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Cat House enclosure @ Chester Zoo; circa 1987
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Bwassa

Cat House enclosure @ Chester Zoo; circa 1987

  • Media owner Bwassa
  • Date added
The Cat House was roughly where Miniature Monkeys is now, and ran parallel to the enclosure where the Rhea and Guanaco are now. It consisted of a long building with enclosures, of varying sizes, down each side. I have photos of Puma, Ocelot, Persian Leopard and this one of a black Leopard. I also remember Scottish Wildcat and Jungle Cat being on show here. You couldn't get into the Cat House, just see the cats in the outdoor areas.
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SMR
Pertinax said:
I did too- the enclosures were spacious and well landscaped. I never figured why it was demolished when it was , its only shortcoming seemed perhaps the 'block' feel of the rectangular design with the rows of enclosures on each side. Perhaps that was enough?
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Growing up I loved the cat house, it contained a wonderful collection that's hard (impossible?) to beat anywhere these days except at Parc des Félins, but "spacious" it most certainly wasn't, even in later years when some of the enclosures were combined.

According to those who worked there, it was also terribly cramped from a husbandry standpoint and didn't have the most pleasant smell either.

It's strange how cats often get the worst end of the deal regarding enclosure size, and while I'd love to see at least some of the species return (small cats are poorly represented at Chester these days) I'd also like to see much larger enclosures when/if they do.
 

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