FAQ

Yes. Community service is offered 7 days a week from 10:30 – 4:30 and by appointment only. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Vicky at 972-442-6888 for more information.
Yes, we always need reliable volunteers. For more information, visit our volunteer page.
Absolutely. We are opened to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM – 6 PM. We also offer group and night tours by appointment. For more information, visit our tours page.
The safety of our cats and visitors is a top priority. All of our enclosures are double enclosed and roofed.
For the safety of our cats and the people we visit we do not bring any animals to our outreach programs.
Yes. We are licensed by the USDA, permitted by our county and registered with the Texas Department of Health, zoonosis division. We must pass three annual inspections. In-Sync Exotics has been recognized by local authorities, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the SPCA, as an exemplary operation in all areas but particularly in the area of medical care.
There are 9 subspecies of tigers of which 3 are now extinct. The difference between the different subspecies is reflected in their coloring, size, stripe pattern and geography. As is common with most tigers in captivity, none of our tigers are purebred. We list what we feel is their dominate subspecies on our webpage and on their name plates on the enclosure.
Yes, our cats receive the same vaccinations a domestic cat would receive. The larger cats all receive the CDV (canine distemper) vaccination, as well. They all get general preventative medicine, regular blood work, imaging as needed, etc. We also have them micro-chipped.
Since we are a rescue facility, we don’t usually have cubs but every once in a while we get to rescue one. We do not breed our cats.
So as not to contribute to the over breeding problem and the number of cats in captivity, we do not breed our cats. All of our animals have been altered or are in situations where they cannot breed.
Like people, our cats come in different shapes and sizes. Some have rounder heads, others have eyes set close together, and still others have special markings and coloring. Every tiger has a unique stripe pattern which makes it easier to tell them apart.

Currently. Madiba a male African white lion is our biggest cat, weighing in close to 525 pounds.  Jazz, a male African lion, weighing close to 600 pounds, was the biggest cat that called In-Sync home.  Okemo was a male Bengal tiger, weighing close to 550 pounds. Okemo was the biggest tiger we had the pleasure of caring for but unfortunately crossed the rainbow bridge in 2012 after battling bone cancer.

Vicky did rescue all of our domestic cats from under houses and in dumpsters, etc. However, we are not a domestic/feral cat rescue facility.

We only have the license to rescue exotic and native cats. Because Ring tailed lemurs are not listed on the Dangerous Wild Animal list, we are able to provide Mitzy and Loki sanctuary. This was the same case for Nugget, our coatimundi, who lived here for most of his life after prior attempts to keep him as a pet failed and he was surrendered to In-Sync Exotics.  However, we like to keep our focus on animals we know best…exotic and native cats.

We are always willing to provide a home to abused, neglected and unwanted cats. However, our mission is to provide a safe, loving, nurturing haven for our cats which costs money. It’s essential that we provide the very best for all the cats in our care. We take in cats as money and resources allow. Sadly, there are just too many cats needing a good home, and we must turn many away.

We have lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, servals, bobcats, and a lynx. We also have two lemurs. Although they aren’t cats we also have one horse, one goat, and one donkey who have been issued “Honorary cat” titles.  In the past, we have also provided care for ocelots and coatimundis.

Accredited zoos play a different role in captive breeding and conservation. They integrate the Species Survival Plan program which is a highly selective and controlled breeding program. Although we love all the animals we rescue and think they are very special, because most of them are products of cross-breeding (inter-species and subspecies) and inbreeding and have health and genetic issues, zoos have no interest in our animals. Our cats are society’s throw-aways.

No, we are not a zoo, but a sanctuary. We do not buy, sell, trade or breed our cats. Instead, we provide them with a safe, loving, nurturing home for the remainder of their lives.
The cost varies depending on the species. A tiger can cost on average $300/month just to feed. Plus we have the added expense of housing, medical care, water, electricity, etc.
As a general rule, we don’t stray too far from their normal diets.
The cats are carnivores so eat a raw diet of processed red meat that we get from a couple of processing plants in the U.S. We do have a few finicky eaters who will eat only chicken, so we add supplements to their food to ensure they get all the proper nutrients. Chicken is also served as treats. The amount each cat eats depends on his size, metabolism and activity level. The portions also vary throughout the year depending on the temperature. On average, we serve anywhere between 1/2 pound of food to 8 1/2 pounds plus the chicken “dessert.” One day a week, instead of their normal diet, our cats are treated to huge shank bones. We go through about 260 pounds of meat a day.
With so many new housing and commercial developments popping up, many bobcats are being displaced from their homes and are wandering into neighborhoods. Be sure to keep your distance and not provoke the cat. Although bobcats typically avoid humans and would prefer not to have any encounters with humans, they do have the potential of being dangerous, especially if they are ill or injured. Kittens are often left unattended while Mama hunts, so don’t automatically assume an unattended kitten is orphaned. DFW Wildlife Coalition is a great resource on wildlife in urban developments. You can also contact us at 972-442-6888 and we’ll put you in touch with someone who can help.

Unfortunately no. With the exceptions of our bobcat, Moses, and four of our cougars, Malice, Scarlet, Sage, and Outlaw all of our animals were born and raised in captivity. They were taken from their mother very early in life so that they could be human imprinted. Our cats do not have the skills to survive out in the wild, and as a result of cross-breeding and inbreeding their gene pools are contaminated. Our cats born in the wild, do not have the necessary skills because their mothers either passed or were unable to provide the cubs with the knowledge to survive in the wild. Sadly, even if they could be released in the wild, there is simply not enough habitat left to support the number of cats living in captivity. We have rescued three wild bobcats. Lazarus, Sampson and Isaiah were rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Moses, unfortunately, got too accustomed to humans and releasing him would have been a death sentence.

Our cats have come from inhumane breeding facilities, entertainment facilities, closed exotic animal sanctuary, and from private owners who could no longer care for their pets.
We rely solely on the generosity of our supporters. Our funding comes from donations, our adoption programs, fundraising events and occasional private grants. We do not receive any federal funding to help support our cats.