State rankings
Ocelot Legal States
Ocelot Legal States: compare 51 US states on 2 metrics.
EnvironmentLaw51 states · 2 metricsUpdated Mar 23, 2025Original page
9 sources
- State Laws Exotic Cats - Big Cat Rescue
- Wildlife as a Personal Pet - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Laws on Exotic Animals for Each State - Spruce Pets
- Agricultural & Rural Development - Michigan.gov
- These Seven Animals Are Illegal To Have As Pets In Minnesota - iHeart
- Montana Is One Of The Least Pet-friendly States in America - 103.5
- Exotic Animal Laws by State - Find Law
- West's Tennessee Code Annotated. Title 70. Wildlife Resources. Chapter 4. Miscellaneous Regulations. Part 4. Exotic Animals.- Animal Legal and Historical Center
- Summary of State Laws Relating to Private Possession of Exotic Animals - Born Free USA
Pet Ocelot Legal Status
4 values across 51 entries
Data
Click a column to sort.
51 states
 Alabama | Unregulated | — |
 Alaska | Illegal | Private ownership of big cats is banned. |
 Arizona | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Arkansas | Illegal | — |
 California | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Colorado | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Connecticut | Illegal | — |
 Delaware | Legal | — |
 District of Columbia | Illegal | — |
 Florida | Illegal | — |
 Georgia | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Hawaii | Illegal | Private ownership of big cats is banned. |
 Idaho | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Illinois | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Indiana | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Iowa | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Kansas | Illegal | — |
 Kentucky | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Louisiana | Illegal | Private ownership of big cats is banned. |
 Maine | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Maryland | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Massachusetts | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Michigan | Illegal | — |
 Minnesota | Illegal | — |
 Mississippi | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Missouri | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Montana | Illegal | — |
 Nebraska | Illegal | — |
 Nevada | Unregulated | — |
 New Hampshire | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 New Jersey | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 New Mexico | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 New York | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 North Carolina | Unregulated | — |
 North Dakota | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Ohio | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Oklahoma | Permit Required | — |
 Oregon | Illegal | Private ownership of big cats is banned. |
 Pennsylvania | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Rhode Island | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 South Carolina | Illegal | — |
 South Dakota | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Tennessee | Illegal | — |
 Texas | Permit Required | The "owner" must obtain a license or permit and/or register the animal with state or local authorities (specifics vary by state). |
 Utah | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Vermont | Illegal | Ban on private ownership of big cats, with exception for commercial exhibitors. |
 Virginia | Illegal | — |
 Washington | Illegal | Private ownership of big cats is banned. |
 West Virginia | Permit Required | — |
 Wisconsin | Unregulated | — |
 Wyoming | Permit Required | — |
Quick answers
- Where does this ocelot legal states data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: State Laws Exotic Cats - Big Cat Rescue; Wildlife as a Personal Pet - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Laws on Exotic Animals for Each State - Spruce Pets; Agricultural & Rural Development - Michigan.gov.