time--to be met with TOUR BUS after TOUR BUS full of people. The parking lots were overfull and they were parking people in the middle of the desert. The cars were lined up for blocks trying to get in. They continued to sell the tickets at the door (they definitely did NOT limit the number, and continued selling until after we finally left because it was so ridiculously full of people).
They had booths selling food and raffles of items ranging from body soaps to clothing (how does this fit in with an intimate Twilight Tour?). There were SO many people, you couldn't see anything, and in some areas, it was so claustrophobic with the vast numbers of people--you couldn't even MOVE. I was on crutches and finally gave up trying to see anything. I wasn't the only one who gave up and just found a place to sit on the ground (there were no chairs to sit on).
I feel SO ripped off by this place. I believe that if you want to see what they have to offer, then just go on a regular weekday. Don't bother waiting for the Twilight Tour unless you want to be frustrated. We were there for a couple of hours and every one of us in our group finally just had "had enough" and we left. As I said earlier, they were still selling tickets and cars were still trying to get in to park as we left.
The people working the parking lot were notably upset, saying that the owners advertised the event in the AAA Travel Magazine without telling anyone, hence the line of tourbusses. Their greediness sure ruined the night for me and my friends, that's for sure.
Imagine my surprise when we arrived on time--to be met with TOUR BUS after TOUR BUS full of people. The parking lots were overfull and they were parking people in the middle of the desert. The cars were lined up for blocks trying to get in. They continued to sell the tickets at the door (they definitely did NOT limit the number, and continued selling until after we finally left because it was so ridiculously full of people).
They had booths selling food and raffles of items ranging from body soaps to clothing (how does this fit in with an intimate Twilight Tour?). There were SO many people, you couldn't see anything, and in some areas, it was so claustrophobic with the vast numbers of people--you couldn't even MOVE. I was on crutches and finally gave up trying to see anything. I wasn't the only one who gave up and just found a place to sit on the ground (there were no chairs to sit on).
I feel SO ripped off by this place. I believe that if you want to see what they have to offer, then just go on a regular weekday. Don't bother waiting for the Twilight Tour unless you want to be frustrated. We were there for a couple of hours and every one of us in our group finally just had "had enough" and we left. As I said earlier, they were still selling tickets and cars were still trying to get in to park as we left.
The people working the parking lot were notably upset, saying that the owners advertised the event in the AAA Travel Magazine without telling anyone, hence the line of tourbusses. Their greediness sure ruined the night for me and my friends, that's for sure.
Written October 4, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
firebolt_317
Pasadena, CA3 contributions
Wow - my experience at the same twilight tour was totally different. My friends and I got there a little late (closer to 6pm), and got our tickets at the door. Even though it was crowded, and the parking lot did look very full, people working in the lots efficiently found a spot for us - I feel like I've had worse experiences at places like Disneyland or the LA County fair. (plus parking was free!)
We were able to see a lot of the cats up close - and volunteers near the cages were very helpful in explaining why cats were behaving the way they were (ripping up phone books) and what their habits/characteristics were. Some of the animals were more popular than others, so there was a bigger crowd near them, but we kept moving, and were able to see the entire zoo. It was quite incredible seeing the bigger cats from a few feet away - they are humongous. Other people who work at the zoo willingly answered any question the public had about the cats. We watched in amusement as one of the smaller cats tried to catch goldfish in a little pool (it was getting really frustrated after every failed attempt), and another garfield-like cat just sat and stared at the public. The jaguars were absolutely gorgeous.
The zoo is definitely worth checking out - I've only been there during a twilight tour, so I can't say if it would be better or worse at any other time of the year. I went to the zoo to see exotic animals, and I was able to do that. The beautiful surroundings, the clear night sky, and sharing the amazement with other people just as interested in these animals made the experience a lot better.
Yes - it was quite busy, but seriously - we live in So Cal, and this was a special night in the year with great weather. I wasn't aware that tickets were supposed to be limited, but I was glad I was able to get in with my friends after driving almost an hour and a half to get to the zoo.
