Visit the Cats



Have you ever looked a Tiger in the eye?

Felt the rumble of an African Leopard?

Seen the only Gordon's Cats in the U.S.?

Watched Lynx extend and retract their claws?

Heard the prusten of a Snow Leopard?



These and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences are possible at the Wild Felid Advocacy Center. You are guaranteed a unique and up-close view of these and many other amazing wild cats, often from just steps away! Learn about our residents and their care from knowledgeable guides. Every visit from you helps support them.
Visits to the Center are by reservation only and must be scheduled in advance (no same day booking or walk ups). Visiting hours are based on the needs of the wild felids in our care.

Visits occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only. Please click the link below to read about different visiting options, view available dates and times, and to schedule your visit. If you are not able to book online using the following button, it is because your request surpasses the limit for that day. Please pick a different time/date to visit. Pets are not allowed inside the facility, or left outside the facility unattended.

At the time of your scheduled visit, a guide will meet you outside the front gate. If your guide hasn't greeted you by your start time, feel free to ring the bell (located on the upper left corner of the facility sign, outside the front gate).

Visits are rain or shine. Your cost to visit the Center is a donation, and is non-refundable.

Masks are mandatory for all visitors, regardless of Vaccine Status.


Click to Book Your Visit



Our Location



GPS is not always reliable in the area, so relying on a printout or digital copy of your directions, rather than GPS, is advisable.
We are located on the north end of Harstine Island. Please click on the map to obtain directions specific to your starting location.



3111 E Harstine Island Rd N

Shelton, WA 98584



Frequently Asked Questions



What to Expect During Your Visit





Do I have to book a visit online?
Yes. All visitors are scheduled entirely online. You will be scheduling your visit through our reservation partner. Please do not arrive without making a reservation for everyone in your party.

Can me, or my organization, receive free tickets, discounted tickets, or tickets for raffles/auctions?
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that receives no state or government funding. In order to provide high-quality care for our residents, we depend on every dollar we earn through our programs. We appreciate your understanding that we are therefore unable to provide free or discounted visits.

Can I make a donation in addition to the cost of my visit?
Of course! Did you know it costs $50.00 to feed a tiger for a day? Caring for our animals is no small job, and the Wild Felid Advocacy Center receives no government funding. All gifts are greatly appreciated. WFAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN# 38-3771133) and all donations are tax deductible.

What should I wear?
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center is an outdoor facility that was built, first and foremost, with the care and well-being of our animal residents in mind. We have unpaved, barked pathways. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Please check the weather before your visit, and dress appropriately for the temperature.

Can I take photos and videos of the animals?
No. You can purchase one of our USB drives with over 200 outstanding, high resolution photos, taken by caretakers whom they know and trust.

Why can't I take photos and videos of the cats?
Many of the cats react fearfully to phones, cameras, or any object being pointed at them. Some are more suspicious of shiny objects, and have attempted to take them forcefully. This is dangerous for the cat, and the person. At WFAC, the well being of the cats is always top priority.

Does anyone have hands-on contact with your animals? Can I touch them?
Guests are not permitted to touch or handle our animals at any point on their visit. We are serious about safety. Any visitor who touches or makes an attempt to touch any of our animals will be asked to leave. Animal-handling responsibility is left to a small number of highly trained staff who maintain an appropriate level of contact with certain animals that allows them to provide for husbandry needs. For the big cats, this allows our keepers to accomplish medical care through the fence (this is called “protected contact”) in a manner that reduces stress to the animal, negating the need for unnecessary anesthesia or tranquilizing to achieve simple but critical husbandry goals, like administering oral medicine and vaccines. Some staff members are trained for full contact with smaller species, which also allows them to provide basic medical care without putting an animal under anesthesia.



3111 E Harstine Island Rd N
Shelton, WA 98584
(360) 427 - 4466*
*Phone calls are answered by a voicemail messaging system. and are generally returned within two days.
EIN # 38-3771133


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