Captive Lion and Tiger weights

[Siegfried]

The weights of captive cats in captivity are subject to a few factors.  Many big cats in captivity are overfed in an attempt to improve docility.  A hungry big cat is no doubt a more dangerous one, so keepers will sometimes just try to keep them fat and happy. The neutering of animals often plays a role in an animal's weight as well, whether wild or domestic.  While it is seen to a lesser extent in neutered females, it is more pronounced in male animals that have been neutered.  It seems male big cats in captivity (and male cats in general) are particularly susceptible to obesity when neutered.  That is, with the exception of male lions.  Most male lions in captivity are routinely given vasectomies as opposed to the more effective method of castration.  Vasectomies are performed despite their lesser effectiveness (and greater expense) so that the male lion does not lose its mane.  You will occasionally see a castrated and thereby maneless lion.  Most of the castrated lions that I've seen tend to support this, as they have been obese too.  There are however always exceptions.     

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