We were able to see a lot of the cats up close - and volunteers near the cages were very helpful in explaining why cats were behaving the way they were (ripping up phone books) and what their habits/characteristics were. Some of the animals were more popular than others, so there was a bigger crowd near them, but we kept moving, and were able to see the entire zoo. It was quite incredible seeing the bigger cats from a few feet away - they are humongous. Other people who work at the zoo willingly answered any question the public had about the cats. We watched in amusement as one of the smaller cats tried to catch goldfish in a little pool (it was getting really frustrated after every failed attempt), and another garfield-like cat just sat and stared at the public. The jaguars were absolutely gorgeous.
The zoo is definitely worth checking out - I've only been there during a twilight tour, so I can't say if it would be better or worse at any other time of the year. I went to the zoo to see exotic animals, and I was able to do that. The beautiful surroundings, the clear night sky, and sharing the amazement with other people just as interested in these animals made the experience a lot better.
Yes - it was quite busy, but seriously - we live in So Cal, and this was a special night in the year with great weather. I wasn't aware that tickets were supposed to be limited, but I was glad I was able to get in with my friends after driving almost an hour and a half to get to the zoo.
Written November 11, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WorldtravelerNZ
Arizona28 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
Don't be misled by the name - this is a breeding center for exotic cats. They have everything from the world's largest cat (Amur Tiger) to the world's smallest (Black footed cat - 2-5 pounds fully grown!)
The cats are easy to see, and there are plenty of volunteers and staff on hand who are happy to answer all your questions.
They are helping to keep many endangered species alive. They receive no outside funding and only charge $7 for admission.
They deserve your support and, equally important, it's a wonderful experience, especially if you're a cat lover like me.
By the way, the picture is my wife - she's better looking thank me!
The cats are easy to see, and there are plenty of volunteers and staff on hand who are happy to answer all your questions.
They are helping to keep many endangered species alive. They receive no outside funding and only charge $7 for admission.
They deserve your support and, equally important, it's a wonderful experience, especially if you're a cat lover like me.
By the way, the picture is my wife - she's better looking thank me!
Written February 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MylaKitte
Southern California125 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
I am a volunteer here at EFBC's Feline Conservation Center. Not only that our facility is amazing to volunteer at but we take conservation efforts serious for these beautiful wild felines. We house a total of 71 wild cats ranging from tigers to sand cats. Granted, not all of the cats will be on display to the general public however, we do offer 3 Twilight Tours (adults 18+ only) a year where the entire compound is open for viewing of the cats.
Written September 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bballrun
Davis, CA24 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
The best part about this place is that you are able to get very close to the animals, much closer than at a zoo. An added bonus is that they have peacocks roaming freely on the property, so not only do you get to see exotic cats but you can get a close-up view of these beautiful birds as well!
The place isn't very big and can be covered within an hour if you keep moving along. If you take your time, 1 1 /2 hours - 2 hours should suffice to see the animals and visit the gift shop.
As indicated on their website, this place has many animals but only some are available for viewing. To ensure you'll get to see the most, try to attend during feeding time, but call ahead to find out when that will be. I timed our visit based on a review that said feeding time was early afternoon, only to find that it was going to be late afternoon. It was too cold to hang around another hour for feeding time so we didn't get to see as many animals as we would have liked to. But, a worthwhile visit nonetheless!
The place isn't very big and can be covered within an hour if you keep moving along. If you take your time, 1 1 /2 hours - 2 hours should suffice to see the animals and visit the gift shop.
As indicated on their website, this place has many animals but only some are available for viewing. To ensure you'll get to see the most, try to attend during feeding time, but call ahead to find out when that will be. I timed our visit based on a review that said feeding time was early afternoon, only to find that it was going to be late afternoon. It was too cold to hang around another hour for feeding time so we didn't get to see as many animals as we would have liked to. But, a worthwhile visit nonetheless!
Written March 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve5863
Avon, OH12,812 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
After visiting the poppies at Antelope Valley, we had some time left in the day and decided to see what else was in the area. Using the TripAdvisor app, we noticed The Cat House was nearby and, loving cats, we decided take a chance despite not knowing anything else about the location and afraid the cats would all be asleep in mid-afternoon when we would arrive.
Arriving, we paid our ten dollars each to enter just as a large tour group was departing. To our surprise, we found many of the cats to be awake and active; we soon learned that feeding time was 2:30pm in the cooler months and we were in for a treat (during the hot summer months, feeding time is after the facility is closed to the public).
While the facility is relatively small, there are many different rare cats the can be seen by the public and we ended up staying till they closed at 4pm. Some of the highlights for us included the very cute sand cats, a huge jet black jaguar, extremely rare amur leopards, a large tiger that was particularly active and expressive, and a beautiful mountain lion that was recently rescued by California Wildlife managers.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to speak with the director of the facility and not only did we get to learn a lot about rare cats, we discovered that the rescued mountain lion was the exception. The non-profit Cat House’s mission is to work with leading zoos and scientists from all over the world to breed rare cats. Males and females from around the world are carefully paired to create a sustainable, genetically diverse population of the world’s most endangered cats. This mission made our visit and our support of The Cat House all the more satisfying.
Arriving, we paid our ten dollars each to enter just as a large tour group was departing. To our surprise, we found many of the cats to be awake and active; we soon learned that feeding time was 2:30pm in the cooler months and we were in for a treat (during the hot summer months, feeding time is after the facility is closed to the public).
While the facility is relatively small, there are many different rare cats the can be seen by the public and we ended up staying till they closed at 4pm. Some of the highlights for us included the very cute sand cats, a huge jet black jaguar, extremely rare amur leopards, a large tiger that was particularly active and expressive, and a beautiful mountain lion that was recently rescued by California Wildlife managers.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to speak with the director of the facility and not only did we get to learn a lot about rare cats, we discovered that the rescued mountain lion was the exception. The non-profit Cat House’s mission is to work with leading zoos and scientists from all over the world to breed rare cats. Males and females from around the world are carefully paired to create a sustainable, genetically diverse population of the world’s most endangered cats. This mission made our visit and our support of The Cat House all the more satisfying.
Written April 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marbz2016
Houston, TX47 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
As a firm cat lover looking at all the brochures of Things To Do near Tehachapi, this jumped out at me. If you enjoy watching cats - big ones and small ones - move about, sun themselves, play, and eat, then this is a place for you. We got there about 1o'clock and the cats were all beginning to pace. When I asked the very helpful staff zookeeper, he explained that it was almost feeding time and they knew it! He was friendly, casual, and knowledgeable and spent some time telling me all about the place and its importance in the breeding and care of these cats. He clearly loved the cats and his job.
We stayed to watch the feeding and it was great! I highly recommend it.
The cages are clean and full of toys and activities for the cats. You get to see them pretty close up (through lots of wire mesh). The grounds are lovely and well-kept. They are small enough to walk around several times to go back to see what your favorite cats are doing. My favorites were the sand cat (adorable), the mountain lion (who liked to seek out his hidden food), the tiger (majestic), and the lynx. Many other breeds were there, too.
We stayed to watch the feeding and it was great! I highly recommend it.
The cages are clean and full of toys and activities for the cats. You get to see them pretty close up (through lots of wire mesh). The grounds are lovely and well-kept. They are small enough to walk around several times to go back to see what your favorite cats are doing. My favorites were the sand cat (adorable), the mountain lion (who liked to seek out his hidden food), the tiger (majestic), and the lynx. Many other breeds were there, too.
Written March 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LISA D
South Lake Tahoe, CA53 contributions
Feb 2015 • Family
I drove near this area for years and didn't know it was here. So it's a special find that's worth the visit but with a few warnings. They advertise there are 70 breeding cats on site, however, less than half are on display for various reasons. But the ones on display are amazing to see and to be so close to. Next, about half of the cats on display are in wonderful and roomy enclosures and the other half are not. Some of the not-so-big cages were enough to almost make me cry...and to make a donation!! Last, since it's not a huge facility, can easily see everything in 30 to 40 minutes if in a hurry. Overall, go experience these amazing cats and make a donation if possible for bigger enclosures.
Written April 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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