The roots of Cat Tales Wildlife Academy trace back to the early 1990s, when Cat Tales Wildlife Center began offering volunteer-based learning opportunities focused on safe, professional animal care within a working big cat rescue and wildlife sanctuary environment.
As the Wildlife Center grew, many participants moved on to careers within zoos, sanctuaries, animal care facilities, and wildlife-related fields. Encouraged by professionals within the zoological community, Cat Tales pursued licensing through the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB) in 1997.
For nearly 30 years, the Academy has provided hands-on training designed to help students develop practical animal care skills, operational experience, professionalism, and an understanding of wildlife management and conservation education.
Today, Cat Tales Wildlife Academy continues to combine experiential learning with real-world wildlife care experience within a working sanctuary and teaching zoo environment.
“The experience and knowledge I gained at Cat Tales prepared me for working with exotics better than any other course or program I’ve gone through.”
Kristi Sipe