Plenty of students at Pattonville High School have been to or around the area of Branson, Mo. Many of them do the same things, like go to Silver Dollar City or see a live show. But there is one place there that is often overlooked, one that is different from all the others: the National Tiger Sanctuary.

Situated some 10 miles from Branson, the National Tiger Sanctuary moved from its prior residence in Bloomsdale, Mo., in early 2011. At that time, the sanctuary cared for seven tigers and a mountain lion, but now, the facility is home to 20 cats made-up from 17 tigers, a mountain lion, a black melanesic panther, and a male African lion.

The sanctuary, started by Keith Kinkade and Judy McGee in July 2001, began with the procuration of five tiger cubs, four male and one female, from an owner in Chicago. Four of those five cubs were the standard orange color, while one male, now named TJ, was white. For the next seven years, the cats lived by themselves until they were joined by a pair of female tigers, Mariah and Sierra, and a mountain lion, Banshee, in 2008.

In 2011, the eight cats were moved to their new facility near Branson in preparation for having habitats were more cats.

The cats, now numbering 20 in total, are cycled on-and-off of tour five days week (the sanctuary is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays), with the average tour meeting 10 of the cats. The standard “Awareness Tour” allows for visitors to visit with many of the cats and hear about their different stories and personalities. There is also a “Feeding Tour” in which the members see how the cats get fed, a “You Feed Tour” where paying members personally feed the big cats, and a “Behind the Scenes Tour” where the members see how the cats have their food prepared and watch the cats eat their dinner.

So next time you go down to the Branson area, be sure to pay the cats a visit at the National Tiger Sanctuary.

For more information, please visit, http://www.nationaltigersanctuary.org