I also found photos from that time period of celebrities keeping cheetahs and leopards as pets. I wonder what ultimately happened to these exotic pets. We don’t hear about that.
Now we know that keeping wild animals as pets is dangerous as well as cruel. Cheetahs and leopards especially need a lot of space to exercise and require specialized care. Fortunately is is now illegal to own a cheetah or a leopard as a pet in most countries. What happened to those animals? Clearly things were getting out of hand!
In the 1920s – 1960s it was fashionable to pose with one of the most exotic animals – the cheetah. Wealthy socialites often kept these big cats as pets, paraded them around on leashes, and even took them to parties and on cruise ships when they took trips. Some celebrities of the time, including the ladies above were photographed with their pet big cats.
Gene Tierney often dressed in wild cat printed fabrics and real leopard and cheetah skins as well.
I have to wonder if she thought she was making the big cats more comfortable by dressing like them or if she was making them uncomfortable.
Tags: Vintage Fur
