New York Exotic Savannah Cat Laws. Note that laws change all the time, please check you state laws and local laws before assuming this is correct information. As of April,2010 this information is thought to be correct.
This information is not for pure exotic cats, only for hybrid cats that are a cross of domestic cat to exotic cat. Hybrid cats are not restricted at this moment but legislation has been tried for bans. There is legislation trying to be passed that you must have a fish and game license to have an F1 Savannah cat but as of yet it has not passed.
New York state ‘owns’ all wildlife, including hybrids of cats who are not five generations removed from it’s wild ancestor and not registered with TICA, AFC or CFA, and who are not ‘legally acquired and held in private ownership.’
New york city laws prohibit ownership of hybrid cats and dogs.
The State of New York owns all fish, game, wildlife, shellfish, crustacea and protected insects in the state, except those legally acquired and held in private ownership. Any person who kills, takes or possesses such fish, game, wildlife, shellfish, crustacea or protected insects thereby consents that title thereto shall remain in the state for the purpose of regulating and controlling their use and disposition.
(a) No person shall sell or give to another person, possess, harbor or keep wild animals identified in subsection (b) of this section or in regulations promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section other than in:
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(1) All dogs other than domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris), including, but not limited to, wolf, fox, coyote, hyaena, dingo, jackal, dhole, fennec, raccoon dog, zorro, bush dog, aardwolf, cape hunting dog and any hybrid offspring of a wild dog and domesticated dog.
(2) All cats other than domesticated cats ( Felis catus ), including, but not limited to, lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, puma, panther, mountain lion, cheetah, wild cat, cougar, bobcat, lynx, serval, caracal, jaguarundi, margay and any hybrid offspring of a wild cat and domesticated cat